Is There a Big Comeback for Federal Hill?
Kate Nagle, GoLocalProv News Editor
Is There a Big Comeback for Federal Hill?
Federal Hill is the embodiment of Italian immigration to Rhode Island. It was the home to organized crime in New England, and it hosts some of the best restaurants in America, but the past decade has been mixed for the neighborhood.
The neighborhood in the late 19th century, to early part of the 20th century, was one of the most densely populated areas of Italian-Americans in the United States. Many of the most prominent Rhode Island families trace their ancestry to the neighborhood.
Federal Hill is where U.S. Senator John O. Pastore grew up and where Raymond Patriarca ran one of the largest and long-running crime organizations in America. It is a neighborhood of rich history.
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From right after World War Two until the end of the 20th Century, there was a consistent exodus of families of Italian decent from Federal Hill to other areas in Rhode Island such as Johnston, North Providence and Cranston. Those families were replaced with new residents looking for affordable housing -- as well as landlords looking for a return on their investments in the three-deckers.
Building on Strengths
Few food magazine rankings in the last 25 years have not included Federal Hill or one of its restaurants in one of their write ups. Travel + Leisure magazine called Providence "divine" back in 2009 and featured five different restaurants on Federal Hill.
The Hill is famous for great food and a legacy of the quintessential Italian neighborhood. Now, the neighborhood and the restaurant owners are looking to spark the big comeback.
“The entire Hill would love to see more retail, to see it be more busy during the day. As far as night club and nightlife -- the restaurants now have licenses to be open at certain times. It was just about having people work together - the businesses had a good summer, and fall and winter is really the Hill's time to shine. It takes a bit of a breather in the beginning of the year, and then comes back in the spring,” said Rick Simone, a member of the Federal Hill Commerce Association.
City Creating Obstacles?
Part of the Federal comeback depends on tackling issue like parking and growing the retail base.
Former Mayor and present State Representative John Lombardi pointed to a confusing city strategy under Mayor Jorge Elorza that has increased Federal Hill’s biggest challenges - parking. Earlier this year the Elorza administration, in an effort to increase revenue to the city, targeted Federal Hill and other neighborhoods by installing parking meters. For business owners the decision has only exacerbated an existing problem.
Restaurant owners agree that the parking meter issue is both a reality and perception problem. Ted Newcomer, Jr., President/Jedi Master Chow Fun Group, told GoLocal, “It's obvious this is a money grab from the city. Logistically what about the valet signs and the valets parking cars? if they extend the metering until 10 p.m., which is suspected, how will that affect them in front of our establishments?”
Lombardi noted that the meters put artificial constraints on people who come to the Hill for different purposes.
“The question is for some people, if they go [to Federal Hill], they need more than three hours," said Lombardi of the meter time constraints. "There are tours that come for half-day excursions, they go from Roma, to Venda, and all down the street, and stay for four or five hours."
Lombardi juxtaposed the tourists with the regular Hill shoppers.
"So now if you get a ticket on your car, is a loaf of bread going to cost you a hundred and six bucks? “ said Lombardi. "You'll just go to Price Rite. Anyone who ever gets a ticket isn't exactly going back to that area anytime soon."
One emerging solution that will be announced shortly is the addition of fifty new parking spaces during the day. “The Commerce Association is going to be providing free parking at St. Johns from 11:30 AM to 5 PM -- there are 50 spaces there, that offers a huge opportunity. It's right across from Pane e Vino -- that's starting next week,” said Simone.
For Federal Hill to achieve the ultimate “Little Italy” destination seems to be a status that is in reach, but Federal Hill is looking to be more than just Italian restaurants. It wants to offer a range of great eating and shopping experiences with a range of ethnic offerings. The effort to elevate needs to be driven in tandem with the City and the Providence-Warwick Convention Bureau, according to Simone. "It is important that there is a coordinated effort with the City, along with the CVB who has been fantastic in bringing travel writers and conventioneers to the Hill.
With the Hill's recent episodes of late night violence followed by a calmer stretch, leaders are cautiously optimistic.
"It is much quieter than what it was -- but at what expense?" quipped Lombardi, of the nightclub presence, versus restaurants. "It's now the tale of two neighborhoods."
Violence on Federal Hill: A Chronological History
Murder of Waterman Irons
1888: Murder of Waterman Irons by Dennis "Spiker" Murphy and "Pete" Hackett
In 1888, an 82 year old leather merchant named Waterman Irons was murdered by Dennis “Spiker” Murphy and “Pete” Hackett. According to a Providence Evening News article from April 27, 1912 Irons' murder:
“..took place at the man’s little shop on High Street, now Westminster Street and Dean Street.” [1]
Ethnic Tensions on Rise
Late 19th Century: Tensions Rise Between Irish & Italian Immigrants
Federal Hill was initially settled by English immigrants. Irish immigrants began settling on the Hill during the 1830s and Italian immigrants followed suit later in the 19th century. By the 1880s tensions between the more established Irish and the new Italian arrivals began to erupt on Federal Hill resulting in acts of violence like the "stab and shoot" referenced in the accompanying photo.
