Our Cumberland office recently underwent a service upgrade for internet. In the process of this effort, we’ve discovered that the house (that is our office) was formerly the home of Ray Mullin, owner of Ray Mullin Music. His popular store was founded in 1929 and originally headquartered in Pawtucket next to the LeRoy Theater. In fact, there was a tunnel between the theater and the music store, so when big acts performed, they could sneak out through this passage. Sandy Soares got her first guitar (a Les Paul) from Ray Mullins and Debby Smith used to babysit his grandchildren. Today, both the Pawtucket store and the LeRoy Theater are gone; the Company has relocated to Swansea.

This got us thinking. Time works differently in Rhode Island. Instead of living by that clock thing hanging on the wall, nostalgia seems to be the dominant rhythm of life here. While new construction may change the terrain, the Rhode Island conscious is embedded in the past. Just ask a true Rhode Islander for directions. Instead of street names, they will most likely be given by landmark. And usually this landmark will be outdated, like where the old I-195 used to be. With this trait in mind, we’ve created a list of some famous Rhode Island Used-To-Be’s that are important to our culture.

If you live in the Ocean State and are over the age of 20, there’s a really good chance you have some childhood memory of Rocky Point Amusement Park. This Warwick Park, established in 1847, grew quickly in popularity, and from the 1850’s through the 1980’s it was the most popular attraction in New England. Tom Flanagan remembers spending Saturdays there, full of laughter and cotton candy. The park closed in 1995 and was demolished in 2007. The town of Warwick is currently looking to make the land into a public park.

Much like Rocky Point, Crescent Park in East Providence (named for the crescent shape of the Riverside beach) was renowned in its time. Founded in 1886 by George Boyden, the venue was known as the “Coney Island of the East”, with hot air balloons and extravagant carousels providing the Park’s main attractions. Tom Flanagan also remembers the delicious candy apples he enjoyed here (there is a theme here with Tom about amusement venues). The park closed in 1979, and the surrounding area was developed. The only remnant of these sweet roots is the Crescent Park Carousel, which remains open to this day.

Today, The Towers set the backdrop to the Narragansett social scene, but they once provided entrance to the Narragansett Pier Casino, another source of turn-of-the-century entertainment. The Casino was completed in 1886 and provided a refuge for the areas social elite, offering a variety of recreational opportunities, such as boating, tennis, billiards, bowling, cards, and shooting. The venue also had restaurants, stores, reading rooms, a theater, a bandstand, a ballroom, and a beautiful beach. While Residential Properties Ltd. has been around for a long time (this year is our 30th anniversery!), none of us were there to enjoy the pleasures of The Casino, since the building burned down in 1900. However, locals like Anita Langer cherish The Towers for uniting a community with their granite walls.

Our final used to be is much less romantic, but is a part of Rhode Island history none-the-less. In the 1980s, Providence was included in the Guinness Book of World Record for holding the distinction of World’s Widest Bridge. Known as the Crawford Street Bridge at 1,147 feet, the structure grew when several normal sized bridges were covered with decking and turned into a parking lot. Oh yeah, this monstrosity was located across the Providence River. Ed Hardy remembers thinking this bridge was gross in his youth. This monstrosity has since been dismantled; the river has been moved; Waterfire caldrons line the center of where the bridge was; and the whole transformation turned the area into an asthetically pleasing area. While this demolition was integral in developing our Capital Center, we just couldn’t let you erase this Used-To-Be from your memory. So, remember, you can get to the downtown area from the East Side by crossing over the river where the world’s widest bridge was.

Admittedly, we’ve left out numerous landmarks that could be used for directions, so you can expect another Used-To-Be compilation in the near future.

How important is the proficiency of a school system in the decision process for a new home? As the school year draws to a close it is a good time to evaluate that question.

GoLocalProv.com, the online newspaper for Rhode Island,  posted their second annual ranking of public high schools around the state.  During their research on the article, we were asked to give our opinion on that decision process from a first hand experience.  Specifically, they wanted to report on how our clients evaluated the schools information.

According to the article the top five high schools in Rhode Island were East Greenwich, Narragansett, Exeter-West Greenwich, South Kingstown, and Barrington.  To see where your school ranked and the rest of the extensive research visit the golocalprov’s site.

Yesterday on my radio show, Rich and Steve joined me in the studio to discuss October numbers from the Rhode Island Association of Realtors. We were joined by Mary Ann Lisi, an agent from our Narragansett Office and one half of the Portfolio Partners team, to discuss a special property on 20 Bedford Circle in Narragansett.

Hidden away at the end of a quiet tree-lined drive and surrounded by beautiful lawns and gardens, this magnificent getaway encompasses 3.1 acres, and adjoins additional open space that gives this property incredible privacy. Set high on a hill side overlooking the Narrow River, the home features a wrap around waterside deck, in-ground pool and lush plantings.

The bright and generously proportioned rooms enjoy the wonderful views. Easily adaptable, the home can be used either for year round living and entertaining, or simply as a secluded hideaway offering both beauty and serenity. This two to three bedroom home has an additional kitchen for a potential in-law apartment or pool party access.

Just minutes to river access for fishing and boating. The nearby Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of 200 acres of preserved habitat offers stellar summer kayaking and canoeing opportunities. The home is also one and a half miles to Narragansett Beach— the beach and famed “sea wall” are just a bike ride away.

Mary Ann Lisi has been a South County resident for over 20 years. Prior to becoming a realtor in 1997, Mary Ann restored homes, dabbled in interior design, and worked in visual merchandising for several large companies.

Melissa Coyle brings a strong background in marketing and communications to her real estate profession with over fifteen years of experience working with large corporations. With the increasingly competitive market, Melissa understands the need for superior service and problem solving. She establishes customer relationships based on enthusiasm, creativity and commitment.

At Residential Properties, we work hard to buy and sell real estate on a professional level. Even though the company focuses on providing homes to those who can afford them, we have not forgotten about those who cannot necessarily purchase a home in the traditional sense. Last week I joined Mary Ann Lisi, an energetic volunteer and sales associate from our Narragansett office, at the South County Habitat for Humanity.

When I first asked about her involvement, Mary Ann remarked that she “feels strongly about giving back to the South County community”, since this is the area where she has focused her real estate endeavors. Not only has her experience with building and renovating been an asset to the cause, Mary Ann brings with her a genuine passion for carpentry. “I LOVE to swing a hammer” she stated with enthusiasm, “Habitat for Humanity and I are a perfect fit.” With such altruistic zeal, how could I not be drawn to join her?

Mary Ann has been working with the organization for several years and has recently rejoined the Womens Build Program on Thursdays. As part of South County Habitat for Humanity, the fantastic women volunteers are now working on a very exciting project, building a house on Klondike Road in Charlestown.

If you would like to get involved with Habitat for Humanity, their website has a complete list of chapters so that you can easily find a group in your area. There are several different options for volunteering, from youth to womens build programs, so you can choose the type of experience that best suits you. Not only is this a fun organization to help if you have a flair for building or restoration, but your efforts will give in-need families the opportunity to buy a home of their own.