Commendatore Joseph R. Muratore (1922-2012) was born and raised in the Federal Hill area of Providence, RI to two Italian immigrants, Sebastian and Lena Muratore. Within the bountiful cultural area he was raised, Comm. Muratore grew to acknowledge and celebrate the Italo-American lifestyle, its accomplishments and contributions to Rhode Island and the greater world.
His efforts were numerous in accrediting and championing the Italian Americans of Rhode Island and their history. Comm. Muratore was instrumental in the Rhode Island College Ethnic Heritage Project. He began gifting to the College and Special Collections in the 1980s and continued until his death. In addition, he formulated exhibits with the College, commissioned montages to fundraise for RIC James P. Adams Library, and was a member of the RIC foundation for over 20 years.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: Amos Atwell, businessman and leader
Joseph R. Muratore
In the 1780's, most of Federal Hill was still open fields - a place for the cows to graze on, overlooking the great salt cove to the north and the east, and there were marshes to the south, (now, South Providence), and the wild open spaces were to the west.
In 1788, Amos Maine Atwell (named after a ancestory who owned the entire Province of Maine) and several other businessmen formed a syndicate (a type of corporation) to improve and develop the West side of the city of Providence.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: "Connie Mac" Captures the Story of Federal Hill, in Colorful Paintings
Joseph R. Muratore
Connie MacDonald, "Connie Mac," as she has become to be known, a photographic artist from Federal Hill, has captured the Federal Hill story in her paintings.
She has painted many truly colorful and artistic scenes of people, events, occasions and landmarks so vividly that whenever they have been placed on display they have brought back memories for many old enough to remember and for many who were youngsters.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: History and Legacy of the Doctors Gorfine
Joseph R. Muratore
Ask anyone who has had any contact with Federal Hill during the past 50 years about the Doctors Gorfine, and you’re sure to have some reaction.
Either of a childhood dental experience or their parents first exposure to dentistry.
Or should you be talking with an elder, they'll remind you when it only cost 50 cents to have a tooth extracted and that sometimes people couldn’t afford it.
But their tooth was extracted and other dental work done and that later they paid the doctors Gorfine when they were able to.
It was this faith in a community and pioneering thinking that made the Mr. Gorfine Dental office grow from a one person dental office to one of the largest dental facilities in New England.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: History of "The Echo"
Joseph R. Muratore
To appreciate the present Echo, we must understand what transpired to arrive at the present, voluminous, expressive voice of our community.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: The Pushcart Struggle 1930-1942, Board Bans All Pushcarts From Balbo Avenue By October 1, 1937 (Part VI)
Joseph R. Muratore
Pushcart vendors, whom the Alderman of the 13th Ward sought to drive off Balbo Avenue, were ordered to leave by October 1, by the Bureau of Police and Fire, by a ruling which was made by them. But, in the meantime, they ruled the vendors had to seek permits for specific locations in streets, from the Commissioner of Public Works, Charles E. Maguire. Issuance of permits by Mr. Maguire, under a never used statute, were subject, however, to approval by the Bureau of Police and Fire.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: The Pushcart Struggle 1930-1942 (Conclusion)
Joseph R. Muratore
I hope you have enjoyed this brief series on the Struggle of the Push Cart vendors.
Many have thought that the vendors merely stopped placing their stands on Balbo Avenue and Spruce Street not realizing the great struggle suffered to remain there, however, after the vendors were allowed to return to their former stands, a few were old men and never returned.
Some became discouraged and looked for work elsewhere, those that remained until 1962 slowly died and no one replaced them.
Those who were familiar with the history of the stands became discouraged in their attempting to establish vending positions on Balbo Avenue and Spruce Street.
However, it appears that history will again repeat itself and in the not too distant future. Perhaps the colorful vendors stands will again appear on Federal Hill.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: The Pushcart Struggle 1930-1942 (Part VII) - Vendors Stage Strike in Mayor's Office
Joseph R. Muratore
Public Opinion was definitely on the side of the vendors . Even merchants owning stores, along the street where they were parked, sympathized with them, as they knew that these open air vendors brought business to Federal Hill. However, as the time grew nearer to January 1st, the Alderman defended his action as a matter of "national pride," and insisted that the vendors be moved.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: Historical Broadway Armory
Joseph R. Muratore
As we mentioned in our previous article, we would give in further detail, the inventory of those structures which are, or have been, proposed to be registered on the National Register of Historic Places, in the Broadway-Armory Historic District. The following is a list of those homes by street names and addresses.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: Historic districts of Federal Hill
Joseph R. Muratore
I have dwelt at length with the Historic Districts of Federal Hill, because of the importance of the dwellings that are still in existence, which are a carryover of the first homes erected in this area. These homes are structures which represent a period of the past, and fortunately, have been preserved to this date. They should continue to be preserved, in order that the fine architecture, the opulence of the era, and the pattern of development of the past, can still be seen, and to the direction that Federal Hill developed, and how it radiated from certain focal points.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: Post Civil War: A time of development
Joseph R. Muratore
The estates along Broadway, of the post-Civil War period were large and of varied designs and type, in contrast to the more conservative East Side homes of Providence. Their owners strove to have flamboyant and pretentious structures which were similar to the comtemporary villas of Newport, only being miniatures of them.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: "The Broadway-Armory Historic District" (February 28, 1980)
Joseph R. Muratore
This week we continue with a series of pictures and descriptions of homes along the Broadway-Armory Historic District. These pictures are of the more elaborate and well-designed homes of the outlying district of Federal Hill. These homes indicate the pattern of growth that radiated, on which these dwellings were built. The homes, not only reflect the beauty of the houses that were erected, but also indicate the opulence of the era.
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The Landmarks of Federal Hill: A Walking Tour of Federal Hill
Joseph R. Muratore
The following are but a few of the many landmarks of Federal Hill, that are deeply rooted with the development of Federal Hill. There are many other notable landmarks on many of the side streets of Federal Hill, connecting Atwells Avenue to Broadway. However, the following are typical of the more prominent landmarks that have endured the elements of time and weather.
