The Caleb Williams Cottage could benefit from CDBG funds, according to East Providence Planning Director Jeanne Boyle.

EAST PROVIDENCE – Though it's been more than two months since it was torn down, the lot where the William T. Ide House used to sit remains empty.

The farmhouse, formerly located at 2582 Pawtucket Ave., is now just a memory, with images found only in photos. Despite objections and protests from residents and the East Providence Historical Properties Study and Design Commission, developer Louis Mateus was given permission by the East Providence Planning Board to tear the structure down last January.

With the Ide House now gone, members of the EPHPSDC are looking to other historical properties in the city that could also be lost. EPHPSDC Chairman Dean Martineau said there are two main locations that are in danger right now, the former Odd Fellows Grand Lodge located at 65 Warren Ave., and the Caleb Williams Cottage, located next to Hunt's Mill in Rumford.

The danger facing these properties, however, is not that they could be potentially torn down. The potential danger to these two properties, Mr. Martineau said, exists in their neglect, with both locations in need of repairs and renovations that left unattended could result in irreversible damage.

Odd Fellows

The former Odd Fellows Grand Lodge was originally built around the end of the nineteenth century. The structure was initially used as a meeting place for the Odd Fellows, one of the nation's oldest fraternal orders. When the group left the building, however, a number of local businesses utilized the property.

Most recently, a business was run in the building by Marc Pearlman, of Cranston. Mr. Martineau said that when Mr. Pearlman moved his business about two years ago, however, fire code renovation costs prevented the facility from being leased or sold. The result is that the building has remained empty for two years and, without proper maintenance and renovations, Mr. Martineau said that the building could fall into disrepair, losing historical value.

Mr. Pearlman could not be reached for comment.

Caleb Williams Cottage

As for the Caleb Williams Cottage, the owner of this location is a bit closer to home. The cottage, which sets next to Hunt's Mills, is currently owned by the city and located in the only district deemed by the East Providence City Council to be historic.

Before 2003, private individuals had lived in the cottage for 25 years, taking care of basic maintenance. When they decided not to renew their lease, however, Mr. Matineau said that the roof of the building began to grown weak. To repair the roof, Mr Martineau estimated it would cost between $5,000 and $6,000. Though he said he has brought it to the attention of the city for the last five years, Mr. Martineau said no repairs have been made.

"Every year they say they're going to do it and they never do," Mr. Martineau said. "It the roof isn't fixed, it could ruin everything inside."

Currently, the roof of the cottage is covered in blue tarps placed by Mr. Martineau.

Planning Director Jeanne Boyle confirmed Mr. Martineau's estimate of the cost of roof repairs, but also said that a variety of other repairs for the building are needed. The sills, windows and siding are in need on the exterior, and heating system repairs are needed inside. Ms. Boyle could not give an estimate of the total cost of repairs aside from it being "well into six figures."

The roof, however, may be in luck. Ms. Boyle said that funds to repair the roof could be allocated from community development block grants (CDBG) and could lead to work as early as this summer.

CDBG funds are allocated for projects that benefit individuals of low or moderate income. Ms. Boyle said CDBG funds are often used for work such as the Caleb Williams Cottage.

For both properties, Mr. Martineau said that vulnerability from extended vacancies can also come from vandalism.

"When kids know that the property has been left empty for awhile, they're more likely to show up there and party or damage it," Mr. Martineau said.

Get involved

To learn more about these properties and what can be done to save them, information on the EPHPC can be found by calling 435-7533 or attending a meeting of the commission. The next regularly scheduled meeting is on May 15 in City Hall room 308 at 7 p.m.

By George Morse