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STATE: Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR July 1969 Rhode Island COUNTY, NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Providence INVENTORY NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE

Type all entries - complete applicable sections

COMMON: . . -

Brick School House ...... AND/OR HISTORIC: Meeting Street School; Providence Preservation Society _LDCAT ION STREET AND NIJMDURI 214 Meeting Street CITY OR TOWN:

H ,. Providence ... STATE COUNTY: .. . CODE Rhode Island, 02903 Pravidence 007 11C LAS SIP ICATION CATEGORY ACCESSIBLE I OWNERSHIP . STATUS Chock One TO THE PUBLIC

DistrIct. BuIlding Xj Public Public Acquisition: Occupied - Yes: o - I Restricted o SIte C Structure C Private 0 In Process C Unoccupied Both 0 UnrestrIcted 0 Objet . Q . C t.y0n5dt, C Preservation work . . . in progres C No

PRESENT USE Check One or Marc, as Appropriate C Agricultural C Government Pork C Transportation C Comments Industrial C Commercial . C C Privote Residence Other Specifr -

C Educorionol Military .. C Religious . Hedguarters of C Entertainment C Museum. C Scientific . vation organization 4- WNEROFPROPERTY -,. .. ,.. . DWNER’SNAME: ...... I C -t City of Providence...... Ph STREET AND NUMBER: ...... ,.

City Hall, Dorrance Street at Washington Street .-

CiTY OR TOWN: . .. . STATE: CODE

Providence . Rhode Island, 02903 . 1414 ELOCAIi0NOF LEGAL DESCRI PT! ON COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS: ETC: n 0 City Hall C z STREET AND NUMBER: ...... -I

Dorrance Street at Washington Street-.. .

CITY OR TOWN: STATE . . - CODE

Providence Rhode- Island, 02903 -

[6 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY:

Historic American Buildings Survey $0 0 DATE OF SURVEY: 1957 * 1962 Federol C Stole. C County C Locol DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: z -O In Library of Congress C STREET AND NUMBER: In Rh 0 Independence Avenue and 1st street; s E. z CITY OR TOWN: . STATE: r .. CODE -C District’ D Washington .. . of Columbia .. a

.__..- LL

-- Check One Xi Excellent C Good 0 Fair 0 Deteriorated C Ruins 0 Unesposed Chock One Check One Altered C Unaltered 0 Moved XJ OrIgir.el Site DEZCRIOE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL it known PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

$ The Brick School House, completed in 1768, is a rectangular two- story timber-framed brick building, ‘five bays wide by two hays deep, set’ on a foundation of rough-cut stone. It is covered by a hipped roof

now ‘asphalt-shingled in its main portion, and a chimney rises at each ‘ $ end. The entrance elevation, facingsouth, has in its center, a two- - story gabled pavilion or projection, pierced.by the front door and one ‘

window above, whiGh houaoo the prinoinal staircase. Phi doorway has a - -- Doric surround with fluted pilasters and a pediment which is probably a 20th-century "restoration’t or application; there is-a secondary en- trance on the north side of the building. A slightly-projecting brick

belt course runs between stories, and there is a molded wooden eaves - cornice. The windows have new twelve-over-twelve double-hung sash set in plain wood frames with molded sills; there are segmental arches in the brickwork over the windows of the first story. I-,

The first floor of the building was originally a single large . , Ri

room with a fireplace’ at each end, but has now been divided, with the ‘ n-i east end converted into four small rooms now used for display, storage, and toilets. The old floor is covered by modern composition tile. - There is a high wainscot of horizontal boarding to window-sill level; Z above, walls and ceiling are plastered. , ‘ $ -f The second floor, also originally one room, now has been par- titioned across its east end to allow for a shallow kitchen. Rear stairs are set in the northeast corner. Above a boarded wainscot reaching to the sills of the high-placed windows, walls are plastered; the ceiling n is plastered along the inner side of the hipped roof, above the wooden --4 trusses. The hardwood floors are’ later replacements.’ Recent repova tions include paintingthe plaster walls white; andtreatment of the wainscoting and wooden work with ‘a mixture of paint and ‘glaze in a dark ,z H brown color simulating the color discovered underneath later paint layers.

Throughout the building, trim is very simple. Both the main stair at south center and the secondary one in the northeast corner, nrobaly added later are enclosed, of U-shape, and have plain open railings of : ‘ long boards. Windows and doors are very modestly trimmed; some of their ‘ $ - plain, mitered architraves are probably original. The windows were ‘$ ‘

equipped in 1965 with folding interior shutters copied from 18th-century $ $

models and such were quite likely in place originally to allow for ‘. - ‘fl

darkening the rooms. ,The two remaining fireplaces, with splayed hearths,* -‘‘

at the west end of’ each floor are completely devoid of mantels or other - surrounding trim; the, matching fireplaces?at’the eat:endi’ofth"bñiid_ ing have been covered over. I $ ‘ it -‘"

