Providence Preservation Society

Menu

Calendar
Support

Exit

News
Research & Learning
Events
Advocacy
About Us

Home > Articles by: mbrown

From Author:

mbrown

Categories

Advocacy Alerts 36
Announcements 70
Artists & Artisans 1
Community News 19
Design & Development 16
Heritage & Preservation 33
Housing 3
Multimedia Projects 4
Policy & Land Use 17
Sustainability 6

PPS on Instagram

Now, much of Spencer A. Williams’ job as the Dir

Now, much of Spencer A. Williams’ job as the Director of Land Use and Topography in Brooklyn has to do with building the kinds of neighborhoods that people feel proud of and committed to. However, he spoke with PPS about how he actually moved from state to state as a kid:

“I'm originally from the southeast. I moved around a lot as a kid, so I've lived in Tennessee and Alabama and Georgia and Florida and New Jersey, and then I went to college at Savannah College of Art Design in Georgia. Then I moved to Portland, Oregon, where I went to Portland State University, and then moved to Seattle. And now I have been in Brooklyn for the last six years.

“I think having the experience of other places has given me insight into other approaches to some of those challenges, and also a good sensibility of sort of who's not in the room in terms of engagement issues, or what connections are maybe possible to bring to that work, informed by work that I've done in other cities.”

Visit our website to read more from our interview with Williams, where he discussed the relationship between art and advocacy work, how his current pursuit of a Master’s in Divinity is related to his work as a city planner, and more.

Also be sure to come to our virtual event, The Intentional City, this Thursday at 5 pm. Williams will discuss how to craft a thoughtful comprehensive plan that centers community engagement and neighborhood preservation. His fellow panelists include Cara Bertron, Manager of the Equity-Based Preservation Plan in Austin, TX, and Juan Camilo Osorio, Associate Professor at Pratt Institute’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment (GCPE), who both bring their own unique perspectives to the conversation. You can learn more about this event and register on our website at https://ppsri.org/events/the-intentional-city-learning-from-austin-to-brooklyn/.

Join PPS for "The Intentional City," a panel discu

Join PPS for "The Intentional City," a panel discussion on Zoom at 5pm on September 12. Event info and registration is available on our website, at https://ppsri.org/upcoming-events/

Every ten years, the city of Providence is required to publish a Comprehensive Plan to guide zoning, planning and growth for the following decade. The last Plan was passed in 2014, and a new Plan has been drafted and is under consideration by the City Council this fall that will guide the shape of the city for decades to come. What can we learn from other cities that have approached this work thoughtfully and intentionally, centering community participation and neighborhood preservation in their visions for the future? Panelists will share their experiences working on major planning initiatives in Brooklyn and Austin, including a behind-the-scenes report on the genesis of Brooklyn’s 2023 Comp Plan, the first Comp Plan ever created by a NYC borough, and Austin’s Equity-Based Preservation Plan. Whether you are based in Providence or not, this Zoom conversation will address some of the most challenging questions related to planning practice.

Panelists include Spencer A. Williams. AICP, Assoc. AIA,Director of Land Use and Topography for Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso; Cara Bertron, Manager of the Equity-Based Preservation Plan, City of Austin; and Juan Camilo Osorio, Associate Professor at Pratt Institute’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment (GCPE). Moderated by Daniela Coray, Urban Designer and Marisa Brown, Executive Director of Providence Preservation Society.

New rules to strengthen enforcement of lead safety

New rules to strengthen enforcement of lead safety in Rhode Island’s rental units go into effect this fall in an effort to reduce the rates of elevated lead levels among children and other residents in the state.

About three-quarters of housing in Rhode Island was built before 1978 — meaning the paint on doors, windows, cabinets, and siding is likely toxic. In Providence specifically, almost 70% of the housing stock was constructed before 1959.

In Providence’s Historic District Overlay Zones, landlords are expected to comply with this lead regulation in addition to restrictions instituted by the Providence Historic District Commission, which may cover replacements and repairs. This means simple solutions for common lead hazards, such as replacing wooden windows with vinyl alternatives, may not be an option.

