The Warren Preservation Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting Historic Preservation in the Town of Warren, Rhode Island.  The objective of the Warren Preservation Society is to promote an interest in the history of Bristol County and Warren, Rhode Island in particular; to preserve their historic integrity and cultural resources; and to educate the public to the historic value of the area.

Upcoming Events

March General Meeting 2010

The evening will begin at 6:30 pm with a potluck supper and the meeting will follow at 7:00 pm.

On Thursday March 18th at  7pm we are hosting - Richard Ring, Special Collections Librarian for the Providence Public Library, at our General Meeting.

Mr. Ring will give a visual and spoken presentation on 19th Century Whaling Documents related to the town of Warren, RI.  The documents, housed in the Nicholson Whaling Collection, are part of a collection that was bequeathed to the PPL in 1956 by Providence industrialist Paul Coe Nicholson (1888-1956).  The Nicholson Collection consists of nearly 800 logbooks and account books, and virtually thousands of miscellaneous letters and economic papers involving the outfitting of vessels and the settlement of voyages.

The Warren Preservation Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting the cultural and architectural history of the Town of Warren, Rhode Island. Guest Speakers are scheduled for our general meetings. General membership meetings are free and open to the public, as well as all members.  They are held quarterly on the third Thursday of the month downstairs at the Warren Methodist Church, Church Street, Warren, RI.

All members are encouraged to attend and guest are always welcome!

Spring Plaqueing Ceremony 2010

A plaquing ceremony walking tour is being planned to take place in May of 2010.  Properties scheduled for the event include: Marble Hall (Blount Seafood), 239 Water Street (former Hope Bank and E&M Martin Lumber Co), 259 Water Street, and the Mercier's Hardware Building.  This walking tour is designed to promote an appreciation for mixed use and commercial properties as part of our waterfront community.

Our plaquing ceremonies have proven to be a rewarding and educational experience for everyone involved.

All of our members and the public are invited to attend.

A date and time for the event will be announced soon.

 RICH Grant Update

The Warren Mill Project is in development as information and artifacts are being collected.  We are looking at several Mill locations in Town for presentations as we plan for a Fall event.  Please check back for updates. 

If you have any information, photographs or artifacts related to the history of Warren's Mills, please contact Doug Hinman at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

If you would like to be included on the mailing list for this and future events please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rhode Island Council for the Humanities Grant

WPS received a $2000. matching grant from RICH - Rhode Island Council for the Humanities - for a project that will contribute to the documentation the history of the mills in Warren, RI and the community of workers who settled there.  The Warren Mill Project will address the historical significance and how it relates to the contemporary use of the mill complexes.   We will present to the public the rich history of these mills, how the community grew as a result of these mills and how the community has changed as the result of the closing and redevelopment of these mills. By recalling the “embodied” energy that went into the buildings many years ago, we hope to recreate for our audience the reality of the past and how it helped shape the community as it exists today.

The team for our documentary project includes: Deborah Baronas, RISD graduate, textile designer, artist; Rick Greenwood, Architectural Historian; Doug Hinman, Research Assistant for the Warren Preservation Society; Davison Bolster, Research Assistant for the Warren Preservation Society, and Diane Horton, Project Director for the Warren Preservation Society.

Currently we are working to find a location for an exhibition planned for early Fall 2010. 

Please stay tuned for updates as the project develops!

Past Events 

Warren Preservation Holiday Party Update

Thank you to all of our members and guests who attended the WPS Holiday Party this  past December.  The event was held at the Joseph Martin House (Main Street, currently the site of the Women's Resource Center).  Thanks to many generous donations, WPS was able to contribute over $300 to the Women's Resource Center.  Many of our members and guests had never been inside the Joseph Martin House. The opportunity to use this space for our Holiday Celebration made the experience a special one for everyone involved. 

Samuel Randall House Restoration Celebration Update

Thank you to all who attended and volunteered at the Restoration Celebration!  It was a tremendous success and renovations will continue at 31 Baker Street thanks to all the efforts of the volunteers and money raised at the event.

Pancake Breakfast

The Pancake Breakfast fundraiser was held at the Warren Methodist Church on Saturday, May 23rd.  WPS would like to thank everyone who participated in this event for making it such a great success - and especially Allison Newsome for providing flowers and foliage and decorating the alley.  Proceeds from the breakfast, together with many generous donations, will be used in collaboration with the Town of Warren - Department of Public Works for the restoration of "Stingy" Alley (aka Parsonage Way).

  Enjoying breakfast in Stingy Alley (before the rain!)