1895 Images of Providence

{Lovecraft 5 years old. Providence population 150,000.}

The seller states:

Original LESLIE’S WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED journal (New York), dated August 29, 1895. COMPLETE in 16 pages, Folio (16 1/4” x 11 1/4”). IN FINE CONDITION!

Featured in this issue is the FULL PAGE photo image gallery “THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND...” containing EIGHT (8) original photo image views: “WESTMINSTER STREET AT JUNCTION WITH MARKET SQUARE (Main St)” (2” x 3”), “A VIEW OF PROVIDENCE, LOOKING UP THE VALLEY TOWARD PAWTUCKET” (5” x 9”), “PROVIDENCE RIVER, WITH EAST PROVIDENCE IN THE BACKGROUND” (2 1/4” x 5 1/2”), “PROVIDENCE COUNTY COURT-HOUSE” (3 1/2” x 3 1/4”), “SCENE IN ROGER WILLIAMS PARK” (2” x 5 1/2”), “ROGER WILLIAMS’S MONUMENT IN ROGER WILLIAMS PARK” (2 1/4” x 3’), “STS. PETER AND PAUL ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL” (3 1/2” x 2 1/2”), & “CITY HALL” (3 1/2” x 2 1/2”).

A sample of the accompanying column-long article “THE GREATER PROVIDENCE” reads, “The state census which has been taken in Rhode Island this summer emphasizes the tendency of population to group itself in and around the cities and larger towns of the Untied States. Providence, according to this latest enumeration, has about one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants...the cities and towns in the immediate vicinity raise the aggregate of what is essentially one community to two hundred and fifty thousand at least...”.

The RootThat Ate Roger Williams

I've not found where HPL mentioned this, but he does say on 14 May 1936:

"On May 4th the R.I. Tercentenerary observance began ... acting & costumes ... fancy the bygone era returned ... with the intervening 160 years a dream ... Gov. Vurley or Mass. presented to Gov. Green of R.I. a copy of the recent resolutions ... rescinding the banishment on Roger Williams in Oct. 1663. After 3001/2 years, Mr. Williams no doubt highly appreciates this delicate mark of consideration!" (1)

When Roger Williams died he was buried at his farm. Years later, the Rhode Island Historical Society exhumed him for a more elaborate burial, Willaims was gone, bones and all. However, the ancient apple tree hadenterend the coffin, and absorbed the brain, spine, arms and legs, including the feet. It is supposed that it is still in the basement of the Society, not wishing to throw it away, but feel it is too morbid to display. (2)


(1) The Letters of H P Lovecraft and Donald Wandrei, S T Joshi, Night Shade Books, 2006, p. 376-377.
(2) The Tree Root That Ate Roger Williams, John Brown House, 52 Power Street; from www. roadsideamerica. com/ attract/ RIPROtree. html