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

Rear of 107 George M. Cohan Boulevard, Providence

Looking down a concrete driveway beside a clapboard house towards a small open garage. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Rear Lot of 23-25 Pratt Street, Providence

Dilapidated garage structure in the rear yard of a house. Behind the garage, the rears of houses on the neighboring street are visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Rear Lot of 15 Pratt Street, Providence

Rear yard covered in brush with a large bare tree that has boards nailed to it to form a ladder. The yard is surrounded by a wooden fence.The rear of two multi-story residential homes also visible and a clothesline can be seen affixed to one. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Providence Redevelopment Agency

Providence Redevelopment Agency

Providence Public Library

Three story mixed use house with broken windows on the second floor and boarded up retail space at street level. Stone stairs beside the...

Olney Street & North Main Street, Providence

Dirt parking lot surrounded by scrub with a small single story structure at the back. The structure has two garage doors on the front and a sign above them reads, "Simonizing Car Washing." Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Olney Street & Nicholas Brown Yards, Providence

Large brick factory or industrial building stretching down the block. Utility poles line the street beside it. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lou Costa Collection - Printed Materials

This series contains predominantly text-based items in printed formats that are not associated with other series, and includes materials printed for public distribution by local Fox Point institutions, newspaper clippings, various invitations and announcements, and funereal documents, as well as some personal papers and unpublished remembrances. For personal items, the author is noted in the title when known.

Lot between 99 & 101 Gano Street, Providence

Parking lot surrounded by a chain link fence between partially visible buildings. There are a few cars in parking lot and a large tree beside it. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot between 64 & 74 Trenton Street (2), Providence

Paved lot surrounded by a chain link fence. Neighboring houses and buildings partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot between 64 & 74 Trenton Street (1), Providence

Paved lot surrounded by a chain link fence. Neighboring houses partially visible and cars parked along the street. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot between 57 & 65 Sheldon Street, Providence

Roughly paved lot with three parked cars. Houses can be seen beside as well as behind the lot. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot between 49 & 39 Schofield Street, Providence

Overgrown lot between clapboard sided houses. Lot is full of bushes and shrubs and surrounded by a picket fence. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot between 44 & 50 Trenton Street (2), Providence

Dirt lot surrounded by fencing lined with scrub. Three cars can be seen parked in the lot. Neighboring houses partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot between 44 & 50 Trenton Street (1), Providence

Overgrown lot surrounded by a chain link fence. Within the lot are two parked cars. Neighboring two story houses visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot between 433 & 443 Benefit Street, Providence

An overgrown vacant lot filled with brush and debris. The backs of houses can be seen on either side. A small sign states, "Clean fill wanted." Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot between 248 & 254 Transit Street, Providence

Grass covered parking lot sparsely full of cars and surrounded by a chain link fence. In front of the fence, three small children pose for the camera. The street is lined with trees and neighboring houses are partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot beside 670 Wickenden Street, Providence

Lot surrounded by a picket fence in front of a small house. Lot features a trellis thickly covered with vines. Neighboring two story home also partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot beside 56-58 Pratt Street, Providence

Overgrown lot filled with brush, bushes, and trees in between two largely obscured houses. The curb is lined with utility poles. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot beside 45 Gano Street, Providence

Lot beside 45 Gano Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

An overgrown lot beside a partially visible one story brick storefront. Electrical wires run across the top of the frame. In the distance the raised Crook Point Bascule Rail Bridge can be seen. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot beside 25 Williams Street, Providence

Overgrown lot full of tall trees and bushes. A Volkswagen Beetle can be seen parked amongst the shrubs. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot beside 118 George M. Cohan Boulevard, Providence

View across the street towards an overgrown lot. Around the lot, neighboring houses can be seen. Beside the lot is a large billboard, here only the narrow side of the billboard is visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot at Transit Street & East Street (2), Providence

Dirt parking lot sparsely parked with cars as viewed from across the street. Neighboring houses, trees, and power lines can be seen. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot at Transit Street & East Street (1), Providence

Dirt lot with a few cars parked in it. Area is shaded by nearby trees. Neighboring houses partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot at 15 Williams Street, Providence

Lot at 15 Williams Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Looking south from Williams Street and Well Street towards an overgrown lot full of trees, bushes, and shrubs. In the distance the roof of a building is partially visible. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Lot at 130 Sheldon Street, Providence

Lot at 130 Sheldon Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

Dirt-packed lot surrounded by a chain link fence with a garage at the back. There are two cars in the lot and one in the garage. Around the lot are bushes, trees, and partially visible houses. A large clothesline can be seen in a neighboring yard. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

John Street, Providence

John Street, Providence

Providence Public Library

View down John Street of a series of houses and buildings. At the end of the block a small brick factory with a single smokestack is visible. The street is lined with delivery vans for Bond Bread. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Ives Street & India Street, Providence

Large windowless brick building beside a parking lot scattered with cars. On the building there is a billboard advertising Pepsi soda. Metal sided shed in the foreground next to a utility pole. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.

Intersection of Gano Street & India Street (4), Providence

Two and a half story clapboard house beside a small dirt parking lot. On the other side of the house a large brick industrial building can be seen, with a sign for Crown Chemical Corporation. Photograph taken by Providence Redevelopment Agency as part of neighborhood documentation for the East Side Renewal Project.