An Icon in the Making

Here you have a view of the Industrial Trust Building (some might know it as the "Superman Building") from the corner of Benefit and College Streets in Providence.  The photo on the left was taken in 1927; the photo on the right was taken 91 years later in 2018.  The Industrial Trust Building is still the tallest building in Providence and - despite it being mostly concealed in the 2018 photo - occupies a commanding presence in Providence's small but beautiful skyline.  For the people of Providence in 1927, the building was likely the biggest structure many of them had ever seen!  I love to imagine how they must have felt standing on this very street corner staring wide-eyed at this modern marvel of engineering.  What a time to have been alive!

Market Square

Market Square was a center for commerce, news, gossip and public meetings in Providence for well over a century.  The newspaper that would come to be named The Providence Journal was first distributed here.  During the Civil War, officials stood in the square and drew names out of a wheel for the military draft.  Today, Market Square hosts a section of Providence's "Waterfire" celebration.  The top photo was taken sometime around 1896 and the bottom was taken in 2018.  Notice the Banigan Building (labeled "Amica Building" today) is the only recognizable landmark.  All other buildings have been razed and new ones built in their place.    

A View From the Park

A view of Downcity from Prospect Park located on Congdon Street.  The bottom image is from the 1960s and the top was taken in 2018.  

View fullsize