FW: PPS October E-Newsletter

In This Issue Preservation Education Events Community Notes Quick Links Become a Member PPS Website Preservation Nation Upcoming PPS Events September 28 - November 25 Children's Heritage Education Tours October 23-24 Fall Symposium October 24 Gold Dome Gala December 5 Downtown Holiday Festival February 6 Winter Bash Support our work! October 2009 News Preservation 2009 Most Endangered Properties Photography Exhibit on Display through October 10 PPS's annual photography exhibit opened with a lively reception on September 17. The professional photographers whose artwork was displayed mingled with members of the media, government, and preservation communities as well as interested Gallery Night patrons. The exhibit, in the atrium of the Peerless Lofts (150 Union Street in downtown Providence), will be open to the public through October 10 and may be viewed during the building's leasing office open hours: Sunday 1-5:00 p.m., Monday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.ppsri.org. The photography on exhibit is available for sale through the Arts & Business Council of Rhode Island, a partner with PPS, Cornish Associates, and the Rhode Island State Council On The Arts in presenting the exhibit. MEP Update: Captain Joseph Tillinghast House, ca. 1770 Activity has been recently observed at Captain Joseph Tillinghast House on South Main Street, one of the properties making a repeat appearance on the Most Endangered Properties List this year. We hope that this activity leads to stabilizing the building before the onset of winter, and we will monitor progress. MEP Update: Grove Street School, ca. 1901 The fate of the Grove Street School, partially demolished by its owners in 2007, remains uncertain. Read about recent developments at www.projo.com, September 19, "Providence Orders family to repair Grove Street School." Downtown Building at Risk In today's Providence Journal, architecture critic David Brussat makes an eloquent case for the rehabilitation of the George C. Arnold Building, ca. 1923, at 100 Washington Street, which was recently damaged by fire. The building is noteworthy for its contribution to the continuity of the downtown streetscape. Read the article here. Senator Reed Takes Action to Preserve Homes and Communities U.S. Senator Jack Reed has introduced legislation intended to protect communities and families from ever-increasing mortgage defaults. The bill addresses loan modification programs, provides for targeted mortgage payment assistance, encourages strong mediation programs, and more. Read about the features of his proposed bill at http://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news14102/ri-sen-reed-introduces-preserving-homes-and-communities-act-2009. Education REGISTRATION OPEN! - PPS Fall Symposium                                            October 23 - 24, 2009   The American Renaissance and Providence: A Golden Age in Architecture and the Arts Please join us on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 for a symposium exploring a "Golden Age" in Providence's history. Discussion topics will range from grand interiors of the era - some preserved, some restored, and some, sadly, lost - to the Rhode Island architects who helped form the American Institute for Architects. Stimulating lectures on the era's architecture, interior architecture, decorative arts, and culinary history will take place in some remarkable Providence buildings of the period.   Speakers include Richard Guy Wilson, Ph.D., Commonwealth Professor and Chair of Architectural History at the University of Virginia, the premier architectural historian of this period; URI Art History Professor Ronald J. Onorato, Ph.D.; Erin Williams, Collections Manager at the Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University; Thomas S. Michie, Curator of Decorative Arts and Sculpture at the MFA-Boston; John R. Tschirch, Architectural Historian from The Preservation Society of Newport County; Christopher Monkhouse, Curator and Department Chair, Art Institute of Chicago; and interior design historian and author Pauline Metcalf. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.ppsri.org/symposium. Children's Heritage Education Tours This year's Fall Term runs from September 28 through November 25, Monday through Friday. Tours start at 10:00 a.m. and last 90 minutes. Fees are $2 per student from Providence schools, $3 per student from schools outside of Providence. For a list of tour topics and curricula, please visit www.ppsri.org/curriculum or contact PPS Education Coordinator Kathleen McAreavey. PPS Education Department Welcomes New Docents to Children's Heritage Education Program New and veteran docents attended this year's Docent Training from September 22-24 to learn about the building development history and historic preservation of the College Hill, Fox Point, and Downtown neighborhoods in preparation for conducting our Downtown Tour and tour based on the children's book The Man Who Was Poe. PPS thanks Senior State Architectural Historians Robert O. Jones and Mack Woodward for presenting lectures. Special thanks to docents Vince DiStefano, Frank Sparicio, and Jack Welch for their help with the training and for conducting tours. For further information about the Docent Program, please contact Kathleen McAreavey, Education Coordinator, by e-mail or telephone: 401-831-7440, ext. 103.  Events 2009 Gold Dome Gala October 24, 2009 The Providence Preservation Society's 2009 "Gold Dome Gala" promises to be as distinctive as its location - the iconic Old Stone Bank building, ca. 1854. At this special event, planned in conjunction with the PPS Symposium on Providence during the American Renaissance, guests will experience the grandeur of this unique building and enjoy cocktails and dinner by Russell Morin Fine Catering along with a live auction. Tickets are limited; for more information or to purchase, visit www.ppsri.org/?section=events or call PPS at (401) 831-7440. 2009 Downtown Holiday Festival December 5, 2009 Tour the Town! Celebrate the Season with the Providence Preservation Society Downtown Holiday Festival. In 2008, this holiday event attracted hundreds of people to explore downtown living in creatively renovated historic buildings while enjoying seasonal festivities. This year the event promises to be even more exciting. After touring, join Mayor Cicilline for his traditional tree lighting at 6:00 p.m. in front of City Hall. Immediately following the tree lighting, celebrate with PPS at an After-Party sponsored by Lite Rock 105 and featuring a special guest. More information about the Festival and tickets will follow. 2010 Winter Bash! Save the Date: February 6, 2010 It's getting closer to midnight in The Garden of Good & Evil. Start picking out your mask for the Winter Bash 2010! Community Notes Help Support PPS Through Eastside Marketplace's Friendship Fund Send in or drop off your receipts from Eastside Marketplace at PPS. As a member of the store's Friendship Fund, PPS may redeem these receipts for a percentage of their total. It's an easy way to support PPS while patronizing a local supporter of PPS. Central Library Open House Sunday, October 18 1 - 4 PM Central Library, 150 Empire Street Providence Public Library staff and trustees invite you to get reacquainted with the Central Library during this Open House. The day is planned for all ages.   There will be singing, storytelling, a cartooning workshop for kids and families, demos of online resources, varied exhibits and displays, a movie, jazz music by the Aristocats, and special presentations. Find out what makes a book rare, meet and talk to Library trustees, and learn about PPL's history and how you can help expand the Rhode Island Image Collection. The Avon Cinema History Project The Avon Cinema (260 Thayer Street) is looking for photos, newspaper clippings, and personal stories and memories to put in a retrospective exhibit in their lobby. Simply scan your materials and e-mail them to AvonHistoryProject@gmail.com. RI Post Card Club Annual Show Sunday, October 25th Crowne Plaza Hotel Ballroom, Warwick For more information on the 47th annual Post Card Show, visit the Rhode Island Post Card Club's website. The mission of the Providence Preservation Society (PPS) is to improve the quality of life in the city of Providence through historic preservation and the enhancement of the built environment. PPS is a nonprofit membership organization, exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and is recognized as a charitable organization.