Fern. 10.300July 1969

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

Type all entries - completeapplicable sections

STATE:

Rhode IslandCOUNTY,

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ProvidenceFOR UPS USE ONLY

I ENTRY NUMOER DATE

-1ft_NAME

COMMON:

State Arsenal - -

ANO4OR HISTORIC:

____

Armory of the Providence Marine Corps :of Artillery

Tv OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE

LOCATION - ,. - 4 4

STREET AND NUMBER:

176 Benefit Street

Rhode IslandCODE COUNTV -

ProvidenceLA S SIF ICAT ION

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ACCESSIBLETO THE PUBLIC

CATEGORYCheck One

- OWNERSHIP -- - -

STATUS

El District J Building

El Site El Structure

El Object

Public I Public A&quisition:

El Private El In Process

El Both o, eing Considered

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Occupied -

El Unoccupied

Q Preservation workIn progress

PRESENT USE Check One or Morons Appropriate

El Agricultural El Government El Park 0 Transportation Comments

El Commercial El Industrial C Private Residence -: El Other Speclfr

El Educational Military . El Religious -

El Entertainment Museum El Scientific -

Yes:

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Restricted

Unrestricted

No

4. JWNER OF PROPERTYUWNERS NAME: -

State of Rhode Island an9Providence-Plantations

CITY OR TOWN:

Providence

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STATE:

CITY OR TOWN:

Rhode Island

STREET AND NUMBER: IStat! Hoi.e, 90 Smith Street 1

CoióWoFoACóñui3N

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COURTHOUSC. flEGITRY OF DEEDS. ETC:

City Heal- . -.

STREET AND NUMBER: -

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Dorrance_and_Washinçrton_Streets

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TI TLE OF SURVEY:

College Hill Demonstration Grant Study. Project R. I., D--1.

ProvidenceSTATE

Rhode Island

CITY on TOWN:

Providence

DATE OF SURVEY: l99 - El Federal fl State El County LocalbEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: *. - -.* !

. Providence RedeveloptientAgency **** .

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STREETANONUMOER: -

10 Dorrance Street Y-:-:i *

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STATE:

Eode Island

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CONDITIONExcellent El Good El Fair El Deteriorated El Ruins 0 Unesposed

- Check One * Chock One

El Altered - Unaltered $j Moved 0 Origir.ol SiteDESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL It known PHYSICAL APPEARANCE -

The State Arsenal was completed in 1839 from the designs of Russell* Warren for the First Regiment of Light Infantry Providence Journal, March - - -

15, 1839; it5 cost was $ 3,000. It is a gabled structure of eighty by* - forty feet, constructed of chipped stone flint or rubble5 covered by Ce- - *

ment which apparently at’ one time was a smoothercoat than now and wasall or-in part incised- or painted to give theeffect of regular dressed H1 -

ashlar. It is of two-storeyheight above a basementset into a steeplysloping hillside site--the.- site;conditlons being the same-bothbeforeand after-the building was moved. This basementdoe,s not show when onlythe huildingts east entrance elevation on Benefit Street is viewed. -

This façade, rising directly from the -sidewalk, hasa gabled centre section, which originallkbad. battlements on the slopes of the gable, with astwo-storey portal, slightly recessed,-ofpointed Gothic form. - Only the -

lower portion of this heavily panelled and iron-studded portal, which isdivided in two by a horizontal transom, contains workable doors. Flank-

* ing the centre section are two .square,batt1ementedtowers pushed out from ru

the front corners of the building; these towers have narrow slit-windows rnat three levels. The main body of the building runs back towardsthe

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west for a length of five bays and is very plain... Its tall -windows are -

diamond-panedand are protected externally by strong,- black-painted iron Z*

shutters. - * * - - * -

* * * . - - iI :it:Within, the main floor is given over entirdly to the large drill-

hail except for a small vestibule inside the portal, a very shallow hall-way, the stairs in the towers, a small janitor’s office and a lavatory.Three Tudor arches of good width and height occupt the main spacesof thedrill_hallt s east end: one-contains the principal door into that hall;the other two accommodateauxi]-iaiy folding doors below and projecting -

* balconies at stair-landing-level above. The second floor is divided into 0two large and one small rooms, a coat-room and anoTher lavatory. Spacein the basementis taken by a museum room, a large storage room, kitchen,heater and lavatory areas. - - - - - -

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Woodwork throughout the building is generally of dark-stained, -

simply panelled wainscot form, with some trim employing pointed arches andsome-panellihg done in the linenfold design. - The drill-hallts ceilinghas exposedbeams forming narrow compartmentssupposedly supported by *

curved hracket around the four sides, and here the wood has been painted. - -

The transverse beams have beengiven a slight concavity, -or minimally-

arched effect, on their lower sides, and there are turned wooden pendantswhere major beams intersect--altogether the simplest of Gothid Revivaldecorative treatment.

