2022 Annual Fund

We hope you will help us by making a year-end contribution to our Annual Fund Campaign. Your gift will allow us to plan programs for the coming year. It also allows us to fulfill our mission to build awareness about the importance of preserving Warren’s architectural integrity and to educate the community about our town’s history. 

 

Here is a list of this year's activities:

 

·       At the Warren Walkabout the following properties were recognized with historic markers: Nathan & Rebecca Miller House, c.1789 (33 Miller Street), Henry & Rose Lessard House, c.1920 (56 King Street), Charles & Mabel Mabey House, c.1910 (42 Haile Street), Church Kelley House, c.1805 (67 Water Street), and John Emery House, and c.1876 (350 Water Street). 

·       At our March membership meeting preservation consultant Ned Connors presented Warren’s Child Street Water Works: An Irreplaceable Riverfront Landscape. Ned’s presentation emphasized the historical significance of the original pumping and filtration station buildings at the BCWA Child Street facility.

·       In June we hosted a joint presentation with Massasoit Historical Association featuring Robert Lynch and Ed Theberge. This unique discussion highlighted the early days of Warren’s preservation movement.

·       This summer we introduced a new digital exhibition entitled A Tale of Two Centuries: Mary Merchant DeWolf & Rachel Howard DeWolf. Funded with a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation (RICH), this exhibit showcases a Warren family dedicated to suffrage and community service. Please visit the exhibit at marymerchantdewolf.omeka.net.

·       This September WPS collaborated with other Warren historic groups to sponsor an information tent at the Quahoag Festival at Burr’s Hill Park. 

·       Our latest photography exhibit celebrates Two Centuries of Warren Architectural Styles. Curated by member John Mensinger and photographed by member David Weed, the exhibit is now displayed in the lobby of Warren Town Hall. The exhibit was funded by a State Legislative Grant. 

·       WPS continues to support Warren’s unique historical and cultural groups, such as Historic Warren and the Sowams Heritage Area Project, to respond to research inquiries about Warren history from the general public, and to advocate for the preservation of Warren’s historic structures. 

 Thank You for Donating to our Annual Fund!

October Events

Join us on Saturday, October 15 at Noon on the corner of Main and Washington Streets featuring free hot wieners courtesy of Rod's Grille and cold drinks courtesy George Hail Free Library. 

The newly restored "Washington Street" marker was placed on the corner of Washington Street and Main Street on June 24. The marker commemorates the site of Burr's Tavern (now demolished) located on the south corner of Main and Washington Street, originally Ferry Lane (leading to the ferry landing on Water Street) and later King Street until 1835. Burr's Tavern hosted George Washington, Jefferson, De Lafayette, De Castellux, Putnam and others. The original marker was installed in 1971. A joint project of WPS and MHA, the restoration was completed by O'Brien Company of Scituate, RI. 

We will be awarding historic house markers on the first Sunday of the Warren Walkabout on from Sunday, October 16 from 12-5 pm at the Historic Warren Armory, 11 Jefferson Street & also on the second Sunday of the Warren Walkabout on Sunday, October 23 from 12-5 pm at the Maxwell House, 59 Church Street.  

Historic Markers will be awarded to the following properties:

 

Nathan & Reb. Miller House, c. 1789 (33 Miller Street) 

Henry & Rose Lessard House, c. 1920 (56 King Street)

Charles & Mabel Mabey House, c. 1910 (42 Haile Street)

Church Kelley House, c. 1805 (67 Water Street)

John Emery House, c. 1876 (350 Water Street)

Warren Mfg. Company House, c. 1896 (12-14 Warren Avenue)

 
There will also be a photography exhibit celebrating Warren Architectural Styles from 1700-1930. This exhibit feature images of nine architectural styles that are part of the Warren's historic fabric including Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, Victorian, Mill House, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Cottage and Bungalow styles of architecture. Funded by a R.I. State Legislative Grant, the exhibit will be displayed in the lobby of Warren Town Hall after the Walkabout.

 

September Membership Meeting & Tale of Two Centuries

Thursday, September 22

6:30 pm

Warren Methodist Church

Church Street, Warren, RI

Join us at Fellowship Hall for a Potluck Supper. 

The Evening will feature an introduction to our new digital exhibit: 

A Tale of Two Centuries

To view the exhibit click on the link: marymerchantdewolf.omeka.net

"A Tale of Two Centuries" celebrates the life of Mary Merchant DeWolf and her daughter Rachel Howard DeWolf. This digital exhibit was curated by archivist Jessica Rogers-Cerrato. The exhibit was made possible with funding from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities (RICH).

Mary Merchant DeWolf (1870-1947) was a lifelong resident of Warren. She had the unique honor of being the first woman in Rhode Island to register to vote when the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920.

The Merchant-DeWolf Collection contains photographs, letters and artifacts that tell the story of a family dedicated to serving their community. It also gives a unique glimpse into life in Warren over a century ago.

Over the past two years, Ms. Rogers-Cerrato has been supervising the cataloging of our archives. She also worked with WPS to produce a virtual exhibit on artist Henry Newell Cady for George Hail Library.

We are exciting to introduce this new exhibit and are looking forward to the return on our always popular "potluck supper" meetings (it's been two years!)

Hope you can join us! The meeting is open to members and friends of WPS. New members are always welcome.