Fleur de Lys Studio

 This striking building is near the bottom of the challenging climb up to the top of College Hill in Providence, Rhode Island.  It is an architectural monument to the American Arts and Crafts Movement of the 1880s.  Its half-timbered main facade was built in 1885 with elaborate Art Nouveau stucco sections between the timbers.

The Fleur de Lys Building is a dedicated studio building owned by the Providence Art Club for the use of its members.   It is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The Fleur de Lys was purpose built as artists' studios and was never a domicile of any kind. 

Originally owned by Sydney Burleigh, it was deeded to the Art Club at the time of his death.  

Typically six artists have studios in the building.

The Graduate

 I was in Providence yesterday for an event honoring a legendary professor who has served the university for 65 -- yes, 65! -- years.  That gave me time to walk around and see things I hadn't seen recently as well as new things and old things I had never noticed when I was there.

Walking past the Economics building where I spent many hours, a graduate and her mother were taking pictures.  I volunteered to take some photos on her phone and then asked if I could take one on mine.  She just picked up her doctorate in Economics and is moving to teach at University College Dublin.

St. Mary's Church

 

While I was in Stamford, Connecticut, I passed this beautiful Catholic church.  I had to stop for a moment.  

The bright light against the facade and the rich blue skies showed the church perfectly.  Unfortunately, I was in a hurry so I couldn't take the time to go inside.

Chelsea Piers Connecticut

 I was in Stamford, Connecticut, recently to watch a granddaughter in a swimming meet.  It was held at Chelsea Piers Connecticut, a simply massive sports facility.  CPC has a huge indoor Olympic swimming pool, two hockey rinks, a soccer field, a climbing wall, multiple gymnastic facilities, etc., etc.

Macedonia Church

 Macedonia Church occupies a prominent location on West Avenue in Norwalk.  It is a large and striking yellow brick and white marble building.  Originally a Methodist church, it was built in 1897 - 1898.  The building had, unfortunately, been largely neglected with little or no preventive maintenance for decades.

In 2013 - 2014 the Norwalk Preservation Trust took steps to raise awareness about the building's condition.  In 2014 Macedonia Church bought the building and has since then worked to raise the funds to restore it.  Macedonia Church is a nondenominational congregation led by Black evangelical preachers.

One stained glass window was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.  Another bears the likeness of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.  Unfortunately, the church was closed when I passed by, so I was unable to get inside to see them.

Episcopal Church

The Wilton Planning and Zoning Commission has approved a developer's plan to convert an abandoned Episcopal church into ten residential units.

It is an attractive old structure on a promontory above U.S. Route 7.  The units are planned to be homes ranging from three to five bedrooms and between roughly 1,900 and 3,600 square feet.

I am glad that the church will be redeveloped into useful residences.  Too often old structures like this abandoned church are just torn down.

Mental Health Awareness Month

 This field of green and white pinwheels is on a grass plot at the front of the Wilton library.  The 290 green pinwheels represent the number of calls in 2025 to the Wilton mental health crisis line. 

The 435 white pinwheels represent the 3 in 5 Wilton residents thought to be suffering from mental health challenges who did not reach out for help.  Wow!