Lou Costa Collection on Fox Point

The Lou Costa Collection on Fox Point is composed of photographs, media, and printed materials related to the Fox Point neighborhood of Providence, RI, with a focus on the diverse people and communities of the area during the 20th century. Represented throughout the collection are materials related to Fox Point's Cape Verdean, Azorean, and Portuguese communities. Also included are photographs taken by the Providence Redevelopment Agency from 1962-1965 as part of the East Side Renewal Project, which saw the destruction of a significant portion of the neighborhood in order to expand highway development.
This collection is part of Providence Public Library Digital Collections, hosted by Providence Public Library.

Items in this collection

181 Brook Street, Providence

181 Brook Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Exterior view of a small one story automotive repair shop. A sign above the large double doors reads, "University Auto Service. Body Work. Auto Repairs." Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

180 through 202 South Water Street, Providence

Five story mixed use brick building with a fire escape along the front and retail space at street level. Building is in between a pair of four story mixed use brick buildings. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

18 Wickenden Street, Providence

18 Wickenden Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Single story boarded up commercial space between two multi-story mixed use houses. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

18 James Street, Providence

18 James Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Two story brick residential dwelling with multiple chimneys beside an empty lot. Utility pole in the foreground partially obstructs the view. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

17R Trenton Street, Providence

17R Trenton Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Lot behind a multi-story home that is partially visible. Lot is strung with wires and clotheslines and it is filled with brush and scrub. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

179 through 191 Transit Street, Providence

Series of multi family clapboard sided houses along a shaded tree lined street. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

178 South Water Street, Providence

178 South Water Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Oil change business in a small one story wooden building with an opened garage door at the front. Signs and banners affixed to the building advertise services and rates. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

173 Benefit Street, Providence

173 Benefit Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Exterior of two five-story, vine-covered apartment buildings. The first floor of the building in the foreground has a garage with its door open. In front of the garage is a separate very small one-story vine-covered building whose sign advertises it as a drug store. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

171-177 Wickenden Street, Providence

171-177 Wickenden Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Three and half multi family house with retail space at street level that extends beyond the boundaries of the house structure. Retail space is home to Adler's Hardware and the front is lined with windows and advertisements. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

17 Trenton Street, Providence

17 Trenton Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Two and a half story house with a metal railing around the front. Three women, one holding a baby, chat on the sidewalk. The rear of a pickup truck partially obstructs the view. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

17 Power Street, Providence

17 Power Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Two and a half story clapboard sided home with a two story addition attached at one side and angled around the street corner. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

166 George M. Cohan Boulevard, Providence

A small vine covered one story building beside a three story clapboard sided house. Out front a car passes by. Further down the street a large three story brick residential building can be seen. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

165 Benefit Street, Providence

165 Benefit Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Exterior of a four-story apartment building housing commercial businesses on its first floor. Fir escapes visible along the front. Side view shows a slight incline moving towards the back of the building to accommodate a natural hill in the landscape. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

163 Brook Street, Providence

163 Brook Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Three buildings on Brook Street, two clapboard houses partially visible with a very small single story storefront in between. The sign on the storefront reads, "Anthony's Variety. Warwick Ice Cream." A car with tail fins is parked along the street out front. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

160 Transit Street, Providence

160 Transit Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Two and a half story clapboard sided house set behind a fenced in front yard with bushes and greenery. Neighboring garage partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

16 Trenton Street, Providence

16 Trenton Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Three story shingle sided house with a brick first floor. A man can be seen entering a chain link fence at the side. Neighboring home partially visible with clotheslines strung between the two houses. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

15R Sheldon Street (2), Providence

15R Sheldon Street (2), Providence

Providence Public Library

Large two story multi family house with open porches running along the full length of each floor. An overgrown yard is separated from the house by a low cement wall. The neighboring house is also partially visible and both houses have clothesline stretching from their second floors. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

15R Sheldon Street (1), Providence

15R Sheldon Street (1), Providence

Providence Public Library

Large two story multi family house with open porches running along the full length of each floor. A yard with greenery and surrounded by a wide picket fence is partially visible. View of the house is obstructed by a small single story brick building in the foreground. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

156 through 176 Wickenden Street (3), Providence

View along one side of Wickenden Street from across an intersection with a series of traffic lights. The street is lined with multi-story mixed use houses featuring ground floor retail storefronts. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

156 through 176 Wickenden Street (2), Providence

View along one side of Wickenden Street from across an intersection with a series of traffic lights. The street is lined with multi-story mixed use houses featuring ground floor retail storefronts. A number of cars are parked along the sidewalk.Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

156 through 176 Wickenden Street (1), Providence

Looking down one side of Wickenden Street. The street is lined with multi-story mixed use houses featuring ground floor retail storefronts, including a storefront for the New England Supply Company. A number of cars and an Old Grand Dad supply truck are parked along the sidewalk. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

156 & 158 George M. Cohan Boulevard, Providence

A large three story clapboard sided house with half porches on the first and second floor as viewed from across the street. On either side, neighboring houses are partially visible, as is the rear of a car driving by. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

152-154 Transit Street, Providence

152-154 Transit Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

View along a street lined with multi-story mixed use buildings. In the foreground a gentleman stands beside a parked car. In the center, a large mixed use building houses Joseph's pharmacy on its first floor. Utility poles partially obstruct the view. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

152 Ives Street, Providence

152 Ives Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

One story concrete building with large boarded window and garage door on either side of the entrance. Electric wires over head and neighboring buildings partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

15 Olney Street, Providence

15 Olney Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Dirt parking lot surrounded by trees and scrub with a small single story structure at the back. The structure is long and low, and there is a car parked in front. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

149 Gano Street, Providence

149 Gano Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Large one story brick building housing laundry services. The building has a small smoke stack towards the back and a parking lot beside it. Out front a utility pole partially obstructs the view. A sign on the building reads, "Sullivan & Small Laundry. Complete Laundry Service." Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

144 Brook Street, Providence

144 Brook Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Looking down Brook Street at a series of multi-story buildings. The building in the foreground houses a drugstore advertising Sealtest ice cream for sale. Outside a young person rides by on a bicycle. Across the street is a liquor mart. Houses can also be seen in the distance and the street is lined with utility poles. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

142 & 146 George M. Cohan Boulevard, Providence

Two large three story clapboard sided homes as viewed from across the street. A small car can be seen rounded the corner in front of the houses. Neighboring homes and trees partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

141, 135, & 127 Brook Street, Providence

Looking down Brook Street at a series of multi-story buildings. The side of the building in the foreground advertises laundromat services. Beside that is a two story clapboard sided house. Just next door is a small one-story building with a sign that reads, "Joe's Market." Houses can also be seen in the distance and the street is lined with utility poles. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

141 Brook Street, Providence

141 Brook Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Looking down Brook Street at a series of multi-story buildings. The buildings in the foreground house a drugstore and across the street a laundromat services. Houses can also be seen in the distance and the street is lined with utility poles. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.