Cumberland Monastery
Back in November, I took a trip to Cumberland, RI to walk the trails around the former Cumberland Monastery, formerly called Our Lady of the Valley Monastery. Once the home to Cistercians or Trappist monks, this property now contains the Cumberland Public Library, Cumberland Senior Center, and the Office of Children, Youth, and Learning for the town of Cumberland.
The Trappists arrived in 1900 after a tragedies befell their previous home. According to a detailed article published in Rhode Island Monthly in 2017, their last residence in Nova Scotia burned down twice, in 1892 and 1896. While many monks gave up and went to Europe, twelve came to Rhode Island. They began building their monastery in 1902 and added buildings for the next thirty years. Additionally, the monks planted successful gardens and orchards, although they had been told by locals that the land had poor soil. Unfortunately, just like the last monastery, this property suffered fire damage in 1950, and the monks relocated to St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, MA, which is still active.
With the monks moved on, the 481-acre property was gradually taken over by the town. In 1964, the Cumberland Conservation Commission formed and currently oversees the trails that the monks originally created. While each of these trails is about a mile or less one way, the wide variation of terrain and lack of trail markers can make the paths confusing to navigate. The official map linked from the Cumberland Library website is a useful tool. The remaining buildings on the property were renovated and transformed into the town library in 1976.
Near the entrance and on the trails are memorials to war veterans. The oldest monument is “Nine Men’s Misery”, erected by the State of Rhode Island in 1928 to commemorate the deaths of nine colonial soldiers in 1676. The monument itself is a historical artifact, as it demonstrates the disparaging language against Native Americans that was common written at the time of its construction. My favorite monument was a metal relief dedicated in 1924 and depicting soldiers from the American Revolutionary War in 1776, the Spanish-American War in 1898, the American Civil War in 1861, and World War I in 1917. The newest plaque commemorated soldiers who served during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
For locals who want a short adventure and enjoy a bit of history, this is a fun stop. While the trails can be tricky to navigate, other amenities like the playground, library, and plenty of benches in the memorial park make the stop well worth it. I look forward to returning to Cumberland Monastery for future walks.