Brick Schoolhouse
Encyclopedia
The Brick Schoolhouse is an historic colonial meeting house and school at 24 Meeting Street in Providence, Rhode Island
.
to Providence in 1770, the building temporarily housed the school and classes were again held at the school after University Hall
housed French troops during the American Revolution. In the 1790s a group of Rhode Islanders led by John Howland successfully advocated for free public schools, and started one of the first free public schools in 1800 within the Brick Schoolhouse at 24 Meeting Street. Over the next two centuries the building housed various schools including "a school for black children, a cooking school, and a fresh air school for tubercular children, the first such program in America. From 1946 to 1957, the Meeting Street School met in the Brick Schoolhouse" educating children with cerebral palsy
. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972. The building currently serves as the headquarters for the Providence Preservation Society
, a group founded in 1958, which hosts various educational and community events at the property.
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.
History
The school was built in 1768 to serve as a school and meeting place for town meetings. When Brown University moved from WarrenWarren, Rhode Island
Warren is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,611 at the 2010 census.-History:Warren was the site of the Indian village of Sowams on the peninsula called Pokanoket , and was first explored by Europeans in 1621, by Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins...
to Providence in 1770, the building temporarily housed the school and classes were again held at the school after University Hall
University Hall
University Hall is an 8,457-seat multi-purpose arena on the University of Virginia Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. The arena opened in 1965 as a replacement to Memorial Gym, which is still used as the home to the volleyball and wrestling teams...
housed French troops during the American Revolution. In the 1790s a group of Rhode Islanders led by John Howland successfully advocated for free public schools, and started one of the first free public schools in 1800 within the Brick Schoolhouse at 24 Meeting Street. Over the next two centuries the building housed various schools including "a school for black children, a cooking school, and a fresh air school for tubercular children, the first such program in America. From 1946 to 1957, the Meeting Street School met in the Brick Schoolhouse" educating children with cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1972. The building currently serves as the headquarters for the Providence Preservation Society
Providence Preservation Society
The Providence Preservation Society is a private, non-profit organization based in Providence, Rhode Island. The organization's mission is to preserve the architectural heritage of Providence, Rhode Island. The organization was originally formed in 1956 to preserve historic 18th and 19th century...
, a group founded in 1958, which hosts various educational and community events at the property.