Downtown Providence in Providence County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
Rise of the Gangways (1704-1844) / Fall of the Gangways (1844-1983)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 19, 2020
1. Rise of the Gangways side of the marker
Inscription.
Rise of the Gangways (1704-1844), also, Fall of the Gangways (1844-1983). .
Rise of the Gangways 1704-1844. Providence was transformed in the 1700s from a rural hamlet to a seaport busily trading with other colonies, England, the West Indies and Africa. Tall masted ships docked as far north as Hall's Wharf (now part of the Roger Williams National Memorial Park), and the first square rigged vessel set sail from a wharf at Smith Street. In unfavorable winds, large ships reached the bay by kedging, a process where a longboat would row the anchor out and drop it, and the crew would pull the boat forward by the anchor line., Wharfs sprung up all along the east side of the river. The first wharf, built by the merchant Elder Pardon Tillinghast in 1679, was located near the present Transit Street. Most sea merchants lived to the east of South Main Street and built wharves and warehouses across the street on the waterfront., To provide public access from South Main Street to the river for shell fishing, landing small boats and drawing water to fight fires, gangways , or alleys , were cut through private property. The first was in 1704, which divided Gideon Crawford's lot, as opposed to today's streets that border property. A total of 46 gangways were cut stretching from Point Street to Smith Street., Gangways were given names such as Gold, Silver, Dollar, Dime and Cent Streets to denote their merchant heritage, yet two were named for a worldwide event. On June 3, 1769, the prosperous merchant Joseph Brown and a crowd of spectators viewed the transit of Venus, when Venus is visible against the day's sun. Brown set up a temporary observatory where Transit Street is now and other spectators observed from present day Planet Street., The Great Gale of 1815 washed away wharves, warehouses and about 500 homes and outbuildings. This disaster, however, allowed for waterfront reconstruction. The Weybossett Bridge was rebuilt (for the sixth time) wider than before. In spite of objections, the new fixed bridge, which replaced a draw bridge, barred tall ships from passing north. Bowen's gangway was no longer the head of the harbor: that distinction belonged to Market Square., Also constructed was the new, wide South Water Street laid out parallel to the river from Market Square to Fox Point. An ordinance was quickly passed which banned construction along the waterfront, leaving it open and accessible. This cleared the wharf of unsightly buildings and allowed ships to berth along the seawall. However, just 27 years later, the ruling was rescinded, resulting in new, muddled temporary construction south of Market Square until South Water Street was again almost entirely obstructed from the river.,
Fall of the Gangways 1844-1983. The glory days of Providence's worldwide shipping had passed by the mid-1800s and the shift to domestic trade had occurred. Lumber and coal yards dominated the waterfront. Heavy manufacturing companies, such as Providence Steam Engine Company (1834) and Fuller Iron Works (1869), located near Fox Point where the water were deeper., Providence was, however, key in early regional shipping. As early as 1835, before the Boston to New York rail connections were complete, cargo arrived by rail from Boston to India Point, was transferred to a steamship, then transported to Stonington, Connecticut where the rail lines resumed. This system transformed India Point into the city's first intermodal transportation hub. The final rail link between Providence and Stonington was complete in 1848, bypassing the need for India Point's steamship connector, although the area industries still required rail service. During this period, rail lines were built to service the busy Market Square, as well as several coal and lumber companies. By 1875, in response to the expanding Market Square, the Crawford Street Bridge was constructed, once again moving the head of the harbor south., Growth and activity slowed since the turn of the century and that pattern remained static until mid-century. In the late 1950s, Interstate 195 was built to accommodate the transportation shift to trucking and automobiles. Its construction altered 2,400 linear feet of eastern shoreline. Wharves were demolished, granite seawalls were buried in place and gangways were destroyed for new service roads. In the following decades, more gangways fell victim to urban renewal and parking lots., The remaining gangways, those heavily used for centuries, have outlived their wharves and survived as part of the urban street systems. Some familiar gangways are Smith and Steeple Streets. North of here are three that still stand: Power, Gold and Silver Streets, along with three remaining 1800s merchant warehouses. The gangways that were lost are remembered along this walk in bronze plaques set in brick paving: the width of the paving represents the width of the former gangway.