Photo Courtesy of Providence City Archives
Macaroni Riots
1914: The Macaroni Riots
The Macaroni Riots of 1914 began when a local wholesaler on Federal Hill, Frank P. Ventrone raised the price of macaroni by 50 percent. A monthlong series of labor unreset and riots ensued on the Hill. As Tony Marrocco(“Monaleek”) wrote at that time in the Italian Echo:
“It was Sunday afternoon when about 12 immigrants held a rally in Olneyville Square and then marched to Federal Hill. They proceeded to Ventrone’s Grocery on Atwells Avenue to protest the rise in the price of macaroni. They smashed windows and stole cheese, macaroni, salami, capacollo and most anything in sight. Twenty mounted police put a stop to the riot in two hours. The riot made a point and the price of macaroni returned to its pre riot price.” Source
Frank P. Ventrone
Frank P. Ventrone: The "Macaroni King" of Federal Hill
Federal Hill shopkeeper Frank P. Ventrone's wholesale shop was boarded up during the Macaroni riots.
According to Providence City Archivist Paul Campbell:
"At the end of it Ventrone agreed to lower his prices, and things quieted down around the World War I period when the Providence Police Department started to bring in Italian speaking police officers.”
Photo Courtesy of Providence City Archives
"Daddy" Black Murder
1932: Murder of Arthur "Daddy" Black
From Providence Police Department [Campbell, P., Glancy, J., Pearson, G.(2014), Arcadia Publishing]
"The Jazz Age in Providence produced many great personalities, but none greater than Arthur"Daddy" Black who, during the 1920s, was kingpin of an illegal numbers pool that offered local blacks the long-shot opportunity to win big. A 20-year Navy veteran who was cited twice foil bravery during World War I, Daddy Black's investments included sponsorship of black and white professional baseball and basketball teams. His entrepreneurial skills earned him the accolade "Providence's Richest Negro," but his success in the numbers racket earned the attention of a new generation of violent gangsters. On September 24,1932, Black was shot to death in his office on 160 Cranston Street by a group of black assassins working under the direction of Italian mobsters. An estimated 3,000 mourners attended his funeral."
Photo Courtesy of Providence Police Archives
Raymond Patriarca
1954: Raymond Patriarca Becomes Mob Boss
Excerpt from Rhode Island Monthly Federal Hill Timeline
1954 Organized crime boss Philip Buccola flees New England for Sicily, leaving Raymond Patriarca in control. Patriarca becomes a notoriously ruthless mob overlord and is ultimately arrested twenty-eight times.
Photo Courtesy of Providence Police Archives
Tiger Balletto Murder
1955: Mob Hit on George “Tiger” Balleto at Bella Napoli Cafe
From Providence Police Department [Campbell, P., Glancy, J., Pearson, G.(2014), Arcadia Publishing]
"A victim of a period of mob violence in the 1950s in Providence under the consolidated power of crime boss Raymond Patriarca, George "Tiger" Balletto was shot in the back several times on the night of August 10, 1955 while drinking an orangeade and vodka at the end of the bar at Bella Napoli Cafe on 93 Atwells Avenue. Police reported that a dozen witnesses of the shooting "had been sticken with total loss of memory."
Photo Courtesy of Providence City Archives
Marfeo & Malei Murder
1968: Mob Hit on Rudolph Marfeo and Anthony Melei inside Pocasset Avenue Grocery Store
Marfeo and Melei were gunned down inside grocery store on Pocasset Avenue on April 20, 1968.
RI v. Raymond Patriarca
1973: State v. Raymond Patriarca
Excerpt from STATE v. Raymond L.S. PATRIARCA. No. 1566-Ex. &c. Supreme Court of Rhode Island. July 20, 1973:
"It appears that at about 2:30 on the afternoon of Saturday, April 20, 1968, Rudolph Marfeo and Anthony Melei were shot to death while shopping in a market on Pocasset Avenue in the city of Providence. Apparently, it was Marfeo's custom to shop for groceries in that market on Saturday afternoons, and while he and Melei were in the market two masked gunmen entered and shot them both.
Thereafter, on June 2, 1969, as a result of these homicides three indictments were returned by the grand jury. Indictment No. 69-769 charged the appellant here, Raymond L.S. Patriarca, with conspiring to murder Rudolph Marfeo. Others named in that indictment were Maurice R. Lerner, Robert E. Fairbrothers, John Rossi, and Rudolpho G. Sciarra. In Indictment No. 69-767 the appellant here and Sciarra were charged with being accessories to the murder of Marfeo, while Lerner, Fairbrothers, and Rossi were charged with the murder of Marfeo. In Indictment No. 69-768 the appellant here and Sciarra were charged with being accessories to the murder of Anthony Melei, while Lerner, Fairbrothers, and Rossi were charged with Melei's murder."
