FW: PPS January E-Newsletter

In This Issue Preservation Education Events Development Volunteer Opportunity Community Notes Quick Links Become a Member PPS Website Preservation Nation Upcoming PPS Events January 21 Annual Meeting February 6 Winter Bash June 5 31st Festival of Historic Houses Support our work! Support PPS by mailing us your Eastside Marketplace receipts! A percentage of each dollar goes to support PPS programs. To learn more, e-mail PPS. January 2010 News Annual Meeting & Preservation Lecture Thursday, January 21, 5:30 p.m. For more details, click here or see below. Preservation Most Endangered Properties 2009 Update: Providence National Bank Building Facade The Downcity Design Review committee was scheduled to continue its review of the Providence National Bank Building façade at a meeting on January 11. This meeting has been canceled. Look for an update regarding the February meeting in next month's e-news. The façade was included as an element of the "Downtown National Register District" listing on the 2009 Ten Most Endangered Properties List to highlight the fact that the overall quality of the Downtown National Register District is threatened by the lack of a formal public policy that respects preservation values. Most Endangered Properties 2009 Update: Grove Street School The Building Board of Review will continue its review of Grove Street School at a meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 7 at 3:00 p.m. at 190 Dyer Street. The Board requested the owners to present clarified cost estimates for the work required. The owners were scheduled to appear in December, but the meeting was postponed. For more information, call the Building Board of Review at (401) 421-7740. NEW National Register District: Blackstone Boulevard-Cole Avenue-Grotto Avenue The Blackstone Boulevard-Cole Avenue-Grotto Avenue area  was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. Reflecting Providence's twentieth-century development as the East Side area was transformed from farmland and open space into a residential neighborhood, the neighborhood is notable for its variety of revival architectural forms and styles that were popular during the period, as well as the transition to a more modern aesthetic. The Cole Farmhouse (pictured above), built in 1732, is part of this historic district, and is one of the few surviving pre-revolutionary houses, typifying the modest farmhouses built on the far reaches of the early English settlement in Providence. This small one-and-a- half-story house, recently bank-owned, has been sold. Our hopes are that a new owner will restore the property so that the house will survive as an vibrant reminder of Providence's rural past.   Preservation Watch List: Brownell & Field Company Building PPS is always on the lookout for historic properties that may be endangered. The Brownell & Field Company Building (1907-08) at 119 Harris Avenue is included in the Provisions Warehouse Historic District, determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Brownell & Field and two adjacent buildings, Standard Wholesale Liquors Co. (1937) at 115 Harris Avenue and Turner Centre System Building (1923-26) at 135 Harris Avenue are the only buildings remaining in that district.  Brownell & Field is also included in the city's Industrial & Commercial Buildings District (ICBD).   The property on which Brownell & Field stands was acquired by Field Land Company after 1906 and remained in its or its successor's (Autocrat) possession until the Providence Journal Company bought it in 1995.  This building is being carefully watched by PPS because of its deteriorated state and the uncertainty about its future use. Education Children's Heritage Education Tours Open for Booking Bookings are now being accepted for our Spring 2010 Children's Heritage Education Tours, which are led from Monday through Friday at 10:00 a.m., March 29 through June 11. The tours offered this spring are: ~ College Hill Tour, 1636-1775 - Roger Williams and the Settlement of Colonial Providence focuses on grade four. ~ Downtown Tour, c. 1800 - Present - The Rise of the West Side focuses on grades six through twelve.  ~ "Avi" Tour - Something Upstairs, 1800 - A Literary Journey to the Past focuses on grades five through seven.  ~ H.P. Lovecraft as Preservationist, 1920s Benefit Street focuses on grades ten through twelve.  ~ "Avi" Tour - The Man Who Was Poe, Mid-1800s Providence focuses on grades five through seven.  ~ The Crest of College Hill:  A Late 19th Century Victorian Journey focuses on the third grade.  Please spread the word at your children's and grandchildren's schools. Teachers may contact Education Coordinator Kathleen McAreavey at kmcareavey@ppsri.org or (401) 831-7440, ext. 103.   