The Armory Hall

Happenings at Armory Hall

Have you noticed any changes to Armory Hall lately?  Well, if you haven’t, please take a ride by.  It is located on the corner of Remington and Bank Streets on the Warwick side of Pawtuxet Village.  This armory is the home of the Pawtuxet Rangers RIM 1774, our local state-chartered Militia and Fife and Drum Corp.  The Rangers want you to notice that the vines and bushes have been removed in preparation for the start of exterior wall restoration.  And if all goes well, it will begin very soon.

Besides the previous grant award of $30,000 provided by the first round of the State Preservation Grant Program, administered by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, the Rangers raised a half-match from numerous events, individuals, and organizations.  Those that have not been formerly recognized in the past for their donations are The Pawtuxet Village Association, Ed Greer, M. Adele Wetherbee, and Don Raleigh.  We would like to also formally identify two additional organizations which recently contributed funds to help defray the cost of the Assessment Report for the Exterior Restoration of Armory Hall.  They are Bank RI’s Charitable Giving Grant and Preserve RI, a Citizens Bank Mini-Grant Program. This report is being formulated for us by The Historic Collaborative, LLC, located in Bristol.  Other grant awards are pending and additional funds are continuously being sought.  

In addition, the Pawtuxet Rangers would like to genuinely thank the following people for their recent letters of support for this ongoing restoration project: Senator Jack Reed, United States Senate; Senator Lincoln Chafee, United States Senate; Scott Avedisian, Mayor, City of Warwick; Stephen P. Laffey, Mayor, City of Cranston; Representative Joseph M. McNamara, District 19, Deputy Majority Leader; Senator Elizabeth Roberts; Robert F. Kunz, Chairperson, Warwick Historic District Commission; Sue Stenhouse, Councilwoman, Ward One, City of Warwick; Daniel E. Rooney, President, Gaspee Days Committee; Christina Zarcadoolas and Ginny Leslie, Co-Directors, Pawtuxet Village Association; John H. Lusk, Registered Architect, The Historic Collaborative, LLC; and Frederick C. Stachura, Esq., Adjunct Associate Professor, Roger Williams University; School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation.

In order to completely restore the outside of Armory Hall further resources are needed.  Without more assistance, this huge restoration effort will not be completed.  Please consider sending a donation to this 501(C)(3) non-profit, totally volunteer organization whose primary mission is to perpetuate our colorful state history.  No donation is ever considered too small!  Checks should be made out to the Pawtuxet Rangers and mailed to Armory Hall, c/o Sgt. Denise M. Foggo, Grant Coordinator, 59 Remington Street, Warwick, RI 02888.  Please include your complete name and address information so a receipt for tax purposes can be sent to you.  You can also visit with the Rangers on Wednesday evenings.  Tours are available for a nominal donation. 

Submitted by Sgt. Denise M. Foggo,  Grant Coordinator

Click here to read the previous article about the armory and the grant that the Rangers received.