Dickie Callei Murder
1975: Mob Hit on Dickie Callei at the Acorn Social Club
From a Providence Journal article on March 15, 1975.
"Police say Callei was killed sometime overnight and his body driven into the woods and buried between 1:30 and 6:30 yesterday morning. Rehoboth Police Chief Raymond McKearney said snow lined the bottom of the grave, leading police to conclude that the grave might have been dug hours or even days before Callei was buried in it. Police said Callei was clad in a blood-soaked white shirt and green tie and buckskin shoes. A green and white sports coat was buried beside him. He was wearing a watch and two rings with initials on them.
Chief McKearney said it appeared from the marks and blood stains in the snow that he was dragged from the car by more than two persons, but wouldn't say how. There were blood stains between the tire marks at the end of the trail, indicating the body probably was taken from a car trunk. Chief McKearney called the slaying "brutal" and said it appeared to be a gangland killing. Dr. Shamey said Callei suffered three skull fractures caused by blunt instruments, stab wounds in the face, chest and abdomen and several bullet wounds in the back, the bullets going through the heart and lungs. He said shots were fired from close range."
Joe "Onions" Murder
1978: Mob Hit on Joe “Onions” Scanlon at Andrew Merola’s night club.
From the New York Times (In Rhode Island, an Old Mobster Lets Go of a Long-Kept Secret, 21 December 2008)
Thirty years ago, organized crime in Rhode Island was still like a rogue public utility. Raymond L. S. Patriarca, the old man with bullet tips for eyes, still ran the New England rackets from a squat building on Federal Hill. And men, from the merely dishonest to the profoundly psychopathic, still followed his rules.
Among them was Nicky Pari, who supposedly declined the honor to join the Mafia because he preferred the freelance life. If not made, he was known, in part because he had done time for helping a Patriarca lieutenant hijack a truck with a $50,000 load of dresses.
In April 1978, he and another freelancer, Andrew Merola, decided to address the delicate matter of a police informant within their ranks, a droopy-eyed young man from Hartford named Joseph Scanlon. The theories behind his nickname, “Joe Onions,” are that he made the girls cry or, more prosaically, that his surname sounded like scallion.
One morning Mr. Pari lured Mr. Scanlon and his girlfriend, who was holding their infant daughter, into Mr. Merola’s social club, in a Federal Hill building now long gone. Mr. Pari struck Mr. Scanlon in the face. Then Mr. Merola fired a bullet that shot through the man’s head and caught the tip of one of Mr. Pari’s fingers.
The girlfriend was ordered to leave the room. When she came back, her child’s father was wrapped in plastic near the door, his jewelry gone, his boots placed beside his body. A package, awaiting delivery.
The girlfriend, once described as a “stand-up girl” who wouldn’t talk, did, and the two men were convicted of murder in a case lacking a central piece of evidence: the body. They successfully appealed their convictions, but in 1982 they pleaded no contest to reduced charges in a deal that required them to say where the body was.
Dumped in Narragansett Bay, they said.
"Slick" Vecchio Murder
1982: Mob Hit on Raymond “Slick” Vecchio
According to a Rhode Island Monthly Federal Hill timeline, in 1982:
Raymond “Slick” Vecchio is shot at Vincent’s restaurant on Atwells by two masked men. Police suspect mobster strongman Kevin Hanrahan, who himself is shot outside of the Arch restaurant, also on Atwells, in 1992.
"Bobo" Marrapese
1987: "Bobo" Marrapese Charged With Slaying Callei 12 Years After Murder
According to a March 13, 2005 Sun Chronicle article:
"Frank L. “Bobo” Marrapese, who reputedly ran gambling and loan sharking operations in Providence, was charged with Callei's slaying 12 years after the murder. Despite the age of the evidence, a 29-year-old Rhode Island prosecutor named Michael Burns was able to convince a jury that Marrapese had stabbed, bludgeoned and shot Callei in Providence's Acorn Social Club."
Keven Hanrahan Murder
1992: Mob Hit on Kevin Hanrahan Under the Arch on Atwells Avenue
Allan May writes:
"On September 18, 1992, after having dinner with Buehne, Paulie Calenda, a millionaire businessman and mob associate, and others, Hanrahan went to a North Providence bar called The Arch, where he told several people he was expecting a "big score." After leaving the restaurant Hanrahan was walking down Atwells Avenue when two men confronted him. One pulled a .38 and fired three bullets into his face ending the life of the Irish tough guy."
