Friends in High Places: Highrises in Woonsocket

I am grateful that we have elderly highrises in the city. When I listen to the police radio I hear a lot of calls to help the folks who live there. it is a lucky thing that they are not out in the woods somewhere.

The typical Woonsocket senior in the 1950s was an aging mill worker living in a three-story building with no hot water and no insulation. Heat came from gas-on-gas or coal stoves, and laundry was washed in the sink.

"Living was tough," said Speel. "It was a difficult time in American history. You either had a very good life or you lived in abject poverty with no future."

Things started to change in Woonsocket on Aug. 24, 1964, when Parkview Manor opened its doors.

The 10-story building had 150 units with fire alarm systems, florescent lighting and balconies. There were elevators, laundry rooms and common spaces where residents could gather.

More than 10,000 people showed up for a two-day open house at the property, touring the gigantic building at 218 Pond Street.

The project had come about thanks to the efforts of Father Henri Crepeau, chairman of the Woonsocket Housing Authority.

"He saw the need for safe decent housing for seniors and an aging population," said Speel.

Creapeau died just months before his dream became a reality.

When Parkview held its grand opening, Paul Begin was the chairman of WHA, with Charles Bishop serving as vice chairman. Kevin Coleman was mayor of Woonsocket and Oscar Creapeau served as WHA's executive director. Irene Benoit, Leo Bradley and Arthur Rock were also on the WHA commission.

The group had set up an annual contributions agreement with federal government to provide subsidies for rent at the property, and units would be offered to area seniors for just $40 a month.

"It was a good deal for the city and the people because it took slums out of the community," said Speel. "It actually improved the tax base."

The entire project, including land acquisition, cost $2,209,791, and all of the money came from the federal government.

"The government realized that living conditions were terrible in most of America," Speel said.

In Woonsocket, many residents worked 12 hour days in mills and came home to climb two or three flights of stairs into cold, sparse apartments owned by their bosses.

"They grew up in the mill owners' apartments and they shopped in the mill owners' stores, and what they has left afterwards was just enough for cigarettes and beer," said Speel.

"They really lived in substandard conditions," Speel added. "The wind could blow right through the houses."

The new Parkview represented much more than just a place to retire.

The high rise's first resident was 79-year-old Raoula Berard. The first maintenance man, Ed Bosquet, lived on the premises with his wife and three daughters.

In newspaper reports from the time, residents said living there made them feel like millionaires.

"They really shifted from an entire lifestyle of little hope to realizing the American dream," Speel said. "They could live much better than they ever did growing up."

Parkview was one of the first affordable housing highrises built in the state. Kennedy Manor in Woonsocket followed shortly after.

Today, Parkview is in better shape than ever, with updated features including a top-notch security system. An emergency generator, capable of powering the entire building has been installed, and new windows keep the drafts that once blew through the homes of the city's less fortunate at bay. The building is fully occupied and most residents still pay affordable rents thanks to federal aid.

"Most of the people in the highrises don't have a lot of money," Speel said. "It's a real asset in the city."

Speel has placed a painting depicting living conditions prior to the launch of highrises in the lobby of each of WHA's buildings, a reminder of how things once were.

Residents celebrated the landmark at a 50th anniversary Christmas party last weekend, swearing in of the new officers for 2015 and handing out a coffee mug with Parkview Manor's picture.

"It's all thanks to visionaries like Father creapeau who lobbied hard," said Speel. "He really did a tremendous thing for the city of Woonsocket. "In inner-city mill communities, it was a godsend."