Then and Now - The Albert J. Vitale Building - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

The Albert J. Vitale Building was built in 1901 to house the Providence County Savings Bank. Designed in the Neoclassical style, the building featured a flat roof, elaborate detailing, and a façade adorned in white marble and brick. The architecture of the Albert J. Vitale Building draws inspiration from the “White City” of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, marking the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival.
The bank occupied the entire ground floor, utilizing a rusticated 1st floor with storefront display windows.

On May 26, 1922, the Providence County Savings Bank merged into the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Co., a major financial institution in the state. In 1948, an addition designed by Thomas A. James Company of Boston, was added to the west side of the building. Hospital Trust continued to call this building home until 1977, when a new branch office was erected across the street at 215 Main Street.

Over the years, the building underwent changes. In the mid- to late 20th century, the original wood storefront windows and entrance doors were replaced with aluminum-framed units. The sign band over the storefront once displayed the name of the bank, though it now reads “Albert J. Vitale Building,” a nod to a previous owner.

As of now, the Albert J. Vitale Building stands vacant. Pawtucket developer Leslie Moore, who owns several properties in the vicinity, is set to breathe new life into this historic structure. With a purchase price of $775,000, Moore envisions transforming the upper floors into apartments while maintaining the main floor as a public space. This move promises to usher in a new chapter for the Albert J. Vitale Building, preserving its rich history while adapting to the needs of the present.