the East Side

A long-time Providence resident wrote to say that this area near Brown is affectionately known as “the East Side.” That’s helpful. I had thought it was probably called “College Hill,” but maybe that term is limited to the hill itself.

The area could hardly have more charm; I warm to it increasingly by the hour.

I did a few things this morning, one of which was to walk to the Lovecraft birth site on the 400 block of Angell Street. The original building has been torn down in favor of an apartment complex. If I’m remembering correctly, Joshi’s biography speaks of the original house as being on the outskirts of Providence in those days, and close to nature. You can sort of picture that when you walk out there. It’s not super-far from the heart of the East Side, but far enough that you can feel a bit of effort. (And now there’s a Starbucks across the street from where Lovecraft was born.)