Mrs. Huffman's Math Class
New Providence, Rhode Island
I was focusing on the middle section of New Providence, RI. In the long run, it changed from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles, a dirt road to a asphalt road, and farmland in the distance to residential area in the distance.
In 1875 New Providence was just starting out. There was a new church with a large steeple and a cemetery. There were many farms in the distance. There was an old bike with a large front wheel in the park. The popular form of travel was by horse-drawn carriage.
In 1910, there were cable cars and a road paved with bricks. The popular form of transportation was by Ford Model T's and A's and there was one old Rolls Royce on the road. There was still farmland in the back, but less. Also The Bank Of Trust was new there. In the park there were and a gazebo trees there that weren't there in 1875. Also there is a Getz & McClure department store is there.
In 1935 the "Great Depression" was going on, so the street was falling apart and there were people in the park gathered around a burn-barrel probably because they lost everything in the big stock crash. The cable cars were still there. On the street there are stop lights and there is a zeppelin and a bi-plane in the sky. There are more house in the distance. Also there are statues in the park. At the newly built theater called "The Strand" comedian Charlie Chaplian was performing. The large church was still there and over 60 years old, but the cemetery was gone.
In 1970 some major changes had been made and the Vietnam War was going on. The road had been moved or detoured to make way for a mall and a large, open walkway, and the big church was gone. At the theater, the new Beatles movie, "Let it Be", was playing. The park had been changed to all concrete and had been combined to the mall/walkway. The Bank of Trust had been modernized, and so had the Getz & McClure department store. There was a cubist fountain in the walkway. A man was getting held up at the park. On the road, there were Ramblers an VW Busses. On some billboards, there were liquor adds. In the sky, there were jet streams from a jet.
In 1980 the new stuff from the 70's had been messed-up. The concrete park had a lot of graffiti and had a lot of trash everywhere. There were many run-down buildings that had been there for a long time, but more were being built. The background was greener, but most of the trees in the background were cut down. The road now had three lanes.
In 1990, New Providence had a make over. All of the dilapidated buildings have been torn down. New, modern buildings have been built in the recent years. The ugly concrete park had been torn down and a new park had been put up that was much better looking. It has lots of trees and grass, concrete, well, a little concrete, for the paths. Also the brought the big clock back. But last time, it was on the left side, not the middle, but when they brought it back, the moved it a couple feet to the left making it on my section. Also in 1990 they took out the mall and walkway, and then put the road back in, as it was in the 50's and earlier. On the streets, there are florists and other vendors on the side of the road.
Looking at the trends, I think that in 2005 things will stay essentially the same, but more hi-tech and modern looking. I also think that they may tear down most of the older buildings and put in new ones.
by Scotty, A-9