Superman Building

Submitted by InappropriateMommie t3_10rnxwy in RhodeIsland

So, I recently moved back to RI after 25 years out west. When I came back, I grabbed a RI Magazine because it had a list of all the best ice cream places in the state. Anyway, it also had an article about the Superman Building in Providence. I live downtown and walk past it every day so I’m kind of fascinated by it.

Particularly this point - the article said that the building used to have giant eagles surrounding the lame knob that you now see at the top. One of the bank presidents thought they were ugly and had them chopped off. I’m weirdly obsessed with seeing what it looked like with the eagles but I can’t find any pictures online…does anyone know where I would find some?

Very, very niche post, I’m aware :) thanks!

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Unique-Public-8594 t1_j6wp13y wrote

You want the Nov 12, 1950 Providence Journal, Section M, page 3.

Source: https://www.brown.edu/cis/sta/dev/providence_architecture/locations/downtown/industrial_trust/

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InappropriateMommie OP t1_j6wpwuj wrote

Omg I thought you were just messing with me but nope!! Thank you so much I can’t wait to look for it :)

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Phllop t1_j6x9m48 wrote

please post any picture you find here, I'd love to see it as well

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JasonDJ t1_j6xumd7 wrote

Years ago (probably c2001) I had to do a report in highschool that required me pulling some old newspaper articles.

I think it was the RI Historical Society, on the East Side, had a collection of old projo's on microfiche. I'd recommend looking there. If not, they might be able to dig something up for you.

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InappropriateMommie OP t1_j6xwgs4 wrote

Thank you so much! This is so fun and interesting. You would think there would be a million pics because it was technically the first ever high rise building on the east coast (I was surprised by that too).

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CommanderAmander t1_j6y9shc wrote

Chiming in to say that this place is an amazing resource! It’s also a great way to spend a day.

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sandsonik t1_j6x2b96 wrote

I don't know if the bank president thought they were ugly, but he surely thought they were dangerous. One came crashing down so the others were removed.

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InappropriateMommie OP t1_j6x9xn4 wrote

Oh interesting! I will have to look at the article again - maybe it was just my interpretation- thank you!

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FunnyFilmFan t1_j6wmshp wrote

I’m kind of guessing here, so pardon me if this doesn’t get you what you want, but try the Providence library to see if they have old photos or at least old newspapers from that time.

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Maleficent_Weird8613 t1_j6xzb0z wrote

It was supposed to have a blimp dock but after the Hindenburg well, we know how that ended.

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Alarmed_Nebula3917 t1_j6y7y37 wrote

It would be sick if blimps were a viable mode of transportation, like instead of buses or train’s

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RIFCSUPERFAN t1_j6xgto8 wrote

I inboxed you a pic of the eagle being removed

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sbaz86 t1_j6xsgvd wrote

Why not share it with all of us? You sent it privately to them and posted this here just to tease us.

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Brilliant-Yam7087 t1_j6yq8vn wrote

Not sure if this is the same pic but here's one: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/524458319116682204/

You can also see on this picture where it used to be. Looks like they left the wings: https://www.golocalprov.com/cache/images/remote/https_s3.amazonaws.com/media.golocalprov.com/ads/Drone_footage_TOP_Cracks_Feb_2019.png

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RIFCSUPERFAN t1_j6y05xd wrote

I tried it didn't let me!

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sbaz86 t1_j6y7fl4 wrote

Alright, we’ll let you off this one time, lol. Thanks anyhow buddy.

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Wide_Television_7074 t1_j79tajb wrote

soon 600+ people will be able to call that building home! so cool!

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