Berkeley

Berkeley is a wooded Cumberland suburb with access to retail, dining and green spaces. “Cumberland’s scenery is beautiful, and a lot of people spend time enjoying the parks,” says Vivian K. Humphrey, an agent with Exit Realty Re-Imagined who has sold homes in Cumberland. “It’s a 10-minute drive to the city, so it’s a very easy commute. People also enjoy the history.” The historic district was constructed in the late 1800s by the Lonsdale Company. The original village included a textile mill complex and housing for the workers. The town also played a part in the New England Textile Strike of 1922. Much of that era's architecture remains.

Most single-family homes land in the $350,000 to $600,000 price range. One-bedroom, one-bathroom ranch-style homes from the 1950s are valued at around $270,000. A 1950s ranch-style home with two bedrooms and a one-car garage is valued at $350,000. A three-bedroom 1960s ranch-style home is valued at $430,000. A 1980s two-bedroom, two-bathroom single-family home is valued at $550,000. A 2023 contemporary-style home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms is valued at $700,000.

Some children begin their education at Lonsdale Elementary School, which has a B-plus Niche rating. Many children move on to Joseph L. McCourt Middle School, which has a B-plus Niche rating and a 10-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Cumberland High School has a B-plus Niche rating and a 91% graduation rate.

Many locals go out to eat at Godavari, a franchise that specializes in South Indian cuisine. The establishment has a buffet and offers vegetarian options. Davenport’s Family Restaurant is a local favorite. Residents of Berkeley enjoy the down-to-earth bar and grill venue that serves classic American fare like wings, seafood and steak. There is also a nearby Dunkin’. When residents cook at home, they purchase ingredients at Dave’s Fresh Marketplace. Cumberland also has boutique retail options. Purchase clothing, home décor or designer jewelry at With Heart & Soul. Find seasonal decorations or fashionable accessories at Grey Tree Boutique. For big-city options, residents can hop on RI-122 for the 9-mile drive to Providence or I-95 for the 45-mile trip to Boston. Locals use the bus system to save gas on their trips to Providence.

The Okonite Company has a nearby manufacturing plant in Ashton that employs 130 people. The plant opened in 2015 and produces insulated power cables. The area is also home to Cumberland Quarry, which produces stone, sand and gravel products. The quarry runs along a densely wooded reserve that blocks the blast noises from reaching the majority of Ashton homes. Lynne Daigneault, an administrative assistant at the Cumberland Public Library, says that homeowners near the quarry can hear the blasts, which are only set off during daylight hours. “We can feel it from the library. But it's not a constant thing. It barely happens even once a day,” Daigneault says.

The building in which the library is now based was completed in 1928 by Trappists, an order of monks who constructed it as a monastery. The library now sits on 481 acres of public woodland that locals use for hiking, picnics and outdoor events. Locals refer to this green space simply as the “Monastery.” The area includes a playground as well as a senior center, which provides both educational and recreational opportunities for older citizens. The land is also home to Nine Men’s Misery, a stone war memorial erected in 1676 for nine Plymouth colonists killed during King Phillip’s War. The Lincoln Times has referred to the site as one of the oldest war memorials in the United States.

Berkeley is also 5 miles from the 627-acre Lincoln Woods State Park where residents enjoy hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, biking and volleyball. The park also includes a beach where visitors can relax on the sandy shores or swim in Olney Pond. Locals also launch boats in the pond and fish.

Written By

William Palicia

Photography Contributed By

Fatima Johnson

Video By

Adam Lapallo