Browne
and Sharpe Foundry Building
(Aka:
Darling, Brown, and Sharpe or Capital Industrial Center)
235 Promenade St, Smith Hill
Then...
Browne and Sharpe Foundry was founded by David Brown and Son.
In its early stages the company made clocks, watches and tools. Later
on
the
company became one of the worlds largest manufacturer of machine tools.
The company was known for its fine machine, sewing machines, patented articles,
interchangeable parts, planes, and appliances.
- inventions include:
• 1st automatic machine for graduating rules (1850)
• Interchangeable machine parts (1855)
• Precision gear cutting and dividing regions (1855)
• Universal milling machine (1861)
• Universal grinding machine (1876)
The original site for the Browne and Sharpe Company was on South Main Street in 1833. In 1872 they bought the 33 acre Promenade location and McFarlane, Thomas, Howe, and Frederick designed the current building. The fire-proof three-story building was made of brick with iron beams and columns. The complex contained a carpenter shop, powerhouse, machine shop, warehouse, and a grinding shop.
Rennovations were made in 1906 to increase the height of an accessory building to six stories and to sheath it in copper. Between 1874 and 1941 twelve buildings and three structures were built.
Now...
The site was abandoned in 1964 and has since then been bought by the Foundry
Association in 1986. The Foundry Association has rennovated the site several
times. The
site
is partially being
used
for
state
offices
and
is
known
in
Providence
as the 'Foundry.'
The
original 33 acres was reduced to 25 when a portion was lost to constructing
I-95.
In 2003, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places
and is currently sponsored by the Mill Building and Economic Revitalization
Act.
