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

140 India Street (2), Providence

140 India Street (2), Providence

Providence Public Library

A series of interconnected one to two story warehouse buildings. Large signs in the center of the building and on the roof read, "Dytex." A few cars and a box truck are parked out front. Around the building oil drums and other large containers are stacked. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

140 India Street (1), Providence

140 India Street (1), Providence

Providence Public Library

A pair of two story buildings connected by a one story building with large bay doors. A truck is backed up to one of the loading docks. Both the truck and buildings are labeled "Dytex Chemical Co." Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

14 Trenton Street, Providence

14 Trenton Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Rear lot of 14 Trenton Street crisscrossed with clotheslines. Trees, wooden fencing, and neighboring homes partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

14 through 22 Governor Street, Providence

View looking down the street at a series of three story clapboard sided houses with stoops. In front of the center house, a group of four small children can be seen playing.The street is lined with utility poles. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

14 James Street, Providence

14 James Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Small one story cement block garage and warehouse space on an angled street. Cars parked within and next to the building. A sign on the buildings says, "Rugs." Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

14 Armstrong Avenue, Providence

14 Armstrong Avenue, Providence

Providence Public Library

Exterior of a three-story clapboard house with a picket fence, situated between other houses. Foreground includes front facing view of a sedan style car. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

14 & 16 Sheldon Street , Providence

14 & 16 Sheldon Street , Providence

Providence Public Library

Walkway between a small garage and a two story house with a larger two story house visible in the rear yard. Between the two houses, a concrete yard is partially visible in which a small child rides a tricycle. A hound dog lounges on the sidewalk nearby. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

139-141 Transit Street, Providence

139-141 Transit Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Triple decker house with a porch on each floor. Tree is lined with large trees partially obstructing the view. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

134 Ives Street, Providence

134 Ives Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

One story building containing Taffy's Restaurant. There is driveway to one side and partially visible houses along the other. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

134 George M. Cohan Boulevard, Providence

Three story clapboard house with a sign affixed to the first floor reading "Murphy Furniture." To the left of the house, the rear of a car can be seen in the driveway. Buildings on either side partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

132 Wickenden Street, Providence

132 Wickenden Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Looking north on Benefit Street from Wickenden Street. The street is lined with utility poles and mixed use houses. A gas station can be seen on the corner. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

132 Wickenden Street (2), Providence

132 Wickenden Street (2), Providence

Providence Public Library

Single story sloped brick retail building at the corner of the street. Building is narrow but long. Note states the building once held Jacque's lunch counter. To one side, a Shell service station is partially visible while across the street is Tom's Lunch. Utility poles obstruct the view. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

132 Wickenden Street (1), Providence

132 Wickenden Street (1), Providence

Providence Public Library

Single story sloped brick retail building at the corner of the street. Building is narrow but long. Note states the building once held Jacque's lunch counter. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

132 George M. Cohan Boulevard, Providence

A brick two story building with retail space on the first floor. Mixed use clapboard houses can be seen on either side, one of which has a sign reading "Murphy Furniture." Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

132 & 136 Transit Street, Providence

132 & 136 Transit Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

multi-story, multi family homes along a tree lined street. One house is set back behind a front yard. A picket fence out front and a clothesline in the rear are partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

13-15 Trenton Street, Providence

13-15 Trenton Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Large three story multi family house with two front doors atop a raised stone stoop. Door within the stoop leads to the first floor. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

128 & 130 Transit Street, Providence

128 & 130 Transit Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Two large clapboard sided houses set behind front yards which are surrounded by fencing. Along the sidewalk outfront is a tree. Neighboring houses without front yards are partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

127 Ives Street, Providence

127 Ives Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

One story building containing a variety shop named Ruth's. The building has large window displays in front and is in between two multi-story mixed use homes. Cars are parked along the street. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

127 Brook Street, Providence

127 Brook Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Exterior view of a one story building housing a grocery storefront. Some food items can be seen in the large front windows and a rolled up awning reads, "Joe's Market." The outer edge of a neon sign announcing the same is also visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

127 Benefit Street, Providence

127 Benefit Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Exterior of a three and a half story home. The first floor is brick and holds a commercial business, while the upper floors are clapboard and appear to be apartment dwellings. A large fire escape is visible and two cars parked along the street out front. Building slopes upwards towards the back of the house to accommodate the hilly terrain. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

125 through 133 Sheldon Street, Providence

Series of multi-story clapboard sided houses along a tree lined street. Rows of cars are parked on both sides of the street. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

125 Ives Street, Providence

125 Ives Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Three and half story clapboard sided house with commercial space in the first floor. Entryway at the building's corner. Neighboring houses and buildings partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

124-126 Transit Street, Providence

124-126 Transit Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Three story clapboard sided house with children playing on the stoop. Beside the house, a picket fence is partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

124 Wickenden Street, Providence

124 Wickenden Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Shell gas station with two pumps visible and multiple pull-in service entrances. Three cars can be seen parked in and around the station. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

121-123 Pratt Street, Providence

121-123 Pratt Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Large multi-family triple decker clapboard sided house with a porch on each floor. Bushes and greenery can be seen in the yard. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

121-123 George M. Cohan Boulevard, Providence

Exterior of a three story clapboard house. There is a slight slope to the property and beside the house a car is parked at a slightly upwards angle. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

12 Trenton Street, Providence

12 Trenton Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Three story clapboard sided house set in the rear of a small yard. The yard is bordered by a picket fence and a large tree partially obstructs the view of the house. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

12 through 16 Pratt Street, Providence

A series of multi-story residential homes of various styles, including a triple decker in the foreground. The sidewalk is lined with bare trees, utility poles, and a lamp post which partially obstruct the view. The street, in which cars are visible, is sunken below the sidewalk and lined with brick. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

12 through 108 Wickenden Street, Providence

Looking south on Wickenden Street towards Our Lady of the Rosary Church. 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.

12 India Street, Providence

12 India Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

One story brick building lined with windows. Shrubs and greenery visible around the side and back. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.