This 2½-story historic home, constructed in the 1840s, is situated in the Broadway-Armory National Register and Local Historic Districts. The house provides an example of the Greek Revival style popularized at the time by widely distributed builder’s guides. The orientation of the gable to the street simulates a pediment-temple form, and a free-standing Greek portico accesses the three-bay, side hall plan.
When it was listed in 2001 on the Most Endangered Properties List, the house stood vacant and vulnerable to the elements, vandalism and even arson. On June 30, 2001, a fire broke out in the house, though thankfully inflicting only minimal damage to the building. Residents of Broadway, a street seeing significant revitalization, were concerned about the dilapidated state and future use of the property. 194 Broadway was listed on the 2001 Most Endangered List in order to it educate the public about the constant struggle of the City to effectively deal with unoccupied buildings. At the time of the listing, the property was for sale.
SAVED: Soon after it appeared on the MEP List, 194 Broadway was purchased by a private owner. With the help of the Providence Revolving Fund, the owner was able to return the house to its former glory. As of February, 2019, the house remains in remarkably good condition.
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