PAWTUXET VILLAGE ARMORY AWARDED GRANT FUNDS
By Denise M. Foggo
Built in 1843 by Irish immigrants hired by
the State of Rhode Island Armory Hall is the home of the Pawtuxet Rangers RIM
1774, a colonial militia company and fife and drum corps.
This building was the Company’s gift for remaining loyal to the Law
& Order Party during the Dorr Rebellion.
The structure, located at the corner of Remington and Bank Streets, on
the Warwick side of Pawtuxet Village, is built of rubble stone with a rough
stucco exterior.
Armory Hall is in need of serious repair.
The first phase, at an approximate cost of $70,000, is for exterior wall
restoration.
The Rangers are very pleased to announce that $30,000 of support for this
project was recently provided by a State Preservation Grant awarded by the Rhode
Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission.
Of the 46 organizations that applied for funds in 2003, 26 organizations
were designated recipients and the Armory Hall was the only structure granted
funds from the West Bay area of our state.
The Pawtuxet Rangers would like to genuinely
thank the following people for their letters of support for this project: Scott
Avedisian, Mayor, City of Warwick; Robert Kunz, Chairman, Warwick Historic
District Commission; Stephen P. Laffey, Mayor, City of Cranston; Ginny Leslie
and Christina Zarcadoolas, Co-Directors, Pawtuxet Village Association; Daniel E.
Rooney, President, Gaspee Days Committee; and Sue Stenhouse, Councilwoman, Ward
One, City of Warwick.
To
date the following individuals have donated funds for the buildings first phase
of restoration and also deserve a heart felt thank you from the Rangers.
They include: Scott Avedisian, Mayor, City of Warwick; Ray Mooney, Port
Edgewood Ltd., 1128 Narragansett Blvd., Cranston; John Phillips, Phillips
Plumbing & Mechanical Inc., 2154 Broad St. Rear, Cranston; Ronald Piscione,
Rick’s Auto Body, Inc., 62 Post Road, Warwick; Norton E. Salk, Architect, 2139
Broad St., Cranston; Mary Elizabeth
Pellegrini; Karleen Wrath; Diane Sormanti-Longtin; Daniel Rooney; and David
White and Mike Fallon, White Home Improvements Inc., 2007 Broad Street,
Cranston.
In order to completely restore the outside of
Armory Hall additional funds are needed.
Please consider sending a donation to this 501(C)(3) non-profit
organization whose primary mission is to perpetuate our colorful state history.
No donation is considered too small!
Checks should be made out to the Pawtuxet Rangers and mailed to Armory
Hall, c/o Denise M. Foggo, Grant Coordinator, 59 Remington Street, Warwick, RI
02888. Please
include complete name and address information so receipt can be sent.
Denise M. Foggo is a member of the Pawtuxet Rangers and also their grant coordinator. Information updated in January 2004. Originally posted in November 2003.