20 years of architectural change
We document the architectural landscape and collect the oral, written, and photographic history of important places. We hope to be a safe space for storytelling, memory-sharing, and dreaming about the future of the built environment in northern Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. More about A.I.R.
Demolition Alert
- Demolition Alert
Once a circa 1920s car garage, most recently this was a commercial block home to Bagel Gourmet and East Side Mini-Mart, two Brown-University-student staples
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Updated 15 January, 2022: A former floating gourmet restaurant moored on South Water Street just outside where the Hot Club is today, before the current boat slips
Updated 8 January, 2022: A 1980s conversion from industrial to residential condominiums by the same developer of the Davol Rubber Company
Updated 8 January, 2022: Added new photos of the undergoing renovation and brick repointing work
Updated 8 January, 2022: Added a photo we found from the Pawtucket Library of the diner being moved on a flatbed truck
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The Art of Ruins — This week’s artful image
After 1925, the largest laundry business in RI with 150 employees and 16 outlets throughout the state
Updated 7 January, 2022: Added a few new (old) photos of Ming Garden
Updated 6 January, 2022: Added a more recent photo from 2014 with the Nexus Properties banner in place
Updated 6 January, 2022: Added a new photo from the Providence Public Library showing the Three Ones from the east, with a foundations of pilings driven into the river
Updated 6 January, 2022: Added an undated early photo of the Armington & Sims Engine Company
Updated 6 January, 2022: Added a Sanborn map we found which labels this property as Lincoln Machine Co.
#WhatAreTheyBuilding: Under Construction
Updated 10 January, 2022: A new, dense, trapezoidal residential building with ground-floor retail on the edge of the Jewelry District
Updated 9 January, 2022: One of a few new hotels built in the late 2010s with barely an effort made to be more than a bland off-the-highway-style, could-be-anywhere hotel.
Updated 1 January, 2022: Added an image from PPL’s RI Postcard collection
Updated 26 December, 2021: 21st-century modernist construction for micro-loft student housing at the base of College Hill
262 properties and 4,628 images.
Anecdotes Subscribe
1,742 anecdotes from people just like you.
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My grandmother told many stories of her work as a silk inspector. She made friends with other women on the line. Her father was a Forman as well. I would love to know what the inside looked like.
Jeannine Aspirinio on Wanskuck Mills -
The Primo Art Building’s last tenant was the sculptor Michael E Smith who used it as studio space. He moved in after Pneuhaus around 2018? I worked for Mike and had a space in there for a while. J&W property management were the ones who owned it. Another one of Mike’s studio a...
Ed Brown on Primo Art Company -
I am the Grandson of John (Jack) McDevitt. My Mother Janet Greeley McDevitt. OF Horace Greeley lineage, is Jack’s youngest Daughter and the younger sister of the afore mentiond Sally Cunneen. I have Jack’s Original Oil painted Portrait if anyone has interest. Jack was an MIT g...
Brophy on McDevitt Building -
Need INFORMATION on the FIRST LADY visiting the Park after WWII? She visited either during or just after the war. She was there to recognize families whose children served in the war. Would love information on the visit. My anecdote circa 1974-1978 — Our family trip would be ...
M. HALEY on Lincoln Amusement Park -
Hope Cycle and Auto Supply was founded in 1903 by my Grandfather… the buildings on Charles Street were purchased around 1933 for an amount, that the state offered in the 1960’s during redevelopment, which was rejected by my father and uncle. My dad and Uncle took over the busi...
VERNON M SAMOORIAN SR on Hope Cycle & Auto Supply -
We were teenagers in Smithfield when this mall first opened and spent a lot of time there! The funniest thing I remember though is learning how to drive there on a Sunday (back when blue laws closed stores on Sunday’s) along with all my siblings. Later I also learned how to dr...
Name withheld please on Lincoln Mall -
Another website about The Milk Can https://www.facebook.com/MilkCanRI
Roland Bouchard on Milk Can -
Walked by it today to get a closer look after noticing yesterday that work is being done on it. Hope they are planning to keep the historic look. It looks like they are repairing the windows and bricks.
Jill Tyler on Primo Art Company
