One Rhode Island Family

I was recently sent a list of street-names established by the Town Council in Providence in 1806, copied below. The list of re-named streets was published in the Providence Phoenix, Saturday, June 14, 1806, page two. Thanks to Cherry Bamberg for passing on this interesting list.

In the years after 1800, Providence grew rapidly as a busy port and industrial center. There would be many new streets in the coming decades as the center city expanded in all directions.

To see maps before and after 1806

If you want to locate the streets in the long list with their place on a map, here are maps from 1798, 1803, and 1823.

A painting of Providence looking up at College Hill, 1809

For a depiction of downtown Providence in 1809, looking up at college hill, preserved on a theater backdrop curtain owned by the Rhode Island Historical Society, see this 2019 news article:
https://apnews.com/article/64bcddaaf7f5413e9d5626e0bf54e699

Street names in 1806

– from the Providence Phoenix, Saturday, June 14, 1806, page two. My notes and links for further reading or images in italics.

The following are the names of the streets in this town, as the same were lately established by the Town Council.

1.  The streets formerly called Water-street, King-street, Williams-street, Constitution-street and part of Prince-street, and the new street at the north end, extending from Wickenden-street at the south end, to the town line near the house of Jeremiah Dexter, at the north end, be altogether called Main-street.

2.  The street next eastward from Main-street, leading from Wickenden-street by the dwelling-house of Louis Ormsbee, northward, to its junction with Main-street on Constitution-hill, Benefit-street.

3.  The street from Olney’s lane southward to Angell-street, near the Powder-house, Prospect-street.

4.  The street extending southward from Olney’s lane, over Tackwotton to the shore (heretofore called Second Back-street) including the street formerly called West-street, Hope-street.

5. The street from George to Benevolent-street, westward from the school-house, Megee-street.

For a recent update on this street name, see the City of Providence Open Meetings portal.

6. The street from Power to Benevolent-street, westward of Mr. Ives’ new house, Brown-street.

7. The street from Arnold to Power street, between the houses of Mr. Burrow and Mr. Ellis, Thayer-street.

8. The street from Wickenden-street at the house belonging to Captain Joseph Peck, northward, to Williams-street, Brook -street.

9. The street from the south end of Main-street, at the foot of the lower wharf, eastward to Hope-street, Wickenden-street.

10.  The street from Benefit-street, between the house of Nicholas Stilwell and the shop of Pitcher and Daggett to Hope-street, Sheldon-street. 

For pictures of Sheldon street, see this page at the Providence Preservation Society.

11.  The street leading eastward from Main-street, between the houses of Captain Power and John and Israel Davis, to Hope-street, Transit-street.

12.  The street from Benefit-street, by Christopher Arnold’s house to Hope-street, Arnold-street.

For recent pictures of Arnold Street, see the Providence Preservation Society.

13.  The new street from Main to Benefit-street, by the house of the late James Arnold, Esq., James-street.

14.  The street from Benefit-street, next south of the dwelling-house of John Innis Clark, Esq. to Hope-street, John-street.

Providence Preservation Society covers several houses on John Street in its Fox Point section.

15.  This-street established in the year 1794 by William Ashton’s house from Main to Benefit-street, together with the street from Benefit to Hope-street and heretofore called Williams-street, to be both together called Williams-street.

16.  The street from Main to Hope-street, passing by the mansion house of the late John Brown, Esq. Power-street.

17.  The street leading southward between Main and Benefit-street, from Power to Williams-street, Well-street.

See a charming picture of Well Street.

18.  The alley leading from the last mentioned street, by the house of William Harding to Main-street, Harding’s-alley.

19.  The street from Main to Benefit-street, by the mansion house of the late Welcome Arnold, Esq. Planet-street.

See an explanation of the “Planet Street” name on Small State Big History.

20.  The street from Benefit to Hope-street, between lands of the Benevolent Congregational Society and land of the heirs of Joseph Crawford, deceased, Benevolent-street.

21.  The street from benefit two hope-street, next south of the College, George-street.

22.  The street from Main to Benefit-street, between the dwelling houses of Dr. Henry Sterling, and the late Gov. Hopkins, Hopkins-street.

