A Johnston family firm that specializes in historic masonry repair, a monumental Coventry mill rehabbed for apartments, a dedicated advocate from Scituate ’s Hope Village, and the proudly restored Warwick City Hall are among the 11 projects, places, and people that will be honored at the fifth annual Rhode Island Preservation Celebration.
The event will take place at the Aldrich Mansion in Warwick from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28.
The Rhody Awards, chosen by Preserve Rhode Island (PRI) and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC) from nominations by the public, honor individuals, organizations and projects for their contributions to the preservation of Rhode Island ’s historic places.
East Coast Masonry & Restoration Inc. of Johnston represents the culmination of three generations of Rhode Island masons. Michael St. Angelo Sr. learned the trade while working alongside his uncle. When he established his own business, he mentored his son, Michael Jr., on the job. In 1996, the father-son team created East Coast Masonry & Restoration Inc., and together they have garnered a reputation for exceptional workmanship.
East Coast Masonry & Restoration’s extensive project list includes some of Rhode Island’s most significant historic structures. The firm’s meticulous repair of the four marble tourelles that grace the corners of the dome at the Rhode Island State House (1895-1904) was a technically complex project performed at a heart-stopping elevation. The multi-phase brownstone restoration project at the John Brown House (1786-88) in Providence included repairs to the portico, entry stairs and main gate. At the Kent County Courthouse (1805-06, now East Greenwich Town Hall) the firm’s masons carefully dismantled the brownstone staircase, preserved and re-installed the sidewalls, and replaced the treads in kind. At Newport ’s Colony House (1739-41), East Coast Masonry & Restoration completed brownstone repairs and re-pointed the brick using a historically appropriate, lime-and-sand mortar. The company’s expertise extends to granite, as demonstrated by the restoration of Pawtucket’s Slater Park bandstand (1917), and to terra cotta, like the trim at Johnson & Wales’ Xavier Hall (ca.1895) in Providence. The firm’s contribution to the restoration of Warwick City Hall (1892 -84) is being recognized with a 2014 Rhody Award.
With a staff of dedicated craftsmen, East Coast Masonry & Restoration is trusted by Rhode Island’s preservation architects to take on intricate work at irreplaceable buildings. According to Cornelis de Boer, AIA of Haynes/de Boer Associates, the firm “has demonstrated an ability, skill, and sensitivity in undertaking challenging historic masonry restoration projects and being exceptionally cooperative and resilient in achieving the best results.”
One of Rhode Island’s finest mill buildings now houses 122 modern apartments. Built by the Coventry Manufacturing Company in 1872-74, Anthony Mill was designed by architects Stone & Carpenter of Providence. Professional architects were rarely engaged in mill projects, and the result at Anthony Mill was extraordinary: a handsome, Italianate-style, rubble stone and stucco building with granite quoins and brick trim, dominated by a six-story stair tower with a polygonal belfry. When complete, the cotton-spinning mill hummed with the sound of 736 looms and 33,132 spindles. The mill continued to operate, under different ownership, until 2005.
The property, though in remarkably good condition, was in receivership when Brady Sullivan Properties and Starr Development Partners acquired it in 2012. Within a year, the project team, working closely with the town of Coventry, had transformed the vacant building into a vibrant residence. Based on plans by Architectura and with the support of state and federal historic preservation tax credits, the project included the preservation of the historic wood floors, heavy timber structure, and plastered walls. The original wrought iron fence at the property line was restored, and 800 energy-efficient window units, designed to match the few surviving historic sash, were installed. The original, massive, paneled doors survived and were preserved as decorative elements and thus continue to contribute to the mill’s architectural character. Some things changed (the boiler house was re-purposed as a gym, including an interior basketball court, and the rooftop now features a patio) while some stayed the same (just as the mill workers before them, today’s residents enter through the stair tower and up the original staircases, complete with steel treads stamped “Coventry Company ”).
Not long ago, Anthony Mill was empty and its future uncertain. Now a successful housing development, it is an outstanding example of a historic mill brought back to life.