Rise of the Gangways
1704-1844
Providence was transformed in the 1700s from a rural hamlet to a seaport busily trading with other colonies, England, the West Indies and Africa. Tall masted ships docked as far north as Hall's Wharf (now part of the Roger Williams National Memorial Park), and the first square rigged vessel set sail from a wharf at Smith Street. In unfavorable winds, large ships reached the bay by kedging, a process where a longboat would row the anchor out and drop it, and the crew would pull the boat forward by the anchor line.
Wharfs sprung up all along the east side of the river. The first wharf, built by the merchant Elder Pardon Tillinghast in 1679, was located near the present Transit Street. Most sea merchants lived to the east of South Main Street and built wharves and warehouses across the street on the waterfront.
To provide public access from South Main Street to the river for shell fishing, landing small boats and drawing water to fight fires, gangways — or alleys — were cut through private property. The first was in 1704, which divided Gideon Crawford's lot, as opposed to today's streets that border property. A total of 46 gangways were cut stretching from Point Street to Smith Street.
Gangways were given names such as Gold, Silver,
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Dollar, Dime and Cent Streets to denote their merchant heritage, yet two were named for a worldwide event. On June 3, 1769, the prosperous merchant Joseph Brown and a crowd of spectators viewed the transit of Venus, when Venus is visible against the day's sun. Brown set up a temporary observatory where Transit Street is now and other spectators observed from present day Planet Street.
The Great Gale of 1815 washed away wharves, warehouses and about 500 homes and outbuildings. This disaster, however, allowed for waterfront reconstruction. The Weybossett Bridge was rebuilt (for the sixth time) wider than before. In spite of objections, the new fixed bridge, which replaced a draw bridge, barred tall ships from passing north. Bowen's gangway was no longer the head of the harbor: that distinction belonged to Market Square.
Also constructed was the new, wide South Water Street laid out parallel to the river from Market Square to Fox Point. An ordinance was quickly passed which banned construction along the waterfront, leaving it open and accessible. This cleared the wharf of unsightly buildings and allowed ships to berth along the seawall. However, just 27 years later, the ruling was rescinded, resulting in new, muddled temporary construction south of Market Square until South Water Street was again almost entirely obstructed from the river.
Fall
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 19, 2020
2. Fall of the Gangways side of the marker
of the Gangways
1844-1983
The glory days of Providence's worldwide shipping had passed by the mid-1800s and the shift to domestic trade had occurred. Lumber and coal yards dominated the waterfront. Heavy manufacturing companies, such as Providence Steam Engine Company (1834) and Fuller Iron Works (1869), located near Fox Point where the water were deeper.
Providence was, however, key in early regional shipping. As early as 1835, before the Boston to New York rail connections were complete, cargo arrived by rail from Boston to India Point, was transferred to a steamship, then transported to Stonington, Connecticut where the rail lines resumed. This system transformed India Point into the city's first intermodal transportation hub. The final rail link between Providence and Stonington was complete in 1848, bypassing the need for India Point's steamship connector, although the area industries still required rail service. During this period, rail lines were built to service the busy Market Square, as well as several coal and lumber companies. By 1875, in response to the expanding Market Square, the Crawford Street Bridge was constructed, once again moving the head of the harbor south.
Growth and activity slowed since the turn of the century and that pattern remained static until mid-century. In the late 1950s, Interstate 195 was built
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 19, 2020
3. Rise of the Gangways (1704-1844) / Fall of the Gangways (1844-1983) Marker
to accommodate the transportation shift to trucking and automobiles. Its construction altered 2,400 linear feet of eastern shoreline. Wharves were demolished, granite seawalls were buried in place and gangways were destroyed for new service roads. In the following decades, more gangways fell victim to urban renewal and parking lots.
The remaining gangways, those heavily used for centuries, have outlived their wharves and survived as part of the urban street systems. Some familiar gangways are Smith and Steeple Streets. North of here are three that still stand: Power, Gold and Silver Streets, along with three remaining 1800s merchant warehouses. The gangways that were lost are remembered along this walk in bronze plaques set in brick paving: the width of the paving represents the width of the former gangway.
Location. 41° 49.311′ N, 71° 24.34′ W. Marker is in Providence, Rhode Island, in Providence County. It is in Downtown Providence. Marker is on South Water Street (U.S. 44) 0.1 miles south of Power Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 243 S Water St, Providence RI 02903, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 248 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 22, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
