Rhode Island Preservation News
August 3, 2007
Preserve Rhode Island News
Preserve Rhode Island welcomes Valerie Talmage as new Executive Director
The Board of Trustees of Preserve Rhode Island is pleased to announce the appointment of Valerie Talmage as the new Executive Director of Preserve Rhode Island. Her appointment takes effect September 4.
Valerie has been the Director of Projects, New England Region for the Trust for Public Land (TPL) since 1997. In that capacity she has managed TPL's New England Region's annual portfolio of 30 land conservation projects, totaling upwards of $50 million in real estate transactions. She has collaborated with local, state and federal governments and private land trusts in conservation projects and drawn on public affairs and community organizing skills to galvanize support for conservation funding.
From 1990 to 1997, Valerie served as a Land Protection Specialist for the The Trustees of Reservations. She was the Executive Director and State Historic Preservation Officer of the Massachusetts Historical Commission from 1983 to 1990, where she supervised a staff of 25, and regulated compliance to state and federal historic preservation laws and negotiated resolution to historic preservation conflicts, provided technical assistance and collaborated with state agencies, local governments, and private preservation groups, and advocated for historic preservation. She also charted a leadership role in national preservation policy as President of National Associate of State Archaeologists and Vice President of the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers.
Valerie earned her Masters in Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania in 1976 and a B. A. in Latin American Studies and Anthropology, Wesleyan University in 1974. She is currently a member of the Board of Advisors for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Preserve Rhode Island looks forward to Valerie coming aboard as the new leader of Rhode Island's foremost statewide historic preservation advocacy organization.
"Mysteries Uncovered"
A new series featuring exciting discoveries in historic buildings
Surprising discovery at Lippitt House!
Through the ongoing and generous support of the Felicia Fund, Inc. Preserve Rhode Island has commissioned Bob Dodge, a local artist that specializes in 19th century decorative finishes to undertake several decorative finishes restoration projects at the Governor Henry Lippitt House Museum. Bob, who completed the dining room ceiling restoration in 1999, will be working on restoration projects that include: the repainting of the front vestibule and second floor landing alcoves; and the exploration and restoration of the decorative finishes of the second floor front alcove.
During the investigation of the second floor alcove it was anticipated that the decorative finish under the blue paint would be the same deep orange, sienna marble faux finish as found in the second floor hallway. To Bob's surprise a very different finish was revealed. Instead of faux marble, Bob discovered what appears to be a faux wood-paneled room. The rich brown, burgundy, and orange colors are still vivid despite the many patching and plastering repairs completed prior to the application of the existing blue paint.
Preserve Rhode Island is excited to share discoveries like this in our new "Mysteries Uncovered" series and will feature other finds from our properties in the coming months. We encourage our readers to email us stories of their own (staff@preserveri.org).
PRI seeking 2007 Preservation Merit Award Nominations
Each year Preserve Rhode Island honors outstanding historic preservation projects, programs and achievements by individuals and groups who exemplify sound historic preservation practices and support Preserve Rhode Island's mission. The deadline for nominations is Friday, August 31st.
Preservation Merit Awards are given in four categories:
Preservation Education and Advocacy- Recognizing individuals, municipalities and/or non-profit groups who have worked to save historic treasures, educate citizens about heritage preservation, or otherwise helped to further the cause of historic preservation and maintain the beauty and quality of life in Rhode Island.
Landscape Preservation- Recognizing projects that restore historic landscapes, create new landscapes in keeping with and highlighting the historic character of a place, or efforts to maintain significant historic landscapes.
Residential Restoration and Rehabilitation- Recognizing projects by owners of historic houses that make exceptional efforts to restore or preserve the historic character of the house and contribute to the vitality of the neighborhood.
Commercial Restoration and Rehabilitation- Recognizing projects that rehabilitate or otherwise improve commercial or public historic sites and structures and positively impact the surrounding communities.
For a Nomination Form and Guidelines please call Susanna Prull at 272-5101 or email her to request a copy (sprull@preserveri.org).
Statewide News
Tiverton's 1872 Nathanial Church mansion threatened by Demolition
The owers of an iconic Tiverton historic landmark have applied for a demolition permit to raze the 1872 Nathanial Church mansion, a 12-room, Second Empire house, whose distinctive mansard roof and cupola have been part of the Town's cultural landscape for generations. A CRMC permit hearing is scheduled for September on the proposal.