Wheeler School Tour on Slavery Last fall, under the tutelage of Wheeler School teacher Becca Hunsicker, 7th grade students completed a unit about the slave trade in Rhode Island and in Providence, in particular. During the course of the unit, students discussed the triangle trade, looked at primary source documents, and read about the Brown family as well as other ships' captains. In addition, they researched sites connected to the trade that are within walking distance of their school. These include Brown's University Hall, the John Brown House, and the Old State House. They also viewed primary source documents at the RI Historical Society Library. On Tuesday, November 24, the students participated on a day-long walking tour of these sites. Thanks to the help of longtime PPS docent Mr. Ed Hooks the students learned all about the Old State House, its history of place and its significance to the slave trade in Rhode Island, due in large part to the laws passed within the building. It was a thought-provoking day and PPS is pleased to have participated and grateful to Mr. Ed for giving so generously of his time. We are also grateful to the staff at the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, which is housed in the Old State House, for allowing us to use the space on that day. Upcoming Events Annual Meeting & Preservation Lecture Thursday, January 21, 5:30 p.m. The Providence Preservation Society will host its 52nd Annual Meeting and Preservation Lecture on January 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Beneficent Congregational Church, 300 Weybosset Street, in downtown Providence. The event is free and open to the public. William Morgan, architectural historian and author, will present the lecture. Mr. Morgan has a Ph.D in Art History from the University of Delaware, a certificate in architecture and an M.A. in history from Columbia University, and an undergraduate degree in history from Dartmouth College. He is a teacher and widely published author of books, articles, and reviews with architectural themes. He is also an occasional contributor to the Providence Journal.  PPS Winter Bash Saturday, February 6, 8:00 p.m. Join PPS at its seventh Winter Bash at 100 Westminster Street overlooking Burnside Park and Capital Center in Downtown Providence on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 8 p.m. The Bash will bring together over 600 people from across the region. Featuring fabulous entertainment, specialty drinks, and a full cash bar, this is the event everyone will be talking about through the year! This year's theme is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Plan to dance the night away with Santa Mamba as we transform this empty space into a magical evening not to be missed. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here. Development Thank You, and Membership in the New Year Many thanks to those of you who included the PPS Annual Fund in your year-end giving. The board and staff deeply appreciate your support and ongoing commitment to the mission of protecting and enhancing the built environment in our capital city.    We often hear questions from members about their membership status. PPS memberships renew on a rolling schedule annually, so the month in which your membership expires is the month in which you joined. Renewal notices are mailed before expiration. A large percentage of our members join in December and January, so if you are among this group, now is a good time to be sure your membership is current. If you are unsure of your membership status, Lauren Goldenberg or John Rogers in the PPS office will be happy to confirm.     We hope to see you at our events throughout 2010. Volunteer Opportunity PPS is seeking volunteers to help out at our Winter Bash, coming up on Saturday, February 6 at 100 Westminster Street in downtown Providence. The always-popular event runs from 8:00 p.m. until 12:00 midnight. The attire is casual cocktail. For more information, click here. Community Notes Central Library Offers Free Sunday Programming Film Noir Matinees Sundays, 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. until January 31 Central Library, 150 Empire Street See ten classics of the genre throughout the dark, cold winter! All matinees will take place on Sunday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. in the Library's Auditorium Theater. The Library is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Click here for more information and the complete schedule. Family Learning Sundays Second Sunday of every month, January - May at 2:00 p.m. Providence Public Library presents its 2010 Family Learning Sundays series, beginning January 10. Bring your family to enjoy varied opportunities to seek new knowledge - together - at the Library. For information, call (401) 455-8025 or visit www.provlib.org. 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.

