William R. Walker & Son

George Hail Free Library // 1888

Buildings of New EnglandLeave a comment

The George Hail Free Library on Main Street in Warren, Rhode Island, is a unique, Victorian-era public library building that has been lovingly preserved by the community. Built in 1888, the building cost just over $16,000 and was designed in a more vertical expression of the Romanesque Revival style by the Providence architectural firm of William Walker and Son and built of rough-faced granite. The library is named after George Hail (1793-1873), a merchant, philanthropist, industrialist, and native son of Warren. His second wife, Martha Hail died in 1882 and left $5,000 and their home to the Warren Public Library provided that the name of the Library be changed to the George Hail Free Library in memory of her husband. The Library Committee agreed and planning began soon after for a new, purpose built library we see today. The exterior is distinguished, but the interior is also well-preserved, with original cherry woodwork grained to resemble mahogany, brass gaslighting fixtures, fireplaces, and leaded glass windows patterned with stained glass, together with some of the original furniture, that preserve a sense of the original setting.

Central Falls Police Station and Courthouse // 1914

Buildings of New England2 Comments

Built jointly by the city of Central Falls and the state of Rhode Island, this Classical Revival style building originally contained both the local police station and a district court house. The symmetrical building was designed by William R. Walker and Son, a Providence design firm, who specialized in large, civic and commercial buildings. The gray brick building is trimmed with limestone and stands three-stories under a hipped tile roof capped by decorative cresting. In the 1970s, the courthouse moved out and the entire building came into the ownership of the City of Central Falls and is today owned by the Central Falls Redevelopment Agency, which frankly worries me about the future of this important building. Does anyone know about plans for the building? 

Central Falls City Hall // 1888

Buildings of New England3 Comments

Welcome to Central Falls, an industrial city in Providence County, Rhode Island. With an area of only 1.29 square miles it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the 23rd most densely populated incorporated place in the United States. Originally, Central Falls was one of the many villages within the town of Smithfield, but in 1871, the town split into three smaller towns: Smithfield, North Smithfield and Lincoln. Central Falls village then became part of the town of Lincoln until Central Falls’ industrial character and differing needs had it split off to form the small city of Central Falls in 1895. Before it was its own city, Lincoln officials had this building constructed in 1888-9 on Broad Street, the commercial and civic center of the city. This red brick, Queen Anne building with its four-stage tower was built as Lincoln High School, the first school in the town built exclusively for secondary education. Designed by William R. Walker & Son, architects, the building features shingles in the gable, asymmetrical plan, and carved terracotta panels. The building continued as Central Falls High School until 1927, when the city offices were moved there, and it has remained as the City Hall ever-since.