News

We're hiring! Project Review Coordinator

The RIHPHC is accepting applications for a Senior Historic Preservation Specialist - Project Review Coordinator. This position is central to the regulatory obligations of the agency and works closely with archaeologists, historians, and architects internally. Read the full job description and qualifications. Review of applications will begin in early January.

THE BASICS: Salary -- $76,902.00 - $87,071.00 annually (pay grade 131, non-union). Working schedule is 9:00 am -4:30 pm, 35 hours/week.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Within the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (RIHPHC), to perform difficult and complex professional historic preservation planning work within the area of specialization indicated in the title of the class of position; to be responsible for the preparation of studies, plans, and reports, as well as phases of major projects; and/or to be responsible for the review of projects undertaken by other state or federal agencies, including the assessment of impacts on historic resources; and/or to be responsible for agency public information, events, programs; and to do related work as required.

KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND CAPACITIES: A working knowledge of the principles and practices of historic preservation planning, data sources, and methods of analysis as they relate to the area of specialization indicated by the title of the class of position and the ability to apply such knowledge in the performance of difficult and complex professional historic preservation planning work; a working knowledge of the methods and procedures required in order to carry out the relevant programs of historic preservation planning such as: National Register of Historic Places, environmental review, technical preservation services, survey, archeology, and/or public information; the ability to use standard technical procedures and established methodology; the ability to identify appropriate procedures developed by others, test them, and use them under varying circumstances; the ability to use field work, historical archives, maps, charts, aerial photographs, and similar materials to obtain or verify information; the ability to understand and carry out complex oral and written instructions; the ability to review the activities of professional, technical and clerical personnel, and consultants; the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with federal, state, local, private and public agencies, organizations and individuals; the ability to write effectively and to make oral presentations; the ability to engage in field work activities requiring physical stamina; and related capacities and abilities. Must satisfy the requirements specified in the Secretary of the Interior’s Historic Preservation Professional Qualifications Standards for the area of specialization.

Small but Mighty: Woonsocket’s Federal Street Historic District Earns Federal Designation

Downtown business district added to National Register of Historic Places

(Woonsocket, RI) A cluster of six properties encompassing most of a city block in downtown Woonsocket has been recognized for its contributions to the community and architectural history of the city. Jeffrey Emidy, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, announced that the National Park Service has added the Federal Street Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register is the official list of places and objects of significance in American history, architecture, and culture. 

The Federal Street Historic District is notable for its concentration of institutional properties, with its contributing buildings used for various religious, recreational, educational, and social functions. The District extends nearly the length of Federal Street, which was laid out between 1903 and 1911 to open new parcels for development as downtown Woonsocket expanded. Properties included in the Historic District designation are:

• JOSEPH GRENON’S GARAGE/STADIUM GARAGE/INTERNATIONAL TRADES UNION BUILDING (1925), 122 Clinton Street/53 Federal Street
• MASONIC TEMPLE (1929), 142 Clinton Street
• FIRESTONE SERVICES STORES, INC. (1930, additions ca. 1965), 160 Clinton Street
• FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (1907-08), 1 Federal Street
• YMCA (1910-11), 43 Federal Street
• WOONSOCKET COMMERCIAL SCHOOL/SCHOOL OF COMMERCIALSCIENCES/HILL COLLEGE (ca. 1923), 77 Federal Street

(10/30/24)

Six new commissioners appointed

The Rhode Island Senate confirmed the following new appointments to the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission. The new Commissioners provide expertise in architectural history, architecture, historic preservation, heritage, history, and interpretation. 

Pierson Booher AIA is a Principal and Partner at DBVW Architects in Providence, where he specializes in the preservation, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse of historic properties.

Catherine DeCesare, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor in the Department of History at the University of Rhode Island, specializes in Rhode Island history, legal, colonial, and applied history and serves as Co-Director of the URI Applied History Lab. 

R. Drayton Fair, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C is Vice-chair of the RI Board of Examination and Registration of Architects and Principal Emeritus of LLB Architects.

Silvermoon Mars LaRose is a Narragansett tribal citizen and the assistant director of the Tomaquag Museum. She aims to foster Indigenous empowerment through education, community building and the sharing of cultural knowledge and traditional arts. 

Marta Martínez is the founder and executive director of Rhode Island Latino Arts the state’s only nonprofit organization that focuses on the cultural arts, history, and heritage of Rhode Island Latinos. A community oral historian, she manages the Latino History Archives.

Brent Runyon is the founder of Runyon Heritage Associates, a heritage preservation consultancy and is an independent real estate agent specializing in historic properties.

A special thank you to outgoing Commissioners J. Michael Abbott, C. Morgan Grefe, and Clark Schoettle. 

Rhode Island Cemetery Weeks in April and May

Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Awareness and Preservation Weeks (Rhode Island Cemetery Weeks) will feature dozens of free programs in April and May. Rhode Islanders of all ages are invited to participate in tours, clean-ups, hikes, talks, and other programs at and about historic cemeteries throughout the state. Rhode Island Cemetery Weeks is organized by the Rhode Island Advisory Commission on Historical Cemeteries and RIHPHC in collaboration with many individual and organizational partners. Check out the event schedule with more to come. (3/14/24)

R.I. African American Civil Rights history initiative rolls on!

RIHPHC was recently awarded an Underrepresented Communities Grant from the National Park Service to fund a Multiple Property Documentation Form and National Register nominations for four properties related to the theme of African American Civil Rights.

Work is also underway to nominate the former home of John Carter Minkins to the National Register. A professional journalist, Minkins (1869-1959) is recognized as the first person of African Heritage to lead a mainstream white newspaper in the U.S. He was also one of Rhode Island's leading civil rights advocates, wielding the power of the press and his oratorical skills to call out and fight racial injustice. (2/19/24)