RI Historical Society -- January Events

John Brown House Museum Hours
For more information: Dan Santos
(401) 273-7507 x60 or dsantos@rihs.org
January 2 through March 31:
Fridays and Saturdays, tours begin at 10:30am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm and 3:00pm

************************************

Continuing until Sunday, February 14, 2010
Gallery Exhibit
Museum of Work & Culture
42 South Main Street, Woonsocket
For more information: Ray Bacon
(401) 769-9675 or rbacon@rihs.org
 
Rhode Island in the Time of Lincoln
The RIHS will continue celebrating the bicentennial of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth with an exhibit that takes a look at life in Rhode Island during the 1860s. Though Lincoln made only two stops in RI, they were widely attended and remembered. But what did the RI that Lincoln visited look like? Come see the exhibit and learn of the people, places, and attitudes of the times. Sponsored by the RI Foundation and the RI Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
 
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Sunday, January 17, 1:30 p.m.
Museum of Work & Culture
42 South Main Street, Woonsocket
Free Admission, To R.S.V.P.: Ray Bacon
(401) 769-9675 or rbacon@rihs.org
 
Ranger Days
Local historian Erik Eckilson will take you on a multi-media tour of Rhode Island’s Blackstone River Valley. Using pictures and video, Eckilson will take you on a trip down the Blackstone to visit the ten mill villages that grew up between Woonsocket and Valley Falls. Presented in conjunction with the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
 
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Sunday, January 31, 1:30 p.m.
Museum of Work & Culture
42 South Main Street, Woonsocket
Free Admission, To R.S.V.P.: Ray Bacon
(401) 769-9675 or rbacon@rihs.org
 
Ranger Days
Betty and Carlo Mencucci from the Burrillville Historical Society will present views of Spring Lake through the years. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the lake attracted thousands of visitors looking for recreation in the form of swimming, boating, clambakes and outings, providing rest from the workday world of the mill workers. Their collection of photos and postcards will provide an educational and entertaining experience for all.

RI Historical Society -- Holiday Hours

 

John Brown House Museum Hours
For more information: Dan Santos
(401) 273-7507 x60 or dsantos@rihs.org
 
December 1 – 19:
Fridays and Saturdays, tours begin at 10:30am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm, and 3:00pm
CLOSED December 21 through January 1, 2010

January 2 through March 31, 2010:
Fridays and Saturdays, tours begin at 10:30am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm and 3:00pm

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RIHS Library Hours
For more information (401) 273-8107 x12
 
CLOSED December 23 through January 1, 2010
 
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Museum of Work & Culture Hours
For more information: Anne Conway
(401) 769-9675
 
CLOSED at 1:00pm on December 24
CLOSED on December 25
 
Open December 26 and 27, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
 
CLOSED at 1:00pm on December 31
CLOSED on January 1, 2010
Regular weekend hours on January 2 (10am to 5pm) and 3 (1pm to 4pm)

RI Historical Society -- December Events

 

John Brown House Museum Hours
For more information: Dan Santos
(401) 273-7507 x60 or dsantos@rihs.org
 
December 1 – 19:
Fridays and Saturdays, tours begin at 10:30am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm, and 3:00pm
CLOSED December 21 through January 1, 2010

January 2 through March 31:
Fridays and Saturdays, tours begin at 10:30am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm and 3:00pm

************************************

Continuing until Sunday, February 14, 2010
Gallery Exhibit
Museum of Work & Culture
42 South Main Street, Woonsocket
For more information: Ray Bacon
(401) 769-9675 or rbacon@rihs.org
 
Rhode Island in the Time of Lincoln
The RIHS will continue celebrating the bicentennial of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth with an exhibit that takes a look at life in Rhode Island during the 1860s. Though Lincoln made only two stops in RI, they were widely attended and remembered. But what did the RI that Lincoln visited look like? Come see the exhibit and learn of the people, places, and attitudes of the times. Sponsored by the RI Foundation and the RI Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

 

Museum Mixer for students at the Haffenreffer

Museum Mixer for Brown University Students
Come to the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology at Manning Hall on Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. to say farewell to the Museum’s current exhibition, Believing Africa.  Believing Africa opened in 2006 as a result of museum studies courses and was featured in African Arts Magazine in 2008.  The Haffenreffer Museum at Manning Hall will be closed next semester for the installation of the new exhibition opening Commencement Weekend 2010.  Enjoy light fare and conversations with friends as you visit Believing Africa for perhaps the last time.  This student-only reception was coordinated at the suggestion of the Haffenreffer Museum’s Student Advisory Committee and is sponsored by the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology.

