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The Trolley Series LbNA #19656 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:N/A
Plant date:Dec 12, 2005
Location:
City:Providence
County:Providence
State:Rhode Island
Boxes:7
Found by: Bluebird
Last found:Dec 29, 2006
Status:FFFFFFFFFaaaaaaaa
Last edited:Dec 12, 2005
The Trolley Series of Providence, Rhode Island
This series is designed to take you through our favorite spots in Providence. You can take the Trolley for $1.50 per ride, or purchase tokens for $13.50 for 10 if you will be traveling with a fellow letterboxer.

http://www.ripta.com/schedules/index.php/section/70

Although some letterboxes are not extremely close to all stops, they are only with in 3-4 blocks. This is URBAN letterboxing, be prepared to move stealthily and re-hide well!

Use this link to find a map for the trolley, http://www.ripta.com/schedules/trolleymap.php

If you choose to drive this map can also assist you with the roads. Placing the boxes took us 3.5 hours to find some of the spots, hide the box and make several wrong turns, eat pizza, have a vanilla latte, and of course stop at Dunkin Donuts, it shouldn’t take you much longer than that!
Good luck!
GretchenF and JulesF


Eagle Square:

Park in Eagle Square on Atwells Avenue and Eagle Street. This is a newly renovated warehouse square that has been turned into a shopping plaza to include Shaw’s, Radio Shack, Dunkin’ Donuts, MadRags, Payhalf, and Cingular, and Staples. Park in between Dunkin’ Donuts (what kind of RI directions would this be with out at least 1 DD) and MadRags clothing store. Cross the green bridge leading where you will see a sign that says “Service Vehicles Only”. At the Northwest corner of the bridge, closest to Shaws, jump down the small concrete wall carefully. You will now find yourself among a mini-forest of Arborvitae. Look to your left while facing the Woonasquatucket River and reach with your left hand under the corner of the bridge. There you will find a small lip where your Trolley waits!

Federal Hill:

Hop on the trolley on Atwells Avenue in front of the Radio Shack. Head up Atwells Avenue to the corner of Dean Street and Atwells. The area now known as Federal Hill was originally the land separating the Narragansett and Wampanoag Indian tribes. At the turn of the century this area became known as “Little Italy”, and became highly populated with mob crimes including racketeering, bookmaking, and violating prohibition laws. It is now a fabulous place for lunch, dinner, and shopping. Head down Dean Street one block with the Bank of America on your left until you come to the “Thank you for visiting Historic Federal Hill”. At this sign turn left into the Bocce Ball court. At the end of the second court you will find one lone tree among the hedge there is a slice of pizza waiting for you to tide you over as you contine on your journey. If you have passed the last antique light post you have gone too far. Be careful not to let the enticing smells from Casserta’s Pizza or Sicilia’s Pizza drag you from your next letterbox!


The Fleet Skating Center:

Back to the Trolley to Kennedy Plaza. Head towards what used to be the Fleet Skating Center, again, what Rhode Islander would not give directions without saying what it used to be called, Bank of America Skating Center now! At the back of the rink you will see a double sided staircase; to the right you will find the Union Station Passage. You are now in One Union Station, this was the site of the original train station in the 1800’s.Here you can rent your skates if you choose, or continue through the Passage. You will pass the “Tunnel” bar on your right and Capital Grille on your left. Continue towards Water Place Tunnel down the small stair case. Before entering tunnel look to your right. The last bush up the ramp, not up the stairs, is hiding your Skate!

The Gondola:

Now you may continue into the Water Place Tunnel, past the wall of Hope, The Wall of Hope was coordinated state-wide by the National Conference on Community and Justice (NCCJ), which is a human relations organization dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism in America. The NCCJ's goal was to have 10,000 tiles painted by people from throughout Rhode Island and these tiles were unveiled as a permanent public art display on Sept. 11, 2002 in downtown Providence. Take a left immediately after exiting the tunnel. Follow the cobblestone walkway along the cove basin. Here is the setting for Providence’s famed WaterFire.
http://www.waterfire.org/about/index.html

During these fires large and small Gondola’s float up and down the Providence River. Pass the first set of stairs on left; continue past a short set of stairs. Have a seat where the ramp ends in the corner where the wall meets the concrete bench. Using your left hand reach into the ivy against the wall and have a ride on your own gondola.

Abbot Park Place:

Take the Trolley to Dorrance and Weybosset Streets, Johnson & Wales University Library, also known as The Yena Center. Walk up Weybosset past Gaebe Commons on your left. Pass Providence Performing Arts Center on your left. Come to the pocket park on left. This is Abbot Park Place, this is the site of the original Johnson & Wales University, it was founded as a business school in 1914 in Providence, by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales. From its origins as a school devoted to business education, Johnson & Wales grew first to a junior college, then to a senior college, and ultimately to university status. Here you will find a large fountain; behind the fountain is a small black bell. Carefully, the deans, professors, and students may be watching through their windows, peek up into the bell. There you may find a place setting for a world-class dinner prepared by a chef in training!

Wickenden Street:

Back on the Trolley you will go to Governor Street and Wickenden Street which is called Fox Point. This is located east of downtown Providence; Fox Point is a residential neighborhood that is still home to a large portion of Providence's Portuguese population... Fox Point, once the major seaport for the city, is now primarily a neighborhood of two and three family homes.

http://www.providenceri.com/Neighborhoods/foxpoint.html

Walk past the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School on right hand side of the street. Enter small park across from the Providence Public Library Fox Point. If you come to Fox Point Manor you have gone too far. Walk between the playground and water park, continue between the baseball diamond and basketball court. Follow stone wall past the mini basketball court. When the wall ends on right the last bush holds a latte deep inside. Go to Reflections on Governor and Wickenden for a real Latte or get back on the Trolley heading towards Brook Street.

Ivy League:

The trolley will take you all the way down College Hill. You will even travel through the great tunnel! Get off the trolley immediately after the tunnel. You will need to climb back up College Street to Brown Universities Van Wickle Gates. These gates are at the top of College Street before it turns left and becomes Prospect Street. http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Admission/visitbrown/Brown_Campus_Map.pdf

A student superstition often followed by Brown students is that they can pass through the Van Wickle Gates only twice- once upon entering the University during Convocation, and once again during Commencement (superstition has it that students who pass through the gates for a second time before graduation do not graduate). Undergraduate members of the Brown Band who must pass through the gates during the Commencement ceremonies walk through it backwards. You will be passing through these gates now! Enter the right side of the gates, turn immediately to your right and duck under the trees and bushes. In that corner of the wall supporting the gates you will find your own Ivy League.

Thank you, we hope you had fun! As always please be careful, much street crossings and all are in highly visible spots. This is URBAN letterboxing at its best if we may say so ourselves. We gladly give hints or elaborate on clues. Please email when you have found our boxes, because they are so urban we would realize they may need regular maintenance or may disappear due to grounds crews! Thanks again and happy boxing!