‘ :""‘ .. . $ ‘ ‘ ‘ 3TiIO3 itc V"’V". - - -‘- - $ ‘ ‘-- " - $

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i±i’’NI FtC _NçE’’ PERIOD Check One or More a. Appropriate , $ - ‘ $ ‘- -- 20th Cntury - - Pe-Coturnbion ‘ Q 16th Century - $ - - 18th Century - ‘ 0 1’ 0 I Century 17th Century, ‘l9th’Centu4. - -‘ I’, 0 15th Q - 0 DATEISI If Applicable andKnown 1768 - -

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE Check One or More a. Approprjat. ‘ -‘?, - ‘ $ -‘ - Lz - Aboriginal - - Education Urbon Planning - ‘t’ $ri"rv.r’ D’Politicat -‘ i-’. .- -‘:-- 0 Pretnsttr.c EngineerIng ReI,gion/PM A - Other Sperifr 0 0 ‘ 0 Xl -, Historic Industry’ j’j’- $ D- *-77-Tj, 0 -‘_" ‘‘ losopky ‘Tii’[;r’’-fi,ctive center for Agricullvr. Invention o $ 0 , 0 Science $ , f,_"iC-preservation and Architecture Lendscope - I ‘ J - 0 Sculpture restoration Art - - 0 ‘ Architectut. 0 Social/Human- progrnis Comm.rc. Literature $ 0 , 0 Itorlon Communications $ O j wih,.-7 0 Theater $ Conservation - 0 Music Transportation 0 , 0 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE H /1’ The Brick School House is an example of the ty-p of Pla’Jn, $ -- ‘I- $ utilitarian building erected for community purposes in the eighteenth -- century. It has been -altered -in-the course of a succession’of uses - but remains in good condition and close to its original appea±’ance. $ o - Historically, it has a first significance in being the first

‘ -- brick-built, permanently-purposed school structure in Providence and one of the first free schools in the United States. Moses Brown had o called for various school constructions in Providence in 1768, and-- $ ‘ although his proposal was voted down by the town--it was somehow re- solved, according to Staples’s Annals of the Town of Providence, t1to -‘ build a brick school house, 301 x hO’ and two stories high, near the court house." Deed Book 17, page 1i76, in the Providence City Hall’ further informs that , - $ ‘f: $ -- ,,... ,, ‘I, Ambrose Page of Providence ... mariner ... do covenant,

agree [to grant estate to Town of Providence if Town buildsj’’ -‘ Lii , - Good a and convenient School House on the Lot in Providence $ Lu - whereon the Late Court House which was’burnt’-dow’n did stand in -- lying [neari John Watermants House ... -

In The History of Brown University, Walter Bronson notes that when what was originally called Rhode Island College decided, c. 1770, to bring itself from Warren into Providence, classes were held in the Brick School House; and the corporation met there to determine a final $ - - ‘location in the-city:

The students ... at certain hours met in one of the cham bers of the old brick schoolhouse, with the officers, for - recitation ... the Committee I $ for settling’the spot for the College ... met at ‘the New-Brick [sic] School House. -

- During the Revolutionary War, the school house is said to have - been taken over for use by the colonials as an arsenal and gunpowder manufactory, and allusion pointing to such a role is found in Edward Field’s Revolutionary Defenses in Rhode Island:

‘ - $ $ --- ‘ See Continuation Sheet.

-‘-3-

- $ -I -F

- F -$ Porn 1O-300a UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE - July1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY Providence INVENTORY. NOMINATION FORM - FOR NPS USE, ONLY

ENTRY NUMOER DATE Continuation Sheet -

H Number all entrie.,

6. Significance. - -

1. That the Town Arms and Accoutrements be Devided Isici into three equal Divisions: to be lodged in the hands of three dis- - - creet men in each District of the Town--viz, above or near the Court House ‘I

Eventually inadequate for public school uses, the building never theless remained in municipal ownership and somehow avoided destruction. Under lease, it has in this centiry housed the Meeting Street School, a foundation for the teaching and treatment of muscularly and cerebrally afflicted children which has achieved great accomplishment and repu tation. Now removed, this effective organization has chosen to retain the name it tookiwhen first working in the Brick School House.

Again under lease from the city, the building has since 1960 appro- - priately housed the offices, the ommunity programs and information ser- vices of the Providence Preservation Society, which with its own funds ‘ $

has undertaken a step-by-step restoration of this historic structure, -

locally well-known and’ still in lively use. -‘ -

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I9,,,r,’,’MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES ------*- Bronson, Walter C.: The History of BrownJlniversity Providence, Rhode

Island, l9lh, pp. 53-55. - Cady, John Hutchins: The Civic andArchitectural Developnent of Providence - f,’ - - 1636-1950 Providence, Rhode Island, 1957, pp. hl, ha, 52, 62, 102. U. S. Works Progress Administration. Federal Writers’ Project: Rhode Island. A Guide ... Boston, Massachusetts, 1937, p. 266. - Staples, William R.: Annals of the Town of Providence ... Collections of - "7- - ____4 - - the Rhode Island Historical Society, Vole 5 Providence Rhode-Island, - ‘ 18143, pp. 1496-513. - - -

