History contributes to a fuller future
ArtInRuins documents the architectural landscape to collect the oral, written, and photographic history of important places in Rhode Island. We are a safe space for storytelling, memory-sharing, and dreaming about the future of the built environment. More about A.I.R.
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459 properties and 12 Essays with 7,583 images. Browse more from our Categories and Tags.
Demolition Alerts
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Demolition Alert
Updated 28 August, 2024: Construction fencing has appeared around the house, signaling demolition
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Demolition Alert
Updated 24 February, 2023: Realtor Scott Aceto received approval to demolish a former Federal Hill tire shop with the hopes of building a boutique hotel with commercial space on the site
Recently added/updated Subscribe
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Added 24 August, 2026: A former nightclub and commercial building is converted to 6 residences with ground-floor retail
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Updated 20 August, 2026: Added a new photo of the still empty lot
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Added 15 June, 2026: A medium-size two-story mill building moves from a life as an industrial manufacturing company to an evangelical Baptist church
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Added 25 May, 2026: If it weren’t for high interest rates, this complex of more than eight structures could have been condominiums instead of mixed-use commercial space
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Added 12 May, 2026: A five-story late 19th-century commercial building with one of the few cast iron façades in the city
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Added 26 April, 2026: A large complex of several structures built over the course of about 50 years that remains industrial and commericial in its tenant mix
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The Art of Ruins — This week’s artful image
At one time, the largest stove company in New England
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Added 25 April, 2026: Three-generations of neighborhood short-order cooks made this tiny place a home for regulars over the course of 50 years
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Updated 22 April, 2026: Added a photo from the PPS Slide Collection which partially shows the building and it s McDonald’s branding
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Added 21 April, 2026: A more than 100-year old building has been home to one owner and one set of businesses for over 50 years.
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Updated 19 April, 2026: Added two new photos with the recently added replacement windows
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Added 13 March, 2026: An over 225 year old mansion on a large lot is about to get new neighbors through an arduous historic review process
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Updated 9 March, 2026: Added new photos of the recent demolition to the western wing of the forner Hospital
#WhatAreTheyBuilding: Under Construction
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Updated 20 August, 2026: Added a photo of the finished project
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Updated 19 May, 2026: Added new images of the construction of phase 2
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Updated 14 April, 2026: Added two images of the finished construction
Also! The list of new building proposals we are keeping an eye on.
Recent Anecdotes Subscribe
2,035 anecdotes from people just like you.
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I grew up in Barrington as a child and have fond memories of many trips to the Dari Bee for a cone of soft ice cream (coffee, of course) with my dad, who also worked for Narragansett Electric Company with Bill Hevey who ran the Dari Bee along with the Bee Hive, the gift shop t...
Sheila H Cerjanec on Dari Bee Ice Cream -
Quonset was the last duty station of my enlistment. (1968–1972) I was due for shore duty and put in for the west coast and got Quonset instead. All-n-all it was good duty. I was an ADJ-3 and worked in the little jet shop on Airport Rd., on T-58 engines used in the SH-3 helicop...
Ed Sovis on Quonset Point Naval Air Station -
Upstairs at 5 Steeple, above Al Forno, was Altered Images. A hair salon that was there through the 80’s
Robin Cardenas on Congdon & Carpenter Building and the George & Smith Owen Building -
Last weekend I went to an Estate sale in Canby, Oregon. I purchased a tin container with paint brushes in it. On the front was a brass label that had Callendar, McAuslan, Troup Providence RI. I was curious what/who that was and I found this website. I really enjoyed reading ab...
Glenda Darnall on Callendar, McAuslan & Troup Store and William H. Low Estate Building -
My Great Grandfather Michael Shannon and a couple of his children worked here for many years, late 19th century. For a period they lived in company housing, The Blocks.
Thomas O’Brien on Wanskuck Mills -
Thank you so much for all that beautiful information I walked around that neighborhood for 14 years working for Mars Plastics and took pictures of all the buildings some of the buildings are not there no more. I have some videos and pictures of the old building that’s now gone...
Jonathan R Farias on Crown Worsted Mills -
“MEET ME AT THE MET” Where’s my t-shirt? The old one disintegrated!!!
Bob Boegler on Met Cafe, Friendship Street -
Im one of the Lincoln McDevitts. Im the grandson of John E. McDevitt. I remember my grandfather telling me about the store when I was a kid in the 80s.
Joseph McDevitt on McDevitt Building
