Providence Preservation Society’s 2023 Winter Bash Will be a Blast

BY MARK BERGER

For anyone looking to support a local endeavor, while dressing up for the cause, The Providence Preservation Society will hold its 19th Winter Bash on Saturday, March 4th, from 7:30 pm until 11:30 pm.

The event, to be held at a venue to be determined, will feature the backdrop of “Through the Looking Glass,” as a nod to the Lewis Carroll book, “Alice in Wonderland.” Attendees can come dressed up in that motif, come black-tie ready, or as casual as they like. Appetizers, entertainment, performances, featuring a disc jockey, and other special activities are also planned for that evening.

Proceeds from this event support the Providence Preservation Society’s historic preservation advocacy and education work in Providence.

Executive Director Brent Runyon said that past events have included such themes as ‘Old Hollywood,’ ‘Moulin Rouge,’ and ‘Kings and Queens.’ They are on their 19th event because the pandemic wiped out the festivities in 2021. After all of the past events, he still loves the planning some people do to get noticed.

“In the past years, we had people come in some outrageous costumes,” Runyon said. “For the ‘Kings and Queens’ bash, someone dressed as Larry King!

The themes are certainly open to interpretation. However, not everyone is going to be over the top.”

Runyon said that they hope to attract 500 guests for the upcoming event. Past soirees have sold out, so for anyone wanting to be there, he suggests purchasing tickets sooner than later.

Monies are raised from ticket sales and sponsorships. They currently have several area businesses that are lending their support. Current Sponsors include: Host Sponsor: The Providence Tourism Council, Benefactor Sponsor: Parsons Capital Management, and Supporter Sponsor: Trac Builders.

Bank of America, DBWV Architects, Duffy & Sweeney, Ltd., Red House Design Build, Gilbane, and Withum serve as Partners in Preservation.

In-kind donations have been provided by: Bottles, McLaughlin & Moran, The Avery, and various local restaurants. Anyone willing to help support the cause should contact the Society for details.

The Providence Preservation Society is a non-profit organization established in 1956. They initially worked to preserve the buildings located on Benefit Street. Through the years, they have increased their reach to include the city of Providence and many of its neighborhoods. Their mission is to keep the historic architecture and features intact. They work with the residents who could be impacted by changes to the neighborhoods in question.

Other services they provide are education and training. The Society works to teach contractors the details involving these older buildings (homes or otherwise). Runyon said that these courses are available and can shed plenty or light on how to properly address issues.

“These homes and historical buildings were built with different materials and techniques from how they are constructed today,” he said. “There may be things behind a wall that need to be dealt with before construction begins. Plumbing and electrical can be tricky to retrofit into an older home. There is a process that not many contractors would know, regarding restoring an older building. We are working with the trades to make them more aware of what type of undertaking such projects can become.”

Runyon said that there is not currently any other training for tradespeople who work on older buildings. That is the reason why the Society works to ensure that the information is out there.

The Providence Preservation Society (PPS) is a non-profit organization and was established in 1956 to respond to the proposed demolition of a number of 18th- and early 19th-century houses on College Hill. Unlike many historic preservation organizations that were formed to preserve a particular building, PPS has always been an advocate for neighborhood preservation and reinvestment. From that small neighborhood group, PPS has grown into a multifaceted, citywide preservation and planning organization.

They envision Providence celebrating and preserving its past, building a vibrant and sustainable future, where people and the economy thrive. They support and advocate for historic preservation, thoughtful design, and people-centered planning in Providence.

Special thanks to the 2023 event co-chairs, Kristin Walcott-Matthews and Jess Powers.

For more details about the Providence Preservation Society and their forthcoming event, please contact Angela Kondon, Director of Development at akondon@ppsri.org, or call 401-831-7440.