A Permanent Home in Providence

FULL TIMELINE
February 8, 1770

A Permanent Home in Providence

After years of competition among the communities of Rhode Island and strong advocacy by both the Brown family and city leaders, the decision was finally made to make the College’s permanent home in Providence. With a number of factors in play, it is hard to say exactly what swayed the votes of the members of the Corporation, although they heard arguments in favor of the city’s central location, availability of materials and workers, number of libraries, and money pledged to support the effort. When the dust settled, Providence prevailed, in a vote of 21-14 and it was “…therefore Resolved that the said Edifice be built in the Town of Providence, and there be continued forever.”

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