Current Events

I have been watching this building for a long time, and it is easy to watch it, as it sits atop a hill on the I-195 curve to the right as you exit 195 West and enter I-95 North. I always thought it was prime real estate, and will be even more prime once the I-195 interchange gets moved.

Johnson and Wales University owns the property and makes use of the parking lot. Not much has changed since 1997, although a part of the sign seems to have fallen off the southern facade recently (2006). A new fence has been put up, and to me, it looks like they are preparing to take it down, possibly to create more student housing or classrooms. Land downtown is hard to come by, so when Universities like J&W want to expand, it is usually at the expense of older buildings. I wouldn’t be surprised if this building made it into our RIP list within a year.

History

(from ProvPlan.org/PPS) The rectangular two-story, flat-roof, brick building has a nine-bay façade, with an offset entrance recessed and comprised of a glass-and-metal door with sidelights. Rolo Building appears above this entrance. Three pedestrian entrances are offset on Foster Street, set below a hoist and pulley system at the second story. The building is embellished with brick corbelling at the cornice, projecting brick piers articulating each bay on the façade, a granite beltcourse and granite sills. Both the Foster and Pine Street elevations are highly ornate while the side elevation is devoid of architectural ornamentation. Fenestration is comprised of single, paired, and tripled rectangular, 4/4 and 6/6 sash with transoms. A chainlink fence surrounds the parking lot.

The D.M. Watkins Jewelry Company was originally located at 95 Pine Street. The company purchased land on 274 Pine Street in 1919 and moved into their new manufacturing complex at 274 Pine Street in 1921 when it is listed in the directory of that year. They manufactured findings, settings, ornaments, and screw machine products and by 1927, had capital of $125,000. The President of the company, Fred W. Watkins, held his position for over 20 years (since 1925). The company was incorporated in 1955 and a Mr. Joseph W. Ress took control of the company. In 1959 the company left the building and it was vacant until purchased by Rolo Jewelry in 1961. They ran their company out of the 274 Pine Street location until 1997 when the building was purchased for use by Johnson and Wales University.

Anecdotes

Guest  I have plans in front of me showing the building to be renovated and used possibly as a registrar’s office?

Bob E  I have seen this building alot. It’s fairly amazing how recent the “jewelry” district just kind of died and became something else. I used to commute to RI College and working in the city circa 1979-1983 I used to pass by these buildings and I recall many of them still had activity, employees etc. When exactly did these all sort of die off? It seemed like it was in the mid to late 80’s. The changes over time in any city can be amazing and predictable but the changes to Providence in the last 10-20 years I find shocking in the speed at which they have taken place. And not always good changes which makes them ever more shocking. I remember a lot of these old buildings became fly-by-night ad agencies back in the 80’s and most of those also just collapsed when companies took their advertising back in-house.

Ari Heckman  From what I am told, J&W is going to try to reuse this building for classrooms and admin space, and build around it if necessary.

Add your Anecdotes

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