(rshsdepot) Pawtucket-Central Falls, RI

["James Dent" <james.dent_@_itochu.com>]

=46rom the Pawtucket (RI) Times, see no. 3 on the list...

Six out of 10's not bad
William Hamilton May 17, 2001

PAWTUCKET -- Paul Mowrey says it=92s good news for preservationists: The
Preservation Society of Pawtucket couldn=92t find 10 locations to put on =
its
annual Top 10 Most Endangered Places list.
So the society unveiled this year=92s version of the list Wednesday with =
only
six locations that have been deemed the most endangered links to the city=
=92s
past, including two mill buildings, an old train depot and a vacant bank
building.

"We=92re not in a situation like we were three years ago, when there are
buildings in eminent danger of being demolished," said Mowrey, PSP
secretary.

All six spots were on last year=92s list, too.

The list was unveiled at a reception at the To Kalon Club, where resident=
s
and business were also recognized for renovations and upkeep of historic
properties in the city.

It=92s the third year for Pawtucket=92s endangered list, designed to brin=
g
awareness of pieces of Pawtucket history that are at risk of vanishing
forever.

It must be working.

Four properties on last year=92s list did not make it onto this year=92s =
list,
including the former Feldman Furniture Building on Summer Street.

Once known as the Arnold Stable, 109-year-old building was eyed by the ci=
ty
as a possible location for a parking lot, but the building owner,
Major-Edward=92s Electric, hasn=92t shown an interest in selling. City Ha=
ll has
dropped those plans, at least temporarily.

Also off the list is St. Joseph Church school, which is used by St. Rapha=
el
Academy. The school has said there are no immediate plans to demolish the
building, as it was once thought.

The only addition to the list was the McDevitt Building, the three-story
brick building downtown that once housed McDevitt=92s department store. I=
t was
paired with the Beswick Block since their located next to each other.

Like the Beswick Building at 3 Exchange St., the McDevitt Building is
largely vacant.

The preservation society decided to keep the Seekonk Lace factory on
Armistice Boulevard on the list, even though it was purchased by Head Sta=
rt
Inc.

Head Start doesn=92t plan to use the building and had talked about demoli=
tion.
But the non-profit organization is open to some type of reuse. "There is
certainly room for some dialogue here," Mowrey said.

The full List of Endangered Places is:

1. Old Colony Bank Building, 335 Main St. Built around 1927, the three-st=
ory
brick building has been listed for three years.

2. Main Street, 216-250 Main St. A stretch of retail and office buildings
built between 1892 and 1936. The structures are largely vacant. The forme=
r
W.T. Grant Building at 250 Main St. has been renovated and is used as a
commercial center.

3. Pawtucket-Central Falls Railroad Station. The beau-arts-style depot,
opened in 1916, closed in 1959. It=92s mostly vacant.

4. Beswick Block, 3 Exchange St. This three-story brick building facing
Times Square was built in 1891. Also added to the list is the McDevitt
Building, which abuts the Beswick Building.

5. Parkin Yarn Mill, 28 Bayley St. The five-story brick structure was
built - 1889 and has been vacant since Parkin Yarn closed in 1980. The
building was listed last year.

6. Seekonk Lace Co. Building, 659 Armistice Boulevard. Built in 1909, it=92=
s
located in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

=A9The Pawtucket Times 2001

------------------------------