Read the latest on lead safety for historic wooden windows on our website under the News tab.

After years of uncertainty for the former Urban Le

After years of uncertainty for the former Urban League building in Upper South Providence, the Providence Redevelopment Agency (PRA) has selected a contractor to demolish the site later this year following remediation to the building.

The building, which was on the Providence Preservation Society’s Most Endangered Properties List in 2022 and 2023, was home to Rhode Island’s chapter of the prominent civil rights organization.

PPS will continue to cover updates on the redevelopment of the area. We want to hear from community members about their memories and experiences at the Urban League building, as well as their hopes for how the site will serve new, local interests. Read more on our website and reach out to kpickens@ppsri.org.

At our last Preservation Awards ceremony in 2022,

At our last Preservation Awards ceremony in 2022, photographer and urban explorer Dave Lawlor was recognized for his incredible work documenting the city of Providence — from vacant and abandoned textile mills to the Superman Building. You can see more of his photography on his page, @filmmakerdave.

For this year's ceremony, we're accepting nominations for the Preservation Leadership award through this Friday, August 30. Nominees can be individuals or a community group/organization. Submit via our website, ppsri.org!

Happy #MarkerMonday! This week, we’re headed bac

Happy #MarkerMonday! This week, we’re headed back over the river to Blackstone for the Dr. Maurice L. & Alene F. Silver House at 320 Slater Avenue. This home was built in 1955, and therefore stands out as one of the younger historic homes in Providence. Occasionally referred to as the "Mad Men House," for its mid-century design, this ranch-style home was fully restored in 2013. It is currently owned and occupied by Neil Berenson (right) and Jason Archambault (left).

While Dr. Maurice Silver and his wife Alene occupied the home that is now named for them, it became a touchstone of the Providence Jewish community. At one point, they hosted a speaker from the Israeli Consulate in New York, and in 1958, Alene participated in a panel discussion about Oil in the Middle East during a series presented by Temple Beth El.

Dr. Maurice Silver was a prominent neurosurgeon in Providence, working as chief of the neurosurgery departments at both Miriam Hospital and Saint Joseph’s Hospital. His career was not without controversy — in 1966, a widower accused Dr. Silver of medical negligence resulting in the paralysis of his late wife’s face. After leaving Providence in the early 1960s, Dr. Silver was also charged with federal income tax evasion and tax fraud. In response, his lawyer argued that he was the victim of "one of the most virulent pockets of religious discrimination in medicine in America."

Maurice and Alene got a divorce in 1962, less than 10 years after moving to 320 Slater Avenue. For two private citizens, the divorce was much publicized; when Maurice failed to show up in family court for a custody hearing, the judge publicly admonished him and awarded Alene full custody. To complicate the divorce proceedings, Maurice moved to Hawaii in the middle of the process. He eventually remarried and died in Los Angeles, California. Given the dramatic history of this home, the Mad Men House seems like a fitting moniker.

For more information on the Silver family, visit guide.ppsri.org, where you can view our complete historic house marker report for this property and hundreds of others.

It’s unlikely that the Revolutionary War would h

It’s unlikely that the Revolutionary War would have played out the way that it did had the French not fought alongside the Continental troops. From 1778 until 1782, the French supplied men, food, and weapons to the revolutionary cause, and Marquis de Lafayette was one of France’s most ardent supporters of the early United States.

Fifty years after the United States declared independence, Lafayette was invited back to the States as the last living general from the war. Though he originally planned to stay for only three months, he was met with such celebration and pride that he ended up staying over a year. He toured through the eastern United States, stopping in large cities and small towns alike.

The American Friends of Lafayette are a national organization dedicated to educating people about the role the French and Lafayette played in the establishment of our country. To celebrate the 200-year anniversary of Lafayette’s return to America, AFL has organized a tour in the exact same path that the former general took two centuries ago.

