Colonial Providence Once reliant on shipping and the slave trade, Colonial Providence shifted to a manufacturing economy in the early 19th century due to the rise of textile mills. The city expanded across the Weybosset flats and up the hills south of the Woonasquatucket River.
Hoyle Tavern & Square The area was first settled for farming after King Philip’s War. In 1739, Obidiah Brown built the Hoyle Tavern at the intersections of Westminster and Cranston Streets, near present-day Classical High School, attracting settlers nearby. During the 19th century, the area developed with factories near Long Pond and grew residentially after …
Dexter Training Ground This 10-acre park is one of Providence’s most historic public spaces. Donated by Ebenezer Dexter in 1824 as a military drill field, parade ground, and park, it became part of the city’s park system in 1893. A bronze statue of Dexter was added in 1874. During the Civil War, Rhode Island troops …
Irish Immigration Reshapes Providence’s Labor Landscape The mills needed workers, so recruiters turned to foreign labor. The first wave came from Ireland, especially from the mill towns of Ulster, with many arriving after 1845 to escape the famine. By 1865, one-third of Providence’s fifty-five thousand residents were Irish-born, with many settling near the east end …
St. Mary’s Catholic Church St. Mary’s is a Gothic Revival monument honoring Providence’s Irish heritage. Many Irish immigrants from Ulster arrived in the early 19th century to work in local textile mills, often facing discrimination. and by the end of the Civil War, one-third of the city’s residents were Irish. Designed by Irish architect James …
Bell Street Chapel The Bell Street Chapel in Providence is a stunning French neoclassical temple built in 1875 for art dealer James Eddy. The design was created by architect William R. Walker. Eddy, a progressive who supported temperance, women’s rights, and abolition, dedicated the church “to God, to Truth, and to all that ennobles Humanity.” …
Wedding Cake House Built around 1867 by architect Perez Mason, the mansion captures the exuberance of new wealth. The initial owner, John Kendrick, was an inventor whose American Supply Company was a leading force in the global market for loom and reed harnesses, essential components of power looms in textile mills. After being owned for …
Waves of Immigration After 1880, a significant wave of immigration from Southern Europe arrived in Providence aboard Fabre Line ships from Naples. The Italian immigrants found work in the mills and jewelry factories of the bustling “Beehive of Industry.” As the century turned, global migrations surged, with various nationalities enriching the city’s diverse culture, including …
Barnaby Castle This lavish home was designed in two phases (1875 and 1888) by the well-known Providence architectural firm Stone, Carpenter & Willson. Its eclectic styles were influenced by its owner, Jerothmul B. Barnaby, a prominent retail magnate with a large downtown department store. Known for his reckless driving, Barnaby left a contested estate to …
Cranston Street Armory Built in 1907 on an 11-acre site in Providence’s West End, the Cranston Street Armory was designed to accommodate the Rhode Island National Guard. The renowned architectural firm William Walker and Sons drew inspiration from existing armories in Boston and New York City. The structure features two six-story crenellated towers flanking two …