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  • Potter School Addition - Newport RI
    The PWA funded this addition to the Potter School, which dates to 1881. Like the Carey School, it has been converted into luxury condominiums.
  • Prospect Terrace Sidewalks - Providence RI
    A series of concrete WPA sidewalks running around the edge of Prospect Terrace, a hillside park overlooking the city.
  • Providence Public Library Murals - Providence RI
    "Pawtucket native Edward Dubuque produced the set of five murals under the auspices of the Federal Emergency Relief Association (FERA) as an art project, and they were formally dedicated on April 23, 1935. Dubuque went on to produce backdrop sets for MGM. The five murals extending around three walls of the main room represent characters and incidents from well-known literature for boys and girls."   (www.provlib.org) The murals are as follows: Panel 1, South Wall Scene: Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Humpty-Dumpty Measures 90 x 140 inches Panel 2, South Wall (with intake grate in middle) Scene: Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn; Robinson Crusoe Measures 90 x 133 inches (grate...
  • Rhode Island School for the Deaf, Gymnasium - Providence RI
    A long, two-story building, Colonial Revival in style. Built by the PWA in 1934-36 to house a training school as well as a gymnasium. The architects were William R. Walker & Son, of Providence. The School for the Deaf has since moved to a new campus.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Administration Building - Cranston RI
    A two-story, Colonial Revival building, with a prominent cupola and portico. A PWA structure, it was designed by Providence architect Edwin E. Cull. Built to house administration offices and a medical library, it is now occupied by the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. The State Hospital for Mental Diseases is now known as Eleanor Slater Hospital.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Adolph Meyer Building - Cranston RI
    A substantial structure, of conservative Colonial Revival design. Its only ornament of any significance is the Palladian Window in the center pavilion, with a delicate fan above. It was designed by Edwin E. Cull of Providence, who also designed the Hospital's administration offices in the same year.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Benjamin Rush Building - Cranston RI
    A large, three-story building facing Howard Avenue, the main road through the hospital campus. The building, in the Colonial Revival style, is most notable for its prominent ogee gable. The ogee gable has been a recurring element in Rhode Island ever since amateur architect Joseph Brown's unorthodox use of it in his own residence in Providence, built in 1774. The architect of the Rush Building was Franklin R. Hindle, of Providence.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Building for Disturbed Men - Cranston RI
    Now known as the Pinel Building, this building was built as a dormitory. It was designed by William R. Walker & Son, a Providence firm known for public buildings. It is built in the Colonial Revival style.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Building for Disturbed Women - Cranston RI
    Now known as the Dorothea Dix Building, this building was built as a dormitory. It was designed by William R. Walker & Son, a Providence firm known for public buildings. In the Colonial Revival style. Built by both the Hospital and State Prison to house criminals with mental disorders, as was the neighboring Building for Disturbed Men.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): C Building Remodeling - Cranston RI
    In 1936, this three story hospital building was remodeled under the P.W.A. The architect was Albert H. Humes, of Pawtucket. It was originally built in 1918 and designed by John Hutchins Cady of Providence. It is today part of the Minimum Security prison.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Elizabeth Barry Hall - Cranston RI
    A large, three-story Colonial Revival building. It was designed by architect John F. Hogan, of Providence. It was built concurrently with neighboring Simpson Hall, which is nearly identical, though by different architects. Barry Hall was named for a former superintendent of nurses.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Harrington Hall - Cranston RI
    A large multi-purpose building, in the Colonial Revival style. Originally housed the hospital's chapel, cafeteria, and gymnasium. Designed by John F. O'Malley of Pawtucket. Used until recently as a homeless shelter.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Hazard Building - Cranston RI
    A long Colonial Revival building, built to house a hospital. It was designed by the firm of Barker & Turoff, of Providence. It is located directly west of the Reception Hospital, the institution's first building.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Jonathan Arnold Building - Cranston RI
    A two-story Colonial Revival building on a high basement. Like its neighbor, the Welcome Arnold Building, it was designed by Oresto Disaia. Unlike its neighbor, it has had some of its detailing altered, making the two no longer identical.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Louis Pasteur Building - Cranston RI
    This is one of the largest buildings on the hospital campus. It stands three and four stories tall, gable-roofed, with a substantial clock tower. Like most of the area's buildings, it is in the Colonial Revival style. The architect was Edward O. Ekman, of Providence.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Physician's Residences - Cranston RI
    A group of three Colonial Revival houses that would not look out of place in an early suburb. There were once two more of these houses, on the south side of the street, which have been demolished. The architects of these houses are unknown at this time.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Simpson Hall - Cranston RI
    A large Colonial Revival building. Built concurrently with neighboring Elizabeth Barry Hall, which is identical, though designed by a different architect. Simpson was designed by Howe & Church, of Providence.
  • Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases (former): Welcome Arnold Building - Cranston RI
    A two-story Colonial Revival building on a high basement. Like its neighbor, the Jonathan Arnold Building, it was designed by Oresto Disaia. Unlike its neighbor, it remains unaltered, making the two no longer identical. The building is currently vacant.
  • Rhode Island State House Addition - Providence RI
    The Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) provided funding assistance toward in the construction of an 'addition' to the Rhode Island State House, located across the street from the State House. The building now houses the state's Department of Transportation.
  • Rhode Island State Infirmary Hospital (former): Bernadette Building - Cranston RI
    A two-story, flat-roofed building. Nominally Colonial Revival in style. This is one of the three original buildings of the Hospital, built by the PWA in 1936.