In 1982, Fred T. Faria moved into a ca. 1746 farmhouse in the village of Hope. For a hands-on guy who was an accomplished chef and professor, restoring the house was his first taste of historic preservation.
Fred recognized that historic preservation was the key ingredient in Hope Village. He assisted R.I. Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission staff on the nomination of the Hope Village Historic District to the National Register – published as a book in 1996. He joined the Scituate Preservation Society and served as its president for five terms, organizing numerous programs like tours and old house workshops. In 2009, Fred co-founded the Hope Historical Society, and is working with fellow members on a project to interpret the story of Prosper Gorton (ca. 1750-1833), a former slave who fought in the R.I. Black Regiment during the American Revolution and lived his final years in Hope Village. Fred also started a business, Hope Restoration, to save endangered buildings in Hope.
Two mentors inspired Fred to become an effective advocate. Town Council member Ted Richard encouraged him to get involved in local government, and Fred joined the committee that recommended a Historic Village Overlay for Hope and has served as its chairman since 2000.
Once Town Engineer David Provonsil taught Fred the ropes of grant writing, Fred helped to secure more than $1 million in Federal Transportation Enhancement Grants for streetscape improvements as well as Scenic Roadway designations for seven routes through Scituate.
For 32 years, Fred has been Hope’s village watchdog, connecting property owners with preservation resources, keeping government officials informed about local needs, and always advocating for preservation. If we had a Fred in each town, we would not have to worry about historic preservation in Rhode Island.
In 1892, the town of Warwick had an expanding economy, an influx of new residents, and a development boom. The town council allocated $75,000 to erect a new “town house ” (now Warwick City Hall) to express Warwick’s soaring civic aspirations. Designed by William R. Walker & Son and completed in 1894, the three-story, mansard-roofed, brick and granite, Colonial Revival building featured a six-story clock tower visible from miles away. As Warwick grew into a city, however, the old town house suffered from overuse.
Since he took office in 2000, Mayor Scott Avedisian has completed two ambitious preservation projects at City Hall. The first, completed in 2002, was the restoration of the Council Chamber – from recreating the historic paint scheme to installing new seating and wood flooring. The second project focused on the building’s façade. With $772,035 in place from a
State Preservation Grant, a Save America’s Treasures Grant, and city funds, the scaffolding went up in July 2013. Working closely with the city’s preservation planner Patricia Reynolds, contractor E.F. O’Donnell & Sons (who had completed the interior work in 2002) oversaw a talented crew of workers and subcontractors. They completed structural repairs, installed new copper on the dome, repaired and replaced decorative elements in kind, painted woodwork, repointed masonry, and reconditioned the weathervane. Additional funds were secured for improvements at the entrance like granite stair repairs, new brass handrails, and a brick plaza.
Also, the clock received special attention: cleaning, replacing and gilding the numerals, and returning the mechanism and bell to working order. Since Christmas 2013, the bell has tolled every hour on the hour, sounding out Warwick’s civic pride. And it seems that everybody within earshot gets the message.
Additional efforts to restore buildings, reorganize traffic patterns, redevelop underused properties, and complete streetscape improvements are underway in Apponaug Village.
The Rhode Island Preservation Celebration and Rhody Awards event is open to the public. Tickets cost $30 before Sept. 24, or $35 at the door. To buy a ticket or request more information, call 272-5101 or visit www.preserveri.org.
Rhody Awards Digest 2014
Antoinette F. Downing Volunteer Service Award: Fred T. Faria of Scituate
Frederick C. Williamson Professional Leadership Award: Carol Ann Nelson, AIA
Stephen J. Tyson Sr. Artisan Award: East Coast Masonry and Restoration, Inc. of Johnston
Stewardship Award: Diocese of Providence for the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence
Project Awards: Anthony Mill, Coventry; Rose Island Lighthouse, Newport; Captain Joseph Tillinghast House, Providence; Poirier ’s Diner, Providence; The Dean Hotel, Providence; The Arcade, Providence; Warwick City Hall
Special Recognition: Wm McKenzie (Mack) Woodward of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission
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