On August 23, the party comes to Providence for a night of French-inspired food, dress, and dancing! Swipe to see more details. You can register for this event at https://friendsoflafayette.wildapricot.org/event-5785146.

1 - A parade banner featuring Lafayette presented upon his return to Philadelphia, photo from the Museum of the American Revolution
2 - Painting of Americans greeting Lafayette in Maysville, Kentucky, photo from the American Friends of Lafayette website
3 - Etching of Lafayette with a Black soldier directing troops at Yorktown in 1781, photo from the Library of Congress
4 - Information about the Providence dinner and ball, courtesy of the American Friends of Lafayette

Happy #MarkerMonday! This week, we have Jennifer a

Happy #MarkerMonday! This week, we have Jennifer and Andrew (along with their daughters Esme and Betty) at their late-Victorian era home in the West End.

Jen and Andrew bought the Frederick and Elizabeth Young House at 16 Carol Court a little over five years ago. Now, it is almost completely unrecognizable. Thanks to the couple’s passion for DIY projects and some help from @provrevfund, they were able to restore this home to its former glory. If you’re curious about their renovation/restoration project, we recently spoke at length with them about it, so keep an eye out for that story on our website, coming out in the next few days!

The first residents of this home were Frederick and Elizabeth Young — both English immigrants — along with their three children Emma, Lucy, and Fred. They lived here for about 10 years, from 1873 to 1883. Frederick was a silver polisher at Gorham Manufacturing Co. in College Hill, right on the shore of the river. The Gorham company made a variety of silver goods, from jewelry to tea sets — even thimbles. Coin-silver spoons were their most popular product. It was one of the largest silver manufacturers in the country during the 19th and 20th centuries; one of their most prominent clients was First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln’s wife, in 1859. After the Youngs left 16 Carol Court, the home was occupied by various tenants until Irish immigrants Mary Kelly and her husband Hugh — who was also a polisher — bought the house in 1921.

As always, you can find out more about 16 Carol Court on our Online Guide to Providence Architecture at guide.ppsri.org. Swipe through to get a sneak peak at the transformation this historic home has undergone over the last five years!

1 - Jennifer, Andrew, and their two daughters
2 - The exterior home restoration
3 - Close-up of the brackets over the front door
4 - Alternative close-up of the brackets
5 - The home as it was when Jennifer and Andrew purchased it in 2018
6 - The home mid-restoration, when the Victorian details were uncovered

Harold Mason (1881-1944) was a Providence eccentri

Harold Mason (1881-1944) was a Providence eccentric and amateur photographer with a very particular interest: doorways. Mason took hundreds of photos of houses, doors, and knockers — many of these photos are currently in Providence Public Library's special collections and digitized on their website. The photos we’ve highlighted here are believed to have been taken between 1910 and 1920.

Little is known about Mason's life, though according to PPL, he was not a full-time professional photographer, despite selling his prints from time to time. His work demonstrates his unique perspective of Providence, seen in some of its most minute details. Luckily, he kept a fairly decent record of the address of each door — we encourage you to visit PPL's digital collections and see if he stopped by your house to snap a picture!

1 - Unknown doorway
2 - Knocker at 121 Power Street
3 - First Baptist Church side door
4 - Knocker at 218 Main Street
5 - Front view of 196 Hope Street (labeled the Jackson House in Mason’s notes)
6 - Knocker at 66 Williams Street
7 - Unknown doorway
8 - Front door at 76 Washington Street
9 - Brochure for one of Harold Mason’s photography shows (photo from Historic New England’s Ephemera collection)

All photos from PPL unless otherwise noted.

Get E-News

Occasional Alerts and Updates from PPS

Providence Preservation Society

(401) 831-7440 / info@ppsri.org

24 Meeting Street

Providence , RI (Map)

Calendar
Support

News
Research & Learning
Events
Advocacy
About Us

© 2025 Providence Preservation Society. All rights reserved. Design by J. Hogue at Highchair designhaus, with development & support by Kay Belardinelli.