 
http://www.brown.edu/Haffenreffer/exhibits-manning/africa.html <http://www.brown.edu/Haffenreffer/exhibits-manning/africa.html>

Geralyn Hoffman
Curator of Programs and Education
Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology
Brown University
300 Tower Street, Bristol, RI  02809
TEL: 401-253-8388 FAX: 401-253-1198
Geralyn_Hoffman@brown.edu
www.brown.edu/Haffenreffer <http://www.brown.edu/Haffenreffer>  
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FW: PPS December E-Newsletter

In This Issue Events Preservation Education Volunteer Opportunity Community Notes Quick Links Become a Member PPS Website Preservation Nation Upcoming PPS Events December 5 Downtown Holiday Festival January 21 Annual Meeting February 6 Winter Bash Support our work! Support PPS by mailing us your Eastside Marketplace receipts! A percentage of each dollar goes to support PPS programs. To learn more, e-mail PPS. December 2009 News 2009 Downtown Holiday Festival Saturday, December 5 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Celebrate the Season with the Providence Preservation Society Downtown Holiday Festival!                  Tickets are still available for the PPS Downtown Holiday Festival! Ticket holders will tour eleven renovated residential and commercial spaces and will have access to two lectures - on the Union Trust Company Building (1901) and skyscrapers in the American Renaissance, and on recent development in Downtown - as well as an opportunity to enjoy a docent-led guided tour. The Holiday Festival will feature entertainment throughout Downtown, including carolers, performance groups, and hay rides, and will culminate with a parade at 5:45 from the Arcade to City Hall, where Mayor David Cicilline will conduct his traditional tree lighting at 6:00 p.m. Afterward, party with PPS at an After-Tour Celebration sponsored by Lite Rock 105 and featuring special guest Tiny Tavares, of the Grammy Award-winning band Tavares, famous for their hit singles "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" and "More Than a Woman." Tickets for the Holiday Festival Tours are $25.00 through December 3; $30.00 if purchased at the event. Tickets for the After-Tour Celebration are $75.00 and include a Tour ticket. To learn more, visit the PPS Events web page or call (401) 831-7440. Upcoming Events Annual Meeting - January 21 Beneficent Congregational Church 300 Weybosset Street Providence, RI 02903 Winter Bash! 100 Westminster Street 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! Tickets will be on sale in January. Preservation New Preservation and Advocacy Coordinator at PPS We are pleased to announce that Kathleen M. Styger joined the Providence Preservation Society as its Preservation & Advocacy Coordinator on November 16, 2009.   Kathleen joins PPS from the Downtown Crossing Partnership in Boston where she was Associate Director of Planning and Policy.  In that role, Kathleen focused primarily on planning and community outreach efforts toward forming a Business Improvement District for Downtown Boston, the first such district in that city.   A Newport resident, Kathleen holds a B.A. in Cultural and Historic Preservation from Salve Regina University and a M.C.P. in City and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. Most Endangered Properties '09 Update: Grove Street School In the ongoing saga of the neglected and deteriorating Grove Street School, the Providence Building Official gave notice on July 10, 2009 to its owners, setting forth measures required to make the building safe. The owners, citing costs, are appealing this ruling. On November 5, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. at 190 Dyer Street, the Providence Building Board of Review heard the owners' appeal. The process will continue at the next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, December 10 at 3:30 p.m. The Board requested clarified cost estimates for the work required. For more information, call the Building Board of Review at (401) 421-7740. Most Endangered Properties Update: Providence National Bank Building Facade and Teste Block The owner of the 1940s-era 50 Weybosset Street façade, all that remains of the demolished Providence National Bank and First Federal Bank buildings, appeared before the Downcity Design Review Committee in November appealing for permission to remove the façade. The buildings were demolished in anticipation of development that has since been halted due to market conditions. PPS and others advocated for retention of the façade as a condition of demolition permitting. The façade was included as an element in the Downtown Providence National Register district listing on the 2009 Ten Most Endangered Properties List to highlight the fact that the overall quality of the Providence Downtown National Register District is threatened by the lack of formal public policy that respects preservation values.   