Davol Rubber Company
Davol Rubber Company is a historic factory in Providence, Rhode Island, built in 1880 and comprising several brick structures. The complex includes buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s, with the oldest measuring three stories and featuring heavy timber framing and large windows, while later structures have steel frames and brick exteriors.
The company was founded in the late 1870s by Joseph Davol and began producing rubber goods for medical and office use. It expanded significantly through the 1900s, becoming one of the largest rubber manufacturers in the United States before production moved out of Providence in the late 1970s.
The factory shaped Providence's reputation as a manufacturing hub, and its buildings display the working conditions of the early industrial era. It employed hundreds of workers and served as a center for innovation in rubber goods production.
The complex is now known as Davol Square and houses various shops, offices, and a jewelry trade center, offering visitors multiple reasons to explore the site. The buildings are easily accessible and well-maintained for their historic importance, allowing visitors to see original architecture alongside modern uses.
In the 1980s, the factory was converted into a shopping and business center called Davol Square, deliberately modeled after Faneuil Hall in Boston. This transformation showed how an industrial production site could successfully become a place for modern commerce and public activity.
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