The Holy Union Sisters, of Milton, Massachusetts, have signed a purchase agreement with local developer James J. Karam for the 16-acre Tiverton property that fronts Nanaquaket Road and the Sakonnet and Quaket rivers. Holy Union abandoned the property as a convent in 2005. The Tiverton Open Space and Conservation Commission, the Tiverton Land Trust, and the Nanaquaket neighborhood tried to gather support for buying the historic site for town use. Unfortunately, the coalition could not secure adequate funding and its bid was rejected.
Tiverton has no Historic District zoning protection for the property, and lacks authority to stop the demolition of the structures. All that is now required is approval for demolition from the Coastal Resource Management Council. The Tiverton Conservation Commission has sent a letter of objection to CRMC Executive Director Grover Fugate.
Mr. Karam plans to demolish the Nathanial Church House and its outbuildings, and construct five single family waterfront homes. Anyone interested in trying to save the building should contact Stuart Hardy of the Tiverton Conservation Commission at shardy@umuc.edu or 624-8283.
Pawtuxet Village Historic House and Garden Tour
The Pawtuxet Village Association presents its first historic house and garden tour on Saturday, September 15th from 12 noon to 5pm. The tour will showcase three centuries of Pawtuxet architecture, highlighting four important village landmarks: Pawtuxet Militia Armory, Trinity Church, the Pawtuxet Baptist Church, and the Aspray Boathouse.
Homes represent fine examples of over 275 years of New England building styles. Visitors can stop for lunch at Trinity Church, or enjoy the Silver Tea at Pawtuxet Baptist Church. And along the way, listen for the rush of the waterfalls, the fifes and drums of the Rangers, or the beautiful harmonies of the sea shanty. A trolley will travel between parking and tour stops throughout the day. Tickets are on sale at local shops in Pawtuxet Village and through the Associaton's website.
The tour is $20 in advance, $25 on the day of the event. Reserve your tickets early!
Waterfront Landmark: Providence Gas Company Purifier House listed on National Register of Historic Places
An industrial building on the South Providence waterfront has received federal recognition for its contributions to the history of architecture and industry. The Providence Gas Company Purifier House is a notable example of architectural engineering and early steel construction. Built for producing coal gas and later adapted for warehouse and light industrial uses, the Purifier House represents the ongoing evolution of Providence's industrial waterfront.
Ownership of the former Purifier House was transferred several times between 1995 and 2005. Rehabilitation of the building, now called Conley's Wharf, was recently completed with the conversion of the fourth floor to the Conley Conference Center, Patrick's Pier One function facility, and the Fabre Line Club headquarters. The first three floors provide space for ten artists' studios and Gail's Gallery. Property owner and developer Patrick T. Conley added: "We are privileged to own such a building and grateful that we were able to restore it to community use while retaining its historic architectural character. We spent nearly $7 million of our own funds in the restoration of the structure, but the endeavor would not have been economically feasible if it were not for the federal and state tax credits generated by the project."
Rhode Island Preservation News Links (to view links, visit http://www.preserveri.org/)
Rhode Island
7/29 Master builder charts a new course
Bristol
8/1 School district has spent about $1.4 million on Colt and Andrews schools
Cumberland
7/25 Franklin Farm added to National Register of Historic Places
East Providence
7/23 Old Taunton Ave. theater could become residential and commercial property
Little Compton
7/25 Conserved land in Tiverton, Little Compton has increased by 50 percent since 2000
Pawtucket
7/25 Pawtucket antiques mall will be hard to miss
Providence
8/2 House hits the road
7/20 Procaccianti going before Zoning Board to demolish old Police and Fire Headquarters
7/23 Past woes resolved, Historical Society looks forward to the future
7/24 Preserve Rhode Island seeks nominees for merit awards
7/25 Revitalized city building gains designation
7/25 Developer gets go-ahead for demolition
8/2 Busted!
8/2 David Brussat: Cianci's return to Providence
Tiverton
7/20 Waterfront St. James Convent sells to developer
Warren
7/19 Height issue brings scrutiny
7/19 Zoning board delays Tourister decision
Warwick
7/24 Stately Victorian is free to anyone who will move her
West Greenwich
7/25 Pawtuxet Valley Preservation & Historical Society receives grant
Woonsocket
7/22 Neighborhood of the Week: Victorian elegance at bargain prices
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