23.  The street from Main-street to the College, part of which was formerly called Hanover-street, College-street.

24.  The street from Main to Benefit-street, next south of the Baptist Meeting-House, President-street. 

25.  The street from the Baptist Meeting-House eastward to Hope-street, by the Rev. Dr. Gano’s, Angell-street.

26.  The street from Main to Benefit-street, next north of the Baptist Meeting-House, Thomas-street.

27.  The street from Main to Hope-street, next south of the Quaker Meeting-House, Meeting-street.

The Providence Preservation Society offers the story of the Meetings Street Steps and also The Old Brick School House, 1769.

28.  The street next south of the Court-House, from Main-street across Benefit-street into Meeting-street, South Court-street.

29.  The street next north of the Court-House, from Main to Benefit-street, North Court-street

30.  The street from Main to Benefit-street, next south of the mansion house of the late Dr. Benjamin Bowen, Bowen-street.

31.  The alley next north of Ezra Hubbard’s house, from Main-street to Benefit-street, Howland’s-alley.

32.  The street from Main to Benefit-street, next south of the Episcopal Church, Church-street.

33.  The street from Main to Benefit-street, next north of the last mentioned-street, Star-street.

See a picture of an early Star Street residence from the Providence Public Library John Hutchins Cady Research Scrapbooks Collection. The Whipple Website features a 1912 image of the intersection with Main Street.

34.  The alley from Main to Benefit-street, by James Currie’s house, Short-alley.

35.  The lane from Main-street by George Olney’s house eastward, toward Dexter Brown’s, Olney’s-lane.

36.  The lane on the north line of the town from Jeremiah Dexter’s eastward, Harrington’s-lane.

37.  The street lately established on the east side of the Cove upon the water’s edge, from Weybosset Bridge to the Gangway by Jonathan Tillinghast’s, Water-street.

For more about Weybosset Bridge, see the book Weybosset Bridge in Providence Plantations 1700-1790 by Arthur E. Wilson (Boston: Pilgrim Press, 1947).

38.  The street from Main to Charles-street, over the Mill Bridge, Mill-street.

39.  The street formerly called Stamper’s-lane, upon the hill immediately westward of the Montgomery Tavern and nearly parallel with Main-street, Stamper’s-street.

40.  The street leading from Main-street, southward over Stephens Bridge, Stephens-street.

41.  The street from Main-street near Sylvanus Martin’s, over Randall’s Bridge to Charles-street, Randall-street.

42.  The street from Main-street by the house of the late Amasa Gray, northward to the Burying Ground, by Uriah Hopkin’s, Sexton-street.

43.  The alley next northward of the late Amasa Gray’s house, from Sexton to Main-street, Cozzen’s-alley.

44.  The street along the bank eastward of the Mill Pond, from the Mill Bridge to Stevens-street, Bark-street.

Theodore Coleman provides background to the Bark Street area in “Camp Hill, Hardscrabble, and Addison’s Hollow in Early Providence” on Small State Big History.

45.  The street leading from the west side of the Work House, along the western bank of the river, by Steven’s Bridge, to North Providence line, towards the house of the late Esek Hopkins, Esq. Charles-street.

46.  The street leading from Main-street over the bridge by the Work House, up the hill westward, Smith-street.

47.  The street from Charles-street, westward by the house of Philip Martin, to North Providence line, Martin-street.

48.  The street from Charles-street, westward to Fenner Angells, Orms-street.

49.  The street from Smith to Orms-street, by the house of Benjamin Smith, Ben-street.

50.  The street from Main-street over Weybosset Bridge, westward to Whitman’s Corner, Market-street.

51.  The streets formerly called Weybosset-street, Broad-street and part of High-street, extending from Whitman’s Corner to the junction of Westminster and High-streets, Weybosset-street.

52.  The street from Market-street at the Exchange Bank, straight westward, to its junction with High-street, Westminster-street.

53.  The street from the westward ends of Weybosset and Westminster-streets to Tar Bridge, High-street.

For reminiscences of Providence streets in the early 1800’s including High Street, see Henry A. Howland’s “Providence in 1810 and Later,” Narragansett Historical Register, v. 4 (1888), p. 111.

