Monthly Around The Block e-News

THE STATEWIDE ADVOCATE FOR HISTORIC PLACES

Around the Block e-News

African Heritage and Historical Sites in Rhode Island

Photos clockwise from top left - Congdon Street Baptist Church, Providence RI - Fayerweather Home, Kingston, RI - 1st Rhode Island Regiment Soldier - Union Congregational Church, Newport RI - Patriots Park, Portsmouth, RI - Downing Block, Newport RI

Preserve Rhode Island's mission is to protect Rhode Island’s historic places; historic preservation seeks to protect places that that bring to light the full range of our history, including sometimes the places where difficult realities of our past shape our communities today. Thanks to Preserve RI Trustee, Theresa Guzman Stokes, who serves as Executive Director of the RI Black Heritage Society, for sharing information about some of Rhode Island’s African historical sites. Visit our web page African Heritage and Historical Sites in Rhode Island to discover places all around us that reveal this history.

2020 Rhody Awards Goes Virtual!

RI State House, House Chamber, Providence RI

Josh Edenbaum Photography

2020 Rhody Awards for Historic Preservation

Sunday, November 15 at 6 PM

Rhode Island State House

Broadcast via Capitol TV

We received a record number of nominations this year, making this year's awards the most competitive yet. While this year’s award ceremony will be virtual, the celebration continues.

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Aquidneck Stone Wall Initiative: Volunteer Training

Portsmouth, RI

Volunteers stand with a stone wall they constructed after a daylong training.

We have kicked off volunteer training for the Aquidneck Stone Wall Initiative at Glen Farm in Portsmouth!

With lots of rescheduling due to the coronavirus, the Aquidneck Stone Wall Initiative , a partnership between Preserve RI and the Preservation Society of Newport County , has commenced. A grant from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation supports training a corps of volunteers to repair stone walls, iconic historical landscape features, on Aquidneck Island. The first site for repair, Glen Farm in Portsmouth, is a Town-owned historic property that has miles of stone walls with many sections in disrepair. A volunteer group of eight couples started this week, learning the art and craft of dry laid stone masonry. A second cadre of volunteers will start training in a few weeks. Volunteers will take shifts over the next seven weeks under the supervision of a master stone waller, Robert Faraone. If all goes well, and the coronavirus is willing, we’ll train new recruits in September at Norman Bird Sanctuary .

Project Progress - The 1772 Foundation Grantee Cocumscussoc Association

N. Kingstown, RI

Smith's Castle Annex sporting a new roof thanks to a grant from The 1772 Foundation.

The Cocumscussoc Association has completed the project for which they were awarded a matching grant from Preserve RI and The 1772 Foundation . The “Annex” building at Smith’s Castle houses the organization’s administrative functions, library, and archives and serves as a meeting and preparation space for programming. The first part of their plan to address ongoing maintenance issues was to replace the roof and gutters, which they began as soon as they received this grant. The new roof color of the Annex was chosen to visually connect with the new wood shingle roof on the Castle.

State Historic Tax Credits Continue for Another Year

The Lofts at Lyman Mill, North Providence, RI

Rhode Island’s State Historic Tax Credits have been approved for a one-year extension. Scheduled to “sunset” on June 30, 2020, State Representative Christopher R. Blazejewski and Senate Finance Chair William J Conley, Jr. led the effort in the General Assembly to extend the program which Governor Raimondo signed into law as a part of the Supplemental Budget Bill. While advocates of the program had hoped to eliminate all sunset provisions, we’re relieved that the program remains alive. Preserve Rhode Island joined with Grow Smart Rhode Island and others to back the program, submitting testimony to the House and Senate Finance Committees. Funding for State Historic Tax Credits has not been renewed since 2013, stalling the approval of new projects. Nevertheless, keeping the program intact is an important victory. A model economic development program, State Historic Tax Credits have an impressive track record of prompting more than $1.8 Billion in private investment since its 2002 inception while rehabilitating more than 300 historic properties across the state. Now extended for another year, State Historic Tax Credits will be a part of Rhode Island’s economic recovery.

Blues Concert with Helen Sheldon and The Trash Pandas in the Lippitt House Museum Garden

Providence, RI

This concert is the second in the 2020 Hunter Music Series, which celebrates the voices of women through the lens of American roots music. The concert series along with other in-person and online programs are part the museum’s yearlong commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment which recognized women’s right to vote. Bring a blanket or folding chair, sunscreen and relax with beautiful sights and sounds around you!

Sunday, August 16, 2020

Lawn seating opens at 4:00 PM

Concert 4:15 PM – 5:00 PM

$5.00 per person

Bad weather will cancel this outdoor event. Face coverings required while on museum property and social distancing guidelines will be strictly followed. No picnics please.