As the Mayor's Working Group on Historic Preservation, formed after the loss of the Fruit and Produce building, highlighted in its final report, Providence has in place no meaningful financial penalties when planned developments allowed at the expense of historic fabric do not occur. Like the Fruit and Produce building and the Police & Fire Station, the buildings on the façade's current site between Westminster and Weybosset Streets were demolished on promises of new construction that has not happened. PPS has advocated for, and the City of Providence needs, a demolition policy that holds property owners accountable for their commitments to the City by mandating financial penalties in the event that plans are not carried out.   The Downcity Design Review Committee requested additional information from the property owner and will continue its review at a meeting scheduled for December 14 at 4:45 p.m. at the Department of Planning. Education "American Renaissance" Revisited with Lecture at Downtown Holiday Festival Dr. R. Tripp Evans, Associate Professor of Art History and Chair of the Art and Art History Department at Wheaton College, will present a lecture at this year's Downtown Holiday Festival on December 5. His lecture, "Federal, Unreserved: Union Trust and the Vertical American Renaissance," will elaborate on the subject of the October PPS Fall Symposium, "Providence and the American Renaissance." Providence's architecturally exuberant Union Trust Company Building (1901) is both a model of American Renaissance design and an important example of Rhode Island's contribution to the evolution of skyscraper style. Taking a look at the architects, client, and historical context of this building, Dr. Evans will explore its significance as a marker of the city's unique banking and design history. Admission to the lecture is included with purchase of a Downtown Holiday Festival ticket. For more information about the  Festival, or to purchase tickets, please visit our website or  call PPS at 831-7440. Recent Marker Awards   Through its Historic Property Marker Program, PPS recognizes buildings in the City of Providence that contribute to the appreciation and understanding of Providence's unique architectural, historical, and cultural heritage. Markers are awarded to buildings that retain integrity of their original design, are appropriately and well maintained, and are at least 50 years old. The purpose of the program is not only to identify buildings of historical and architectural significance, but also, through heightened community awareness, to encourage the continuing care and preservation of individual buildings and neighborhoods.    The following properties were awarded PPS Historic Property Markers during the second half of 2009:   WEEKS-WRIGHT HOUSE, Built 1911, 12 Everett Avenue, Wayland Avenue Historic District   CARL AND DOROTHY O. JAGOLINZER HOUSE, Built 1935-1937, Tudor Revival, 42 Eames Street, Freeman Plat Historic District   HARRY L. KOOPMAN HOUSE, Built 1913, Colonial Revival,76 Taber Avenue, Wayland Avenue Historic District   GEORGE G. AND ROSE A. GERBER HOUSE, Built 1931-1932, Colonial Revival, 265 Freeman Parkway, Blackstone Boulevard - Cole Avenue - Grotto Avenue Historic District   EARL D. AND CLAUDINE F. SANFORD HOUSE, Built 1931-1933, Colonial Revival, 325 Cole Avenue, Blackstone Boulevard - Cole Avenue - Grotto Avenue Historic District   JOHN E. AND AGNES H. LENT HOUSE, Built 1922-1923, Dutch Colonial Revival, 509 Wayland Avenue, Freeman Plat Historic District,   DR. MICHAEL L. AND ELLA C. MULLANEY HOUSE, Built 1931, Tudor Revival, 604 Elmgrove Avenue, Blackstone Boulevard Realty Plat Historic District   For more information about the Marker Program, including qualifying standards and a downloadable application, visit the PPS website. Only the exterior of the building and its surrounding landscape will be examined and evaluated.  Aluminum siding, vinyl siding, and vinyl replacement windows will automatically disqualify a property. Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis by a committee of volunteer historic preservation professionals. You may also contact Education Coordinator Kathleen McAreavey at (401) 831-7440, ext. 103 or kmcareavey@ppsri.org.   