The building was in l9 moved a very short distance n6rth to thecorner of Benefit and Meeting Streete,-when it became imperative--to put -

a railroad tunnel under its original site. It has been excellently main- - V

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tamed both inside and out, its utility equipment e’tc -kept up to date.It is in frequent, thought not constant’, use. . . - - . *

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- I - -- --jlGNIFIANCE.-..-

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PCRIOO Check One or More as Approprialo * - . -

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- El Pre-Colmbian I * El 16th Century El 18th Century - El 20th Century*

- El 15th Century - - El 17th Century - - Xj 79th Century- :

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SPECIFIC DATEIS It Applicable and Known ld39 - - -

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE Check One or More as Apptopriard - - -.

- Aboriginal El Educztion -- El Political -- -- ‘. Orion Planning

- El PreIistocic - -- [3 Engineerin9 * .,. -- 0 Religion/Phi_

- *‘J El Other Specify

* El Historic - [3 Industry kck.- - - - ‘

- -.. El Agriculture - - .- El Invention 0 ScIence - - ‘

W Architecture-, El Landscape

‘- 0 Sculpture. .. - *.r,,. - . - ftEl Art Architecture

- 0 Sociel/Hun.en

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* p çemmerc. - El Literature -. itorion - .

o CommunIcations j 0 Theater

______________________El

Conservation- El Music - :-

- El Transportation -

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE I ‘ - iIj

- The State Arsenal is:in its locale a small but important example of *.

early battlementedGothic Revival architecture, a pseudo-fortress appro- priate to its internal militia activities. It is one of the few excur

sions into the Gothic mannerby Russell Warren, a lttMe Island native whowas one of the outstanding architects in this and other states during the

o full firt half of the XIX Century. The arsenal is an important part of- our-chitectural legacy, an Important property of the state and also anI- important-componentof the College Hill Historic District, already a

- / :- major listing, en bloc, in the National Register. -

It was erected fo±’ the First Light Infantry, but that corps founditself eventually unable to complete paefor. the building it had had

- constructed. The building was then, in the iBSO’s, taken over by thestate, which leased back- the property for a 1,000-year period at an an-

r nual rate of six-and-one quarter cents. During the-Dorr Rebellion in- Rhode Island, in l8h2, state ammunition and state troops were housed in

the arsenal along with the Marine Corps of- Artillery and the Kentish:LU Guards of East Greenwich, who had been called up to help protect theLU building. - - -- - - -

In - - I - - - -

- -- When--later in the mid-XIX-Century--the infantry unit left to

occupy largár quarters, the lease was taken by the Marine Corps cf Aitil-lery, and they have been there ever since. This latter volunteer miii-tary body was chartered in 1801 by the Providence Marine Society, an

- association of merchants and ship-owners, and was the first militia bat- -

-1 - talon of light artillery-in the United States. It has been the parentbody of all artillery sent in all wars from the Civil War through WorldWar II. The corps has until the .recent past used the building for drilland training, for many social events; it is officially seated there4itpreserves its records, relics and poitraits, its Barker Artillery Museum

- of World War II named for one of. its many vethers outstanding in wartimeaccomplishment in the arsenal.- - - - -

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Form 1O-300o UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE - -

July 1969 - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE - - Rhode Island - -

I - - - NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY -

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- INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM0vjnce -

-- FOR NPS USE ONLY

-- ENTRYNUMBER DATE

- Continuation Sheet- - - -

NsniTber an anlrtae - - - I -- I -

8. Sirnificance. - - - - - -

The building- is onened occasionally for the meetings or entertainments -

of various historical and social groups andfor special touring groups; and - --

the drill-hail provides .a good ballroom- floor-for a weekly dancing* class. -- - - -

At presents there are are thoughts and negotiations rerarding. future use of -

the arsehal as office headquartersfor a distinguished group ofmilitaryscholars, historians and collectors. This organisation, ufflising- those- -

spaces hot--retained by the Marine- Corps -of Artillery,- could contribute sub- -

stantiaily to- the building’s upkeep and its. necessary:architecturalpreser- -

vation--at the same time-giving it more use-and supervision than-it now en- -

joys and making it more a-ailable for visitation.

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CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE-.