54.  The street from High-street at the Hoyle Tavern, towards Monkey-Town, Cranston-street.

For more about the Old Hoyle Tavern, see “Hoyle Tavern” at Old Providence. The Oldpvd.com website helps you navigate Providence streets, landmarks and buildings through the centuries.

55.  The street leading from Weybosset-street by George Batty’s house, towards Pawtuxet, Pawtuxet-street.

56.  The new street laid from the road to the new Hospital, and extending northeastward to Muddy-Dock, being the first street southward from Weybosset and Pawtuxet-streets, Pine-street.

57.  The street next southward of Pine-street and running parallel therewith, extending from the road to the new Hospital to the salt water, southward of Muddy Dock, Friendship-street.

58.  The street from Westminster-street, between the houses of Mr. Burrill and Mr. Gladding, across Weybosset-street to the salt water, Orange-street.

See more about Providence’s Arcade, the original shopping mall constructed in 1828, near Orange Street.

59.  The street northward from Weybosset-street, between the houses of Thomas S Webb and Gershom Jones, Pleasant-street.

60.  The street from Weybosset-street northward between the houses of Captain Turpin Smith and Capt. Bowler and across Westminster-street to the salt water, Union-street.

61.  The lane called Clemense-lane, extending from Westminster-street northward and Sugar-lane extending southward from Westminster to Weybosset-street, Sugar-lane.

See more about early Westminster Street, with an early image, in Providence Magazine, vol. 29 (April, 1917), page 217.

62.  The street leading northward from Westminster-street by the house late of Paul Allen, deceased, and the street leading southward from Westminster-street, by the Theatre to Weybosset-street, Mathewson-street.

63.  The street leading northward from Westminster-street, by Edward Aborn’s house, Aborn-street.

64.  The street from Westminster-street, southward to Weybosset-street, between the houses of Captain James Monro and Capt. Cole, Snow-street.

65.  The street leading northward from Westminster-street, between the houses of Ephraim Walker and Captain Cole, Walker-street.

66.  The street running southward from Westminster-street, by Weybosset-street, by the lots of Deacon Fuller and James Burrill, jun. Burrill-street.

67. The street leading from the salt water, westward, by the house of Col. John Mathewson, and by the Ropewalk, Washington-street

68.  The street leading southward from Weybosset-street, by the mansion house late of Capt. William Rhodes, Rhodes-street. 

For more about Rhodes Street National Register District, based on later large homes built in the area, see the Providence Preservation Society.

69.  The street passing between the house of Samuel Ames and that of Phinehas and Joseph Potter, Potter-street.

70.  The street leading southward from Weybosset-street, between the houses of Samuel Ames and that of Capt. Cory, Page-street.

71.  The street leading southward from Weybosset-street, and heretofore called Richmond-street and sometimes Claverack-street  – Richmond-street.

72.  The straight part of the street formerly called Shipyard-street, at the northerly end of said street, together with the late continuation of said straight part, Chestnut-street.

73.  The remaining part of said Shipyard-street, extending from Chestnut-street down to Eddy’s Point, Ship-street. 

74.  The street leading from Ship-street eastward, across Richmond-street to the salt water, and heretofore called Prospect-street, Prime-street.

75.  The street at Eddy’s Point, extending southward next the shore, Eddy-street.

76.  The street leading southward from Ship-street and next westward from the last mentioned street, Field-street.

An earlier street list, 1772

A similar list of the names of the streets and lanes of the tow, approved by the Townsmen in Town meeting, 1772, was contributed by Howard W. Preston to the Rhode Island Historical Society Collections, vol. XX, no. 3, July, 1927, p. 69 “Providence Street Names.”

Later expansions of Providence

Do the Providence streets mentioned here seem to run into the next town before you think they should? This map, below, displays the changing town boundaries which eventually brought some property back into the city of Providence.

Read more

Learn more about Providence’s early streets:

• David Brussat’s book Lost Providence
• Contribute to Maureen Taylor’s Old Providence website, oldpvd.com
• Florence Simister’s Streets of the city: An anecdotal history of Providence (1968)
• Learn more about streets and houses at the Providence Preservation Society
• View photos and images at the Providence Public Library Digital Collections
• John Hutchins Cady’s The Civic and Architectural Development of Providence, 1636-1950.