Art's Auto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Art's Auto
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Art's Auto
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
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| Built | 1927 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000071 |
| Added to NRHP | December 15, 1978 |
Art's Auto is a really cool old building in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It used to be a gas station! It was built way back in 1927-1928. Back then, gas stations tried to look unique to attract customers. Art's Auto has a special design with towers and pointy roofs. It's one of only two gas stations from that time still standing in Rhode Island. Today, it's an office for Anchor Financial. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Contents
What Makes Art's Auto Unique?
Art's Auto was built for Arthur Normand in 1927-1928. It sits on a special triangular piece of land. This spot is where several streets meet in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It's a very busy intersection!
Building Design and Features
The building is made of brick and has one story. It is about 32 feet (9.8 m) long and 40 feet (12 m) wide. The inside is split into two parts. The front part was the office and sales area. The back part was the garage for cars.
The front of the building looks very dramatic. It has four square towers at the corners. These towers have pointy, pyramid-shaped roofs. Each roof has a big ball decoration on top. In the very center of the front, there's a round tower. This tower has a cone-shaped roof and another big ball on top. The front also has large display windows. There's a doorway on each side. The very top of the front looks like a false mansard roof. The back of the building is much simpler. It has a flat metal roof. This part was the garage where cars were serviced. A big garage door lets vehicles drive inside.
How Art's Auto Was Used
Art's Auto started as a gas station. But over time, it was left empty. The Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency bought it. They even thought about tearing it down.
Saving a Historic Building
In 1978, the agency realized the building was very special. They decided to save it instead! Even though it looked a bit run-down, they saw its history. They advertised it as the "most interesting" old service station in Rhode Island.
Later, a lawyer bought the empty building. Then an auto dealer owned it. In 2000, Joseph Baptista bought it. He had to check the ground first. He wanted to make sure the old gas tanks were removed. Since 2000, his company, Anchor Financial, has used the building as an office. The building still looks much like it did when it was first built.
Why Art's Auto Is Important
Art's Auto is important for history and architecture. It shows a time when cars were becoming popular. Gas stations were new, and they didn't all look the same yet.
A Unique Style of Gas Station
The design of Art's Auto was meant to grab people's attention. It made drivers feel good about stopping there. Art's Auto and another building, Gilbane's Service Center building, are rare examples. They are "second generation" service stations. These stations had fun and unique designs. They were the opposite of today's gas stations. Today, most gas stations look very similar. This is to make them seem familiar and reliable. But Art's Auto was all about being different! The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