  • Rhode Island State Infirmary Hospital (former): Equipment Building - Cranston RI
    The PWA built this equipment building on the State Infirmary Hospital campus.
  • Rhode Island State Infirmary Hospital (former): McDonald Building - Cranston RI
    A three-story, Colonial Revival building built by the PWA in 1936. Like its neighbor, the Bernadette Building, the McDonald Building houses part of the women's prison.
  • Rhode Island State Infirmary Hospital (former): Power Plant - Cranston RI
    The PWA built the power facilities at the State Infirmary Hospital. The power plant has since been substantially expanded, but it is unclear if the original building remains. Note that in the above photograph, the passageway at the right was not built by the PWA.
  • Rhode Island State Infirmary Hospital (former): Virks Building - Cranston RI
    Built by the PWA in 1936 as the main building of its institution, the Virks Building is one of the largest buildings in this part of the city. It features a large portico, overlooking West Road. It was designed by Ambrose J. Murphy of Providence, more well known for his ecclesiastical designs. The building is currently vacant, with a proposal to convert it into offices.
  • Rhode Island State Sanatorium, Nurses' Home - Burrillville RI
    A long, low, Classical Revival building, originally built to houses the nurses employed by the Sanatorium. Architecturally, it is defined by the slightly projecting central pavilion ornamented with pilasters and a pediment. Like the Sanatorium's main building, Wallum Lake House, the Nurses' Building was a PWA project. The architects of the building were Walter F. Fontaine & Sons, of Woonsocket. The Sanatorium is now the Zambarano Unit of Eleanor Slater Hospital. Built to house tuberculosis patients, it is now occupied by long-term cases requiring intensive care.
  • Rhode Island State Sanatorium, Wallum Lake House - Burrillville RI
    The Wallum Lake House was the Sanatorium's main building. It is a large, 3-story brick building, in the Colonial Revival style. The State Sanatorium was originally used as a place for the treatment of tuberculosis patients. It was designed by the Providence architectural firm of Howe & Church during the mid-1930s. This building replaced the Sanatorium's original building, which had opened in 1905. When it opened, Tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in Rhode Island. The hospital became the Zambarano Unit of Eleanor Slater Hospital in 1994. It is now used primarily to care for long-term patients requiring intensive care. The Bridgemen's...
  • Rhodes Avenue Grading - Woonsocket RI
    Woonsocket, RI: A Centennial History, states: The Woonsocket Call of September 28, 1935, reported that "work was started on the first five WPA projects in Woonsocket, giving employment to 300 men." Logee and Larch Streets and Rhodes Avenue were graded; Thomas Street was paved; and Cass Park athletic fields were completed.
  • Richmond Township School - Richmond RI
    The New Deal funded the construction of this school, now Richmond Elementary, in Richmond Township in 1934.
  • Road Improvements - Jamestown RI
    "Early projects proposed by the town and paid for by the WPA included upgrade of the roads ..."
  • Roger Williams Park - Providence RI
    "The park was designed by Horace Cleveland in 1878, and was constructed in the 1880s. Many of the roads, bridges and sidewalks were built by the Works Progress Administration from 1935 to 1940."
  • Samuel Gorton High School - Warwick RI
    A long, low Art Deco building constructed by the PWA in 1938-39. Originally a high school, it is now used as a junior high. The architect was Edward O. Ekman, of Providence.
  • Scarborough Beach Bathing Pavilion - Narragansett RI
    The WPA built a bathing pavilion at Scarborough Beach. The precise location of the structure, if it remains, is unclear.
  • Sewage Treatment Facility - Providence RI
    Providence's sewage treatment facility was a PWA project. Facilities have expanded beyond the original PWA-constructed plant, but it appears to remain at the site.
  • Sewers - Cranston RI
    WPA labor and funds assisted in the construction of Cranston's massive sewer construction project. There is even a photo of an unusual WPA manhole cover.
  • Sewers - Pawtucket RI
    Storm and sanitary sewer construction projects in Pawtucket, Rhode Island were undertaken with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied loans and grants for the endeavors, which were undertaken between 1934 and 1935. PWA Docket No. RI 4903, 4957.
  • Sewers - Warren RI
    A sanitary sewer construction project in Warren, Rhode Island was undertaken with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $39,500 loan and $10,959 grant for the project, whose total cost was $51,002; construction occurred between September 1934 and April 1935. PWA Docket No. RI 1318.
  • Sheffield School Addition - Newport RI
    The PWA funded renovations and an addition at the Sheffield School circa 1934. The school closed in 2007, and the city has explored turning the building into a high-tech innovation center called InnovateNewport with a $1.7 million federal grant, but the status of the project is unclear.
  • Sidewalks - Central Falls RI
    The WPA built sidewalks in Central Falls, Rhode Island. One commenter to an article about New Deal accomplishments in the area wrote: "I remember seeing WPA plaques on sidewalks in Central Falls back in the late 70's. These were the sidewalks that weren't collapsing." In 2017 a Rhode Island Division of Planning analysis stated "Central Falls' street network of sidewalks that have largely reached the end of their service life (many are WPA projects from the 1930s) ..."
  • Sidewalks - Cranston RI
    "Under Sprague, Cranston took full advantage of federal assistance for public works projects. For example ... many of Cranston's sidewalks were built with WPA funds."
  • Sidewalks - East Providence RI
    The WPA constructed "miles and miles of sidewalks" in East Providence, R.I.
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