Architecture ~ Wayland Building ~ Providence
Wayland Building
1 Park Row
Providence, Rhode Island
I was in the neighborhood a couple of weeks ago, trying to convince my grandson to stop for a sandwich (he had his heart set on spaghetti), when we found ourselves at Park Row, looking up at the Wayland Building.
It's easy to forget that it's there until you see it, but it's got a wonderfully weird aesthetic that immediately makes people say "oh right!" as they remember it.
The Wayland building was erected in 1874, by architect Charles P. Hartshorn for Robert Hale Ives (1798-1875) (Ives Street, anyone? Wayland Square?). According to the RI Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission, it's "a High Victorian ltalianate brick structure, 5 stories high, with stone and cast-iron trim; a highly articulated 5-bay facade with projecting central pavilion, prominent belt courses, and bands of arcuated windows; a deep cast-iron cornice; and a low hip roof, The original cast-iron store front is largely covered by an Art Deco store front installed by Fain’s, the carpet store that occupied the ground floor."
The Deco facing is incongruous and fun, though it also seems like it could use a bit of maintenance.
Ives was a graduate of Brown University, and named the building in honor of Francis Wayland, president of Brown (1827-55).
There's the fella, gazing down on Park Row as Providence goes by. His perch in a niche on the third floor must have a good view. He looks pretty satisfied.
1 Park Row
Providence, Rhode Island
I was in the neighborhood a couple of weeks ago, trying to convince my grandson to stop for a sandwich (he had his heart set on spaghetti), when we found ourselves at Park Row, looking up at the Wayland Building.
It's easy to forget that it's there until you see it, but it's got a wonderfully weird aesthetic that immediately makes people say "oh right!" as they remember it.
The Wayland building was erected in 1874, by architect Charles P. Hartshorn for Robert Hale Ives (1798-1875) (Ives Street, anyone? Wayland Square?). According to the RI Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission, it's "a High Victorian ltalianate brick structure, 5 stories high, with stone and cast-iron trim; a highly articulated 5-bay facade with projecting central pavilion, prominent belt courses, and bands of arcuated windows; a deep cast-iron cornice; and a low hip roof, The original cast-iron store front is largely covered by an Art Deco store front installed by Fain’s, the carpet store that occupied the ground floor."
Ives was a graduate of Brown University, and named the building in honor of Francis Wayland, president of Brown (1827-55).
There's the fella, gazing down on Park Row as Providence goes by. His perch in a niche on the third floor must have a good view. He looks pretty satisfied.
Thank you. Enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this. Providence sure has some wonderful architecture.
ReplyDelete