News Summary
The Providence City Council has authorized a $21,000 payment to Jones Moving & Storage to settle overdue fees for the storage of a historic furniture collection. This collection, valued between $162,000 and $257,500, has been improperly billed for several years due to an oversight. The city intends to keep the collection safely stored until renovations at the Esek Hopkins House are completed, ensuring the preservation of this vital piece of cultural heritage.
Providence – The Providence City Council has approved a resolution authorizing a $21,000 payment to Jones Moving & Storage for overdue storage fees related to a historic furniture collection. This collection, which includes 18th- and 19th-century furniture and decor, has been stored in climate-controlled conditions for the past 27 years, yet the city has not paid for these services for several years, leading to significant overdue balances.
The collection, valued between $162,000 and $257,500 according to a 2010 assessment by Christie’s, consists of nearly two dozen items, including mahogany furniture and brass andirons. The Providence Department of Parks has overseen the storage of this valuable collection, but a billing oversight meant that several invoices went unpaid, creating a backlog of fees.
Wendy Nilsson, Superintendent of the Providence Department of Parks, reported the billing situation during a recent City Council Committee on Finance meeting. It was revealed that a representative from Jones Moving & Storage had set the city’s invoices aside for review in early 2020 but failed to follow up, resulting in the city missing multiple annual payments of $4,200 for the storage services.
With renovations ongoing at the Esek Hopkins House, where the collection is intended to be displayed, the situation became increasingly pressing. The building is undergoing over $1 million in renovations, and as of February 2025, a group was actively restoring two staircases inside the historic house. Moving the collection to a different storage facility would be cost-prohibitive, as it would involve additional expenses that the city was not prepared to incur.
The approved resolution not only addresses the overdue payments but also ensures that the historic furniture collection remains safely stored until the renovations are completed and a display space can be secured. The $21,000 payment will be funded through an enterprise fund, which has been reported to have sufficient resources to cover the back payment.
In light of this infrastructure project, the Providence Parks Department is engaged in discussions with the Providence Preservation Society to find a suitable display space for the collection once the Esek Hopkins House renovations are finalized. This effort reflects a commitment to preserving the city’s historical heritage while addressing past administrative oversights in the management of such important cultural assets.
This recent committee meeting and resulting approval point to the city council’s recognition of the significance of the furniture collection, both financially and culturally. This decision highlights the responsibility of municipal departments to maintain accurate records and manage the financial obligations associated with culturally significant collections, ensuring they can be shared with the public in the future. The resolution serves as a step forward in rectifying the overdue balances and reinforcing the city’s dedication to preserving its historic artifacts.
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