333 Adelaide Ave, Elmwood
Then...
In 1831 Jabez Gorham founded the Gorham Manufacturing Company
in Providence. He imported workmen from England, Germany, and France
to
make some of
the worlds finest silverware products and jewelry. The company was known
for its fine hard plated ware and chantilly spoons. The company that
was symbolized by the Vulcan, the roman god of fire and metal working,
was one of the largest silver companies in the world and was considered
one of the five wonders of the industrial world.
The
most recent company building, built in 1889, covered 37 acres and was
made of brick and iron columns.
Now...
In 1967 Textron bought Gorham and in 1985 Textron left the Adelaide
site for a factory in Smithfield. Since then, the building has stood
vacant. In
1987 the Seaman Equity Group bought the site for $4.5 Million. They had
plans to convert it to condominium use with retail stores. They would
retain the original building for the housing structures and tear down
more recent additions
to build a health club, retails stores. However, this initial idea
for reuse fell through because the Seaman Equity Group collapsed. In
1989, the site was once again considered for an elderly housing site,
but also fell through because it was discovered that the site was contaminated
and deemed a brownfield property.
Since then, the large site has been the target of many fires set by arsonists.
In 1991 the property became city property and was designated as a brownfield
site. Cleanup of the brownfield site began in 1995. In 1997 they began
to tear down the original contaminated buildings. In 1998 Churchill and
Banks Ltd. proposed placing a Super Stop and Shop on site along with other
commercial retail stores. However, they would have to tear down original
buildings. In addition, in 1999 the Fire Department proposed to use the
carriage house as a museum. Currently, the site holds a Super Stop and
Shop and the YMCA is considering moving to the site as well.