Wheeler School Tour on Slavery On Tuesday, November 24th, Wheeler School 7th grade students participated on a day-long walking tour of Providence sites historically linked to the slave trade. Longtime PPS docent Mr. Ed Hooks guided the students through Brown University's University Hall, the John Brown House, and the Old State House. PPS is pleased to have collaborated with the Wheeler School and grateful to Mr. Ed for giving so generously of his time. We are also grateful to the staff at the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, which is housed in the Old State House, for allowing us to use the space on that day. Something Upstairs Kite Project Flies Over to PPS As part of a 2008 summer reading project for his school, rising 6th grader Robbie Oliver chose Something Upstairs, by the popular author Avi. His mother, Colleen, contacted PPS to inquire about the tour of Providence we offer based on the book, and on an August Saturday in 2008, PPS veteran docent Jack Welch led a personalized tour for the family of 1800s Providence, including Fox Point, College Hill, and the waterfront.    Robbie's project included an oral presentation, written report, and a "kite" illustrating the story. Just this week the Olivers came to PPS from southeastern Massachusetts to share the result. Directions for the kite project will be added to the curriculum PPS created to support the tour. We thank the Olivers for sharing this creative way of learning about our wonderful city and Jack Welch for giving so generously of his time on a beautiful summer Saturday. Volunteer Opportunity Downtown Holiday Festival Volunteers Still Needed It's not too late to volunteer to be a part of one of the great holiday traditions in Providence! PPS is looking for outgoing and energetic volunteers to act as guides in the homes featured on the Downtown Holiday Festival tour. The homes are open from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., but volunteers are asked to serve only one shift: from 11:00 - 2:00, or from 2:00 - 5:00. During the opposite shift, each registered volunteer will receive one complimentary tour admission. Guides work with a captain and a small team in each home to provide information to tour goers throughout the home in which they are stationed. Guides will be provided with some historic and architectural information about the home to share with guests on the tour. Guides are usually stationed in one location within the home as assigned by the captain. To volunteer, please e-mail Volunteer Coordinator Barbara Zdravesky at barbara.zdravesky@gmail.com. Community Notes Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, To Retire in Spring 2010 PPS is a National Trust for Historic Preservation Local Partner. For the complete press release from the National Trust, click here. Saving Historic Places:  Help for Homeowners   Homeowners are on the frontlines of preservation. So the National Trust for Historic Preservation is pleased to offer a new section on its website designed just for owners of older and historic homes.  Made possible by the generous support of Valspar Paints, the new section features homes for sale, interviews with homeowners, and a new Weatherization Guide to help you get ready for winter.  To learn more, click here. Historic Buildings of Providence College September 8 - December 15 Phillips Memorial Library foyer Exhibit is free and open to the general public.   The display highlights the founding of Harkins Hall, and the early days of Dominic and Martin Halls through original photographs. Photographs chronicle Martin Hall, once known as Guzman Hall, and Dominic Hall, which is now the home of the President of Providence College. In addition to these images dating back to 1919, the display includes architectural drawings of a proposed 1934 Gothic-style library building that was never built. Central Library Free Film Noir Matinees! Sundays, 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. November 15 - January 31 Central Library, 150 Empire Street See ten classics of the genre throughout the dark, cold winter! All matinees will take place on Sunday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. in the Library's Auditorium Theater. The Library is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Click here for more information and the complete schedule. 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.

