Rhode Island Monthly March 2020 | Page 37

Local Expertise. World Class Results. ing occupies a floodplain, and basement sump-pumps continually beat back the river, which gurgles though a hole in the floor. What was considered a vast improve- ment when the state signed the first five- year lease looks shabby today. The public space is outfitted with mismatched chairs and is too small to host events. The histori- cal all-stars are in a climate-controlled space, but more than half of the collection is not. In May, Gorbea released a report estimating that more than a third of the documents were at high risk for damage. “The danger is water and temperature,” says State Archivist Ashley Selima. Many things are in open stacks and we can’t have it at the lower temperature we prefer.” Regular users, such as author Cherry Bamberg, editor of Rhode Island Genea- logical Society journal Rhode Island Roots, can easily tick off other deficits: a lack of accessible electrical outlets, microfilm readers or proper archival page weights. “As much I appreciate the archives, I also understand how much worse things have gotten in the last twenty years simply because there are so many more docu- ments,” she says. “Nobody is unaware of smell. I look up at the ceiling vent and see the black around it.” Maureen Taylor, who uses the archives for her business, the Photo Detective, and her website, oldpvd.com, agrees. “I travel all over the country lecturing in state archives and it’s always kind of sad to come home to Rhode Island, because the state archives are so small,” she says. “But don’t underestimate the amount of history that’s here. If you are from Rhode Island, your family history is in that archive somewhere.” The 1887 referendum lost by a wide margin and Rhode Island women did not get equal suffrage until 1920, when the nineteenth amendment was ratified here. More than 130 years later, some men from East Greenwich still dismiss women’s par- ticipation in politics — read: former Town Council Vice President Sean Todd’s tweet about the 2017 Women’s March: “Definitely a guy came up with the #womensmarch perfect way to get the wives outta the house.” But, in 2018, twenty-seven women were elected to the General Assembly. Two are from East Greenwich. And that is just one fascinating history of us, told by the archives.  Island Realty SALES & RENTALS 4 East Ferry Wharf , Jamestown One-of-a-Kind Condo • Expansive Water Views • Completely Renovated • Jamestown Chef ’s Kitchen, Private Entry, 900 Sq. Ft. Porch and Gazebo, Locked Storage - $1,195,000 Double Lot • 3BR • Screened Porch • New Paint Jamestown Shores - $435,000 New Custom Home • 3BR • 2 Car Garage Jamestown Shores - $649,900 I S L A N D R E A LT Y R I . C O M · 4 E A S T F E R R Y W H A R F, J A M E S T O W N · 4 0 1 . 4 2 3 . 2 2 0 0 J.G. COFFEY CO. llc . TM Tennis • Basketball • Pickleball Surfacing, Construction and Repair Services 401.441.0871 www.netennisandtrack.com [email protected] Your Trusted Source for Scratch & Dent Major Appliances large showroom where shopping for appliances is a family experience! We carry major appliances such as: refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, hoods, washer/dryers and more! 299 Walcott Street, Pawtucket, RI 401-723-0500 • kitchenguys.com RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MARCH 2020     35