100th Anniversary - St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center

This year, the St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of its majestic building. It was on May 24th of 1914 that, with great ceremony, the cornerstone of St. Ann’s was laid.

The anniversary will be marked with events during the week leading up to the 24th. To start the week, the Cumberland-Lincoln Community Chorus will do two performances on May 17 and 18. During the week from the 19th to the 23rd, the Center will be open for self guided tours, FREE to all Woonsocket residents. On the 100th anniversary day itself, May 24th, the Rhode Island Wind Ensemble will perform a gala concert. To close the celebrations, a Fresco Ball will be hosted on Sunday the 25th.

As part of the 100th anniversary celebrations, the St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center is seeking your memories for an exhibit called 100 Years of Memories. The Center is looking for memorabilia such as copies of photos from any event held at St. Ann’s since it was constructed or letters of your memories. For example, the grandson of one of the foreman constructing the building donated copies of photos of the workers and scaffolding that encased the towers during their construction. With your submission please be sure to include your name, date of the photo and any information you can provide. All submissions will become property of the Center.

The Center is also seeking copies of photos and letters of veterans both living and deceased. As the building was constructed during World War I and the painting of the magnificent frescos during World War II, including two war medallions dedicated to the war, part of the gala concert will be dedicated to all of our veterans. All letters and photos will become the property of the Center. Please be sure to include the veteran’s name, year of birth and death (if applicable).

Items for the 100 Years of Memories and memorial to our veterans can be mailed to St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center, PO Box 79, Woonsocket, RI 02895. Further information about the St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center 100th anniversary events will be announced. For updates visit the Center’s website www.stannartsandculturalcenter.org and join our email list by emailing the Center at stannartsctr@aol.com.