Appreciating Broadway in Providence – Ed Iannuccilli

by Ed Iannnuccilli, contributing writer

Photo: Barnaby’s Castle, Broadway, Smithfield Historical

Last week I had the opportunity to meet an out-of-town friend at a coffee shop on Broadway in Providence, Rhode Island. I was early and while sitting outside a coffee shop on a beautiful day, I had a chance to reflect on the beauty of the avenue.

Broadway held many memories for me; it was where my father met his friends from the old neighborhood every Sunday morning. I tagged along to meet with them in front of where once an old pharmacy was just a spit away from where I was sitting today.

I appreciated this grand boulevard much more than I did in those days. Now I can recognize the value of the grand homes along the way; homes built by businessmen who were doing well in their early years in Providence, and whose elegant elaborate edifices reflected their successes. It became a stylish residential street.

Broadway sits in the Broadway/Armory Historic District area, named after the Cranston Street Armory, only a few streets away. The area is shaped like an inverted boot with its east-west axis between Dean and Messer Streets, and the north-south spine centered on Dexter Field. Most of the area is residential wood-frame homes with some commercial development on Broadway and Westminster Streets.

In the years following the 1830s–1910s, Broadway became a fashionable residential area with large estates for the city’s wealthy. The proximity of downtown and nearby industry attracted residents from various social and economic classes.

My guest was impressed by the homes. “Let’s walk,” I suggested after our chat and coffee. “As we do, look up at the construction. Look at the turrets, the designs. Then look down at the homes for a more detailed view of how much money went into enhancing their beauty.”  Nice wide sidewalks made our stroll easy.

I stopped in front of certain homes to show them in my book “Providence’s Citywide Survey of Historic Resources” and stopped in front of one or two of the more famous homes along the way.

I love “Barnaby’s Castle,”  an elaborately ornamented High Victorian mansion with an intriguing tale of mystery within its walls. Or the William Walton House, now The Aurora Club with its Palladian windows among its many beautiful architectural features.

I pointed out a couple of houses that some call wedding cake houses because they resemble wedding cakes in their attractiveness and design. That’s just a touch of the many architectural gems that line the avenue; from Italianate to Gothic to flamboyant and pretentious; from Greek Revival or Colonial Revival to Queen Anne. It’s all there. Something for everyone. And if you feel you need more caloric expenditure, have a monster dessert at The Seven Stars Bakery then burn it off with a walk to the magnificent St. Mary’s Gothic Revival Church at the far end of The Avenue. Be sure to go inside to appreciate the architectural design and the murals.

Broadway is one among many of our capital city’s impressive streets, now speckled, and you might think invaded by, coffee shops, nearby restaurants, students, and a host of interesting vibrant people. Don’t worry. Look around, look up, take your time. Take pictures. The mix of architectural styles with well-preserved historic buildings adds character and interest. The beauty is still there.

“This place is a remarkable gem,” my visitor remarked.

“Yes, it is.”

Frequent one of the coffee shops, and small businesses, sit, relax, then stroll. You won’t be disappointed. Another Rhode Island gem sits at our feet.

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Ed Iannuccilli

edwrites.net