FW: Tour the Town! Celebrate with PPS at the 2009 Downtown Holiday Festival-December 5

2009 PPS Downtown Holiday Festival December 5, 2009 Tour the Town! Celebrate the Holidays with the Providence Preservation Society Downtown Holiday Festival Visit some of the most distinctive and extraordinary residential and commercial spaces in Downtown Providence, many not open to the public except during this tour. Combining contemporary design with historic architecture, these interiors showcase the adaptability and remarkable vitality of Downtown buildings. This self-guided tour is sure to dazzle and inspire! Highlights of the day-long Festival include horse-drawn carriage rides, a special tree lighting ceremony, holiday bell ringers and carolers, and seasonal pleasures. Tour sites will be open to ticket holders 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tickets for the tour are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. The Registration Center (where you pick up your guidebook which serves as the ticket) is at the Peerless Building Atrium at 150 Union Street. Click here for directions. Ticket holders will also be admitted to the following lectures and tours by showing their guidebooks : Clark Schoettle, Executive Director of the Providence Revolving Fund, will present an overview of recent historic preservation projects in Downtown Providence. Through his compelling "before and after" photographs and in-depth knowledge of individual buildings, he will highlight the dramatic transformations taking place in the historic core, many stimulated by the State Historic Tax Credit program and the Downcity Fund.   Tripp Evans, Associate Professor of Art History at Wheaton College, will present a lecture on "Federal, Unreserved: Union Trust and the Vertical American Renaissance." Providence's architecturally exuberant Union Trust Company Building (1901) is both a model of American Renaissance design and an important example of Rhode Island's contribution to the evolution of skyscraper style. Taking a look at the architects, client, and historical context of this building, Professor Evans will explore its significance as a marker of the city's unique banking and design history. PPS Guided Tours of Downtown: Let a professionally trained guide lead you on a vibrant walking tour that highlights the rich history and architecture of Downtown! After touring, join Mayor David Cicilline for his traditional tree lighting at 6:00 p.m. in front of City Hall. A parade leading up to City Hall starts at 5:45 p.m. on Westminster Street in front of the Arcade. Following the tree lighting, continue to enjoy downtown in the evening with PPS at the After-Tour Celebration sponsored by Lite Rock 105 and featuring Tiny Tavares from the Grammy-winning band, Tavares, famed for "Heaven Must be Missing an Angel" and "More than a Woman." Attendees will savor hors d'oeuvres and cocktails while listening to holiday music provided by Sweet 78. The After-Tour Celebration will take place at the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Providence, 58 Weybosset Street, Providence , RI 02903. The Celebration in this recently renovated historic building will start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75.00 TICKETS For more information or to purchase tickets, visit our website, call PPS offices at 831-7440, or visit one of the following off-site ticket locations: Adler's Hardware Design Within Reach Dugan Custom Jewelers Eastside Marketplace Holiday Festival Sponsors are Event Sponsor Berkeley Investments, Inc. Supporting Sponsors Cornish Associates Partridge Snow & Hahn, LLP Providence Foundation Providence Revolving Fund The Washington Trust Company Media Sponsors Lite Rock 105 WPRI This event is funded in part by the Providence Tourism Council.

FW: News from Museum Education Roundtable

News from MER Fall 2009 In this issue... Fall 2009 J.M.E. Educational Leadership Who are your Colleagues? 2009 Member Survey results MER has a new web site!   Dear Museum Educators I am so pleased, and honored, to be reporting to you as the next Board President of the Museum Education Roundtable (MER). As a museum educator for 13 years, I am also proud to be a part of this international board of directors and look forward to carrying on the leadership in the 2009-2010 year. Changes in leadership together with returning board members mark a new chapter for the board and MER members. Read more.... Fall 2009 J.M.E. Educational Leadership Coming to your mailbox soon...the Fall 2009 issue of the Journal of Museum Education, which features articles organized around the theme of educational leadership in cultural institutions. We would like to hear your reactions to the articles in the Fall 2009 issue. Visit the "Discuss the Fall 2009 JME" page on our site to leave a comment on how the articles might inform your practice or institutional policy. NOTE: MER members in good standing should receive this issue by December 11. If you have not received your JME by then, please contact us. We'll confirm your mailing address and check that your membership is current. Learn more about the JME Who are your Colleagues? 2009 Member Survey results In Spring 2009 the MER board sent current members an e-mail invitation to complete an anonymous survey that would collect their feedback on the organization's programs, resources, and communication tools, and 139 members responded. The board carefully analyzed members' input and are using it to evaluate current offerings and better serve its members. Download a summary of the survey results MER has a new web site! MER is now using WordPress, a free, open-source publishing tool that allows users to easily create and customize blogs and websites. With WordPress you don't need to buy expensive web authoring software or know HTML. This tool is handy for an organization that uses multiple authors to update a website easily. Contact us if you would like more information on WordPress. We plan to continue adding resources to the MER site such as links to other museum organizations and conferences that might be of interest to you. We welcome your suggestions, too! Visit museumeducation.info Museum Education Roundtable info@mer-online.org