The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-03

its back in several places in its paroxysms
. OF delight over it's own ludicrousness,
and is all the funnier for the fractures.
There is, however. one thing funpier
than this funny building, and that is the
indignation II has aroused among the
dwellers along Broad street and inter
secting thorough;ares. From Trinity
square TO the bridge that spans the pur-
ling Pawtuxet the people are up in arms
against the structure. They seem to re-
gard 1t rs personal afront, an invasion
of their private rights, and an insult to
their sense of fitness OF things in general.
Owners of Queen Anne villas and colo
NAL mansions in the immediate neighbor-
hood are filled with indignation TO tho
bursting point. but their sentiments are
no stronger, nor their feelings more
narrowed and harrassed than those of the
cwellers on the plains of Pawtuxet or in
the everglades of Edgewood. Indigna-
tion meetings are the rule. Regular ses-
sions are neld at least twice day on the
trolley car platforms and sometimes more
frequently, but tie work goes on and
each day the funny fabric seems to laugh
more gleefully and TO ask with brezen
impudence, "Whst are you going TO do
about it?'
And what is all this talk and turmoil
about? simple case OF squatting, that's
all. The funny building that has awak'
ened the ire OF sedate and sensible citi-
zens is the handiw ork or unhandiwork
OF a squatter who believes he has got hold
of a good thing and proposes TO hang on
to IL.
The lot in question is in the form Of a
trspezoid and contains just 4106 square
feet OF land. Its location is particularly
desirable and, could q clear title TO it be
obtained, it would unqucstionably ccm-
mand a high price. But no such title can
ha n Ia m
no mans land, or, TO put 1t in another
way, it is many mems land, but they do
not come forward to claim IL. Ii was orig
inally burial ground owned by DIR.
John Hoyle, a very large land holder in
Providence as well as Cranston, who
fiourished a century and half ago. 1t was
within the town of Cranston until the
annexation of 1865, when with other
property, il became part Of Providence.
DIR. Hoyle carried on business in Prov
idence, although he had large landed in
terests outside the town. He was an
apothecary as well as physician. His
store was located near what is generally
known as the New Market at the junction
OF Weyb ybosset and Broad streets. He APP
pears to have teen a man OF pronounced
generosity, for he gave tract OF land to
the Presbyterian society for the erection
Of a church. The land was near the pres
ert inslow place, but 10 church was
ever built upon 1t, so far as appears. IL
was, however. used for burial purposes
He also made other gifts of land for
similsr purposes, at least that Is the as
sertion made by the squatter at Broad
and Moore streets, who claims to be his
descendant.
DR.. Hoyle died, as near as can he ascer-
tanned. i'm 1850 and by will he bequeathed
the sum of f25 to the town of Cranston
on condition that IL would perpetually
care for his burial ground, which is the
very lot on which the funny building
that is causing so much amusing indigna-
tion is being erected. Whether or not
the town ever accepted the trust or took
the money is not known. But whether
il did or not, no care was bestowed, and in
course of time nearly all distinguishing
marks disappeared from the little ceme-
tery save the remains OF tomb. which.is
still remembered by many citizens who
as boys played in and about II. IL is
probabt that at some time prior to its
final abandonment the remains inferred
there were removed to another place OF
sepulture.
Eventually the land in that vicinity be-
came the property of Governor Fenner,
but the burial lot was not included in
his purchase. The little trapezoid re-
mained as il had been for many yosrs un-
owned by any one, although. having been
abandoned as a burial place, IL reverted to
the heirs of DR.. Hoyle. None OF them
claimed IL, or IL anyone did, he went no
further than 10 make the claim, without
enforcing II.
so i(stters stood until 1869, when, as
IL appears from the records In the Office
of the assessors. the lot was taxed as the
property OF Eleanor II. Rhodes, wife OF
William b. Rhodes. In 1873 II was taxed
to William Il. Rhodes, but in 1877 IL was
recorded as a burial ground and OF
course was untaxed. II has been carried