Superman Building

Submitted by InappropriateMommie t3_10rnxwy in RhodeIsland

So, I recently moved back to RI after 25 years out west. When I came back, I grabbed a RI Magazine because it had a list of all the best ice cream places in the state. Anyway, it also had an article about the Superman Building in Providence. I live downtown and walk past it every day so I’m kind of fascinated by it.

Particularly this point - the article said that the building used to have giant eagles surrounding the lame knob that you now see at the top. One of the bank presidents thought they were ugly and had them chopped off. I’m weirdly obsessed with seeing what it looked like with the eagles but I can’t find any pictures online…does anyone know where I would find some?

Very, very niche post, I’m aware :) thanks!

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Comments

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FunnyFilmFan t1_j6wmshp wrote

I’m kind of guessing here, so pardon me if this doesn’t get you what you want, but try the Providence library to see if they have old photos or at least old newspapers from that time.

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sandsonik t1_j6x2b96 wrote

I don't know if the bank president thought they were ugly, but he surely thought they were dangerous. One came crashing down so the others were removed.

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RIFCSUPERFAN t1_j6xgto8 wrote

I inboxed you a pic of the eagle being removed

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JasonDJ t1_j6xumd7 wrote

Replying to InappropriateMommie (#1,702,781)

Years ago (probably c2001) I had to do a report in highschool that required me pulling some old newspaper articles.

I think it was the RI Historical Society, on the East Side, had a collection of old projo's on microfiche. I'd recommend looking there. If not, they might be able to dig something up for you.

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InappropriateMommie OP t1_j6xwgs4 wrote

Replying to JasonDJ (#1,705,282)

Thank you so much! This is so fun and interesting. You would think there would be a million pics because it was technically the first ever high rise building on the east coast (I was surprised by that too).

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Maleficent_Weird8613 t1_j6xzb0z wrote

It was supposed to have a blimp dock but after the Hindenburg well, we know how that ended.

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