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA - - LATITUDE AND LQNGITUDC COORDINATES LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY 0 DEPININO THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY R OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES - CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE LATITUDE LONGITUDE -

Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degree. Minutes Seconds Degree. Minutes Seconds 0 . NW . 0 1I1° 19 ‘142.92’N 710 214’ 33.80 NE - 0 0 SE 0 0 - Itt: SW a a

APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: Less than one acre -- ‘ - - U, -- LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES - rn H, STATE: ‘ CODE COUNTY - ‘ ‘ CODE

STATE: - -- - CODE COUNTY: . ------CODE

Z STATE: - - CODE COUNTY: ------CODE H. STATE: -- - CODE COUNTY: - CODE -f

- -‘ - Iii. FORM PREPARED BY, + C -- NAME AND TITLE:

B. Christopher Bene, Surveyor-Researcher n --

ORGANIZATION - ‘ ------‘ DATE -I Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission - ,., March 18,1972

- , - -- - STREET AND NUMBER: - 0 Room 201, 265 Melrose Street - - - :v - ‘,- :*- " *-‘- z CITY OR TOWN: STATE ‘ - CODE Providence Rhode Island, 02907 141 In STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICA ION NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION

- it - - As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- -- - : - ‘ - - 1 hereby certify thdt this property is inCluded ‘in the - tional Historic Preservation ACt of 1966 Public 1,.aw ‘ :-:-. - -. 89-665; 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion ‘Na’tionaglstri-

* in the National Register and certify that it has been -- - ‘ - -, - --- evaluated-according to the Criteria and procedures set -

forth by the National Park service. The reconmended -‘ ‘ -- . - - Chief, Office of 4çpheoloy and Historic Preservation level of significance of this nomination is: - I National 0 State D Local 0i

L n5ts I Name - -:------

I- -- - AnEST’ , - - - ‘ -

- -- Title

- c --. - :- - Keeper of The National Register - - -

Date - - - Date - - - -

L , - -‘ - ‘: - UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island COUN TV NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Providence PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph z lI NAME.: ‘. .::. .:. 0 ICOMM0N:T3rick School House

. 1’ ;... S’ity . .... I t..OCAT ION ..& . U STREET AND NUMBER: 21L Meeting Street CITY OR TOWN: Providence STATE: COUNTY: I CODE - I CODE I., Rhode Island Wi Providence z HOTO CREDIT: B. Christopher Bène DATE OF PHOTO: 1’ebruary, 19i ‘U .iEGATIVEFILEDAT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, itoom Ui, ‘U 26 Melrose Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 02907

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. South elevation main entrance front. I

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I

t UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island COUNTY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Provxl ence PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FORNPS USE ONLY

EN TRY NUMBER DAlE Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph z .5...... S 0 COMMON: Brick School House ANOc Meetin Street School; Providence Preservation Society I J[ LoCATION U TREET AND NUMBER; 2L Meeting Street CITY OR TOWN: Providence I STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE Rhode Island 1jL Providence 007 z pHoroREffERgNcE -- CREDIT: 1PHOTO B. Christopher Bene I0TE OF PHOTO: February, 1972 ‘U INEGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Comnission, Rom 201, 02907 LU I Nelrose Street Providence, Rhode Islands5-

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. Fireplace wall west wall of main first-floor roan. .1-t __-__x____-.-- - STATE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island COUNTY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Providence PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FORNPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph

Z ...... *. o COMMON: Brick School House - AND/J Meetinp Street Schoo1 Providence Preservation Societ7 F- LOCAT iON o STREET AND NUMBER: 2b Meeting Street CITY OR TOWN: Providence

STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE Rhode Is land Providence 001 z P1-OTOREPEREN [PHOTO CREDIT: - B. Christopher Bene DATE OF PHOTO: February, 1972 LU EGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, Room 201, LU Meirose Street Providence Rhode Island1 02907 *#1 I41FICA11O . DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. Main roan on second floor, looking north-east. GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES Latitude: 41° 49’ 42.92" Longitude: 71° 24’ 33.80" ,°"T J S tOfi8 I

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DolphIn O7 35 aS state Pier 36

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1Form 10.301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY

PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE Type all entries - attach to or enclose with map x

0 COMMON: Brick School House - AND WWJC Meeting StreetSchool; Providence Preservation Society F- ,LOCATION , - STREET AND NUM BER: U 2t Meeting Street CITY OR TOWN: Providence F- STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE Rhode Island Providence 007 z LjMAI REJERNC SOURCE: U. S. Geological Survey - ui LE: 1: 2L.00O DATE: 5 LU 1957 ENT TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Pçoperty brounduries where requIr.d. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitud, and Iongltud. r.f.r.nc..