Category Archives: Lost Providence

“We hate that,” cont.

Posted on November 15, 2022 by David Brussat

Westminster Street, reprogrammed to open Westminster Mall to vehicular street. (Visit Rhode Island) Here is the remainder of Chapter 19, “We Hate That.” No, for those who missed the first part, no we do not hate Westminster Street, far from … Continue reading →

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Chapter 19, “We hate that”

Posted on November 13, 2022 by David Brussat

View of Old Stone Square (1984) from Turk’s Head Building (1913), site of author’s Turk’s Head Club luncheon with Journal publisher Michael Metcalf in 1984. (Photo by author) I decided to go with Chapter 19, “We Hate That” because how … Continue reading →

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The Interface Plan of 1974

Posted on November 6, 2022 by David Brussat

The second half of Chapter 17, “The Interface Plan,” from Lost Providence, tells the story of the plan produced by the Rhode Island School of Design students under Prof. Gerald Howes. It was the first plan to open up the … Continue reading →

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The College Hill Study, cont.

Posted on October 31, 2022 by David Brussat

Here is the second half of Chapter 16, “The College Hill Study,” from Lost Providence. The study’s proposals, released in 1959, would have replaced much of the fabled district’s historical houses with modernist infill, although most of the houses condemned … Continue reading →

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The College Hill Study

Posted on October 28, 2022 by David Brussat

This is the first half of the second chapter in this series, which reprints segments from Part II of Lost Providence, published in 2017 by History Press. Chapter 16, “The College Hill Study,” looks at how the city intended to … Continue reading →

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Downtown Providence 1970

Posted on October 25, 2022 by David Brussat

This is the second half of Chapter 15 from Lost Providence. Chapters leading up to “Downtown Providence 1970 Plan” in Part II of the book are: “Cove Basin and the Railroads,” “The World’s Widest Bridge” and “New Courthouse and Old … Continue reading →

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Reposting “Lost Providence”

Posted on October 22, 2022 by David Brussat

Five years have passed since the publication of Lost Providence, so there is no better time than now to re-introduce my book to readers of my blog. In 2015, the History Press asked me to expand one of my last … Continue reading →

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Lost Providence still giftable

Posted on December 24, 2019 by David Brussat

Lost Providence, by yours truly, would make a great gift for anyone keen on the history of Providence, the blessing of traditional architecture, or the bane of modern architecture. Or, dear reader, get it for yourself. Most bookstores in Providence … Continue reading →

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A history of Thayer Street

Posted on March 17, 2019 by David Brussat

I’ve been invited to read from my book Lost Providence during an open-mic session this Friday, March 22, at the Brooklyn Coffee, Tea & Guest House, 207-209 Douglas Ave., at 6 p.m., $5, in Providence. But I think instead that … Continue reading →

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The Journal’s ‘R.I. Memories’

Posted on December 6, 2018 by David Brussat

Black and white photography bears the stamp of history, a ratification of the long-ago. One might wish that photos from, say, the 1890s were in color. That would convey a different authenticity, a satisfaction that today’s colorization processes generally fail … Continue reading →

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