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ft MAJflFt I3IRtJOGRAPI-IICAL REFERENCES --

Providence PreservationSociety: Third Street Festival ... Providence,- Rhode Island, 1962, pp. 32-33. - - - - -

Cady, John Hutchins: The Civic and Architectural Development of Provi- - - -

donce, 1636-1950 Providence, Rhode Island, 1957, p. Ui. -

Wheeler, Robert L: Five Sons Were Generals. Provi3ence Marine Corps of --- Artillery in Providence Sunday Journal Magazine, February 10, 1952, - -

I po.3-7. - -

- -- - Hartwell,..Everett S.: An Historical Sketch of the -ProvidenceMarine Corps - -

of Artillery, 1801-1951 Providence, Rhode Island, 1952, lb pp.GEOGRAPWCAL DATA

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LATITUDE AND LONC.IIUflL COOflOINATES - 1ITU0C AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES

- DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING TIlE PROPERTY - 0 DEFINING tIlE CENTER POINT OF A pRoPERTYOF LESS THAN TEN ACRES

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- Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes-- Seconds Degree. Minute. - Seconds -

NW ° - - -,-. ttl°-lj9 hON 71°- 21C 3l%’ -

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Arpt,OXIMATr ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY Less thp_qne_acre In ILIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES

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STATE CODE

STATE:

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FORMPREPAcNAME AND TITLE: - - - . -

-Richard B. Harrington, ConsultantORGANIZATION

Rhode Island- - - - - - * - pATE - - -

Historical Presr-y-ation Commission - -‘ Fébnar-y ]. 197STREET AND NUMBER

State House, 90 Smith Street,. - - - - --

-CITY OR rowN - - STATE CODE

ProvidenceSTATF LIAISON OF

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FICIR CERTIrICA I IONRhode Island - * DIII

NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION

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As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- -- - - - - - -

-banal Historic Preservation Act of lQt,d, Public Law

89-665, I hereby nominate this prnpcrtv for inclusion *

in the National Register and certify that it has been -

evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set

forth by thc National Park Ser1v,ce he recommended

level of significance of this nomination is

National State Local El- -

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Name I - - - - -

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I hereby certify that this property is included in the- - --- - -

-National Register.I - - - -

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Chief Office of Archeology and Hivtorzc Presetvation

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AnEST:-- - - - -* - -

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- S - -- - - -- - Keeper of The National Register- , - -

I Date Date II

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STATEUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

Typeall entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph

NAMt .. :. -. ..,::.

CoMMON State ArsenalAN fl/OR HISTORIC: Armory of the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery

LLOCATI0MSTREET AND NUMRER

176, flenefit StreetCITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE: DE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island Providence go?rTIOTO REFERENCE

‘HOTO CREDIT: Alice HauckDATE OF PHOTO: l°71IEGATIVEFILEDAT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission,

State House, 90 Smith Street Providence,R. I., 029031cEN11 :..: . ..

Rhode IslandCOUNTY

ProvidenceFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

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DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION. ETC.

Drill-hall, looking east and showing balconies and beyond centredoorway exterior portal.

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY

ProvidencePROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

Typeall entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph ENTRY NUMBER DATE

Z [NAME.. . .: . . ...... ... . . .

0 COMMON: State Arsenal- AND/OR HISTORIC: Armory of the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery- LOCATKN

TREET AND NUMBER:U 176, Benefit StreetCITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island Providence 007z HOTO REFERENCE ..

,..

- [PHOTO CREDIT: Anne S. K. Browx Militar"r Collection. Brown University LibrarybATE OF 1ithopraps 1&t3; cony neativ’e, 1970

LU IEGATIVt FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical PreservationComi’tission,LU State Hoise, Providence5Rhode Il&flda 02903

4 DNTtCATIO.DESCRIBE VIEW, OIREC TI ON. ETC.

Exterior seen from the south-east in18h3, showing also theuniform of the artillery corps; from a sheet-musiccover lithographedby Thayer & Co., Boston.

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GEOGRAPI!ICAL COORDINATES1110 t19’ IjOll

710 2bt 31"Longitude:

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NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY MAP FORM

Type nil entries - attach to or enclose with map

‘Fnrm IO-ODee. 1968

UNITrO STATt S UFPARTMUNT OF TIlE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

STATr

Rhode IslandCOUNTY

ProvidenceFOR UPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMOEM DATE

NANE .. . .. . .. ..

State_ArsenalArmory of the ProvidenceMarine Corps of Artiflsry

LOCATION ...

... .. ...

STREET AND NUMBER:

. .

176, Benefit StreetCITY OR TOWN

ProvidenceSTATE: I CODE ICOUNTY:

Rhode Island ProvidenceMAPREFERENC E ,. :

N .. .

CODE

007.

U. S. Geological Survey .

CALE: 1: 21i,000DATE: 19c7

REOUIREMENTSTO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Property broundorI.s whey. requIred.

2. North arrow.3. Latitud, and longitude ref.r.ncs.