Isaac Hahn Memorial
Dublin Core
Title
Isaac Hahn Memorial
Subject (Topic)
Subject (Topic)
Monuments--Rhode Island--Providence
Downtown--Neighborhoods--Rhode Island--Providence
Monuments--Rhode Island--Providence
Downtown--Neighborhoods--Rhode Island--Providence
Subject (Name)
Subject (Name)
Hahn, Isaac, 1845-1909
Hahn, Isaac, 1845-1909
Subject (Object)
Subject (Object)
Commemorative sculpture
Commemorative sculpture
Description
The Isaac Hahn Memorial comprises an octagonal granite wall, granite posts, a green iron memorial gate, and a small garden at the site of the Roger Williams Spring. Two bronze plaques are embedded on the two entry piers: one acknowledging Roger Williams, the other dedicated to the memory of Isaac Hahn. Norman Morrison Isham, a Providence architect and preservationist, designed the site.
In 1928, Joseph Jerome Hahn provided the land to the city to honor his father, a prominent Jewish businessman, and the first Jewish person to serve as a state representative to the Rhode Island General Assembly. The park was completed in November 1933.
In 1928, Joseph Jerome Hahn provided the land to the city to honor his father, a prominent Jewish businessman, and the first Jewish person to serve as a state representative to the Rhode Island General Assembly. The park was completed in November 1933.
Creator
Isham, Norman Morrison, 1864-1943
Source
Photographs by Eric Sung, Professor, Providence College
Date
November 5, 1933
Contributor
Joseph Jerome Hahn (donor); Park Commission
Rights
City of Providence, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States
Format
JPEG
Language
English
Type
Visual Arts-Sculpture
Coverage
Roger Williams National Memorial, 282 Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States
Has Part
Bronze plaque on granite post (left):
The Spring on This Lot
The Original Water Supply
Around Which
Roger Williams
Gathered
The First Settlers
Was in 1721 by Reservation
In the Deed from the
Proprietors of
Providence
Made Accessible to
The Townspeople
Forever.
Bronze plaque on granite post (right):
This Plot of Ground Was
In 1931
Given to the City of
Providence
By J. Jerome Hahn
In Memory of His Father
IsaacIsacc Hahn
The First Citizen of
Jewish Faith to Be
Elected to Office
By the Voters
Of
Providence.
The Spring on This Lot
The Original Water Supply
Around Which
Roger Williams
Gathered
The First Settlers
Was in 1721 by Reservation
In the Deed from the
Proprietors of
Providence
Made Accessible to
The Townspeople
Forever.
Bronze plaque on granite post (right):
This Plot of Ground Was
In 1931
Given to the City of
Providence
By J. Jerome Hahn
In Memory of His Father
IsaacIsacc Hahn
The First Citizen of
Jewish Faith to Be
Elected to Office
By the Voters
Of
Providence.
Medium
Bronze plaques; Granite posts and wall; Iron fence
Bibliographic Citation
"The Roger Williams Spring." Providence Journal, March 20, 1927.
"Hahn Offers City Site of Old Spring. Justice Asks Location Reminiscent of Roger Williams Be Maintained as a Park. Gift Tribute to Father." Providence Journal, December 9, 1928.
"Mayor to Bring Hahn’s Offer Before the Board. Message Will Be Communicated to City Council." Providence Journal, December 11, 1928.
"Alderman Thank Hahn for Gift. Request Committee to Prepare Plans for Park off Roger Williams Spring." Providence Journal, December 21, 1928.
"Isham Will Supervise Memorial Springs Work. Architect Retained to Represent Judge Hahn in Future Negotiations." Providence Journal, January 25, 1929.
"Park Board Votes to Accept Donation. Confers with Judge Hahn on Memorial at Roger Williams Spring." Providence Journal, February 9, 1930.
"Council Accepts Judge Hahn’s Gift. North Main Street Property Donated in Memory of Jurist’s Father." Providence Journal, March 4, 1930.
"Deed Giving Spring Site to City Recorded. North Main Street Property to be Used as Park." Providence Journal, March 9, 1930.
"New City Park Being Planned. Will Surround Famous Site of Roger Williams Spring, MacKinney Announces." Providence Journal, June 4, 1930.
"Fund for Historic Spring Is Sought. Park Board Acts to Preserve Roger Williams Reminder." Providence Journal, May 1, 1931.
"Board Opens Bids on Retaining Wall. Steps Taken Toward Development of Roger Williams Spring Property." Providence Journal, December 15, 1931.
"Special Session on Relief Asked. City Council Finance Committee Requests Action Thursday on $100,000 Loan." Providence Journal, October 18, 1932.
"State Aid Sought for City Highway. Committee Action Would Place Part of Reservoir Avenue in State Care. Board and Council Meet." Providence Journal, March 5, 1933.
"Park Appropriation." Providence Journal, April 28, 1933.
"Major Questions Confront Council. Proposals for Raising of Tax Revenue Coming Before Body Tomorrow. Park Completion Listed." Providