Documenting Change since 2002

Unique places have special stories

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.

445 properties and 12 Essays with 7,357 images. Browse more from our Categories and Tags.

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2,003 anecdotes from people just like you.

  • my house was right behind the Broadway Methodis church. we would hear the organ & choir every Sunday. i also remember the night it caught fire
    Patricia Roberto Martin on Broadway, #189
  • Sister Prudence, Sister Marion, Mre Grundy, Right Rev Monsignor Gibbons, Father Gallagher, Father Prime (who i always thought was a pedophile)
    jim killilea on Holy Name School
  • Was assigned to the Gap store at Lincoln Mall as store manager in the early 80’s. It was either Papa Gino’s or Newport Creamery for lunch/dinner. The mall had a good mix of stores. Woolco was still there when I started. I can’t recall if Caldor replaced it or if they were on ...
    ML on Lincoln Mall
  • I found this post while looking for information on the Barton’s children’s Furniture Company. I have a vintage children’s table and chairs. That looks to be from the 50’s or 60’s. But I can’t seem to find any other information on them.
    Ann Lambert on Broadway & Dean St. Garages
  • We were the last renters on the third floor! Awesome spot but I don’t miss those stairs (via Instagram)
    Keith Haupt, Jr. on H.P. and R.P. Gladding House
  • My father took me to see the Reds vs. Montreal’s minor league team one night and some guy by the name of Ken Dryden, yeah, that Ken Dryden, was makeing his professional debut. Alton White was in the penalty box in the 3rd period in a scoreless game and when he came out, he was...
    Bill Baker on Rhode Island Auditorium
  • NOT AN ANECDOTE: FORMER PAWTUCKET RESIDENT; also a former asthma patient. NOW I NEED TO ASK HOW DO I GET MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE? Born October 21, 1938
    Joan Curtiss on Memorial Hospital
  • In 1941 my Dad, Herbert William “Sonny” Saunders was a PBY pilot stationed at Quonset Point. He was assigned to find Uboats as convoys left the USA for England. He was about to head home on Xmas leave when all leaves were suddenly cancelled on Dec 7 1941. Within 24 hours he wa...
    Jeff Saunders on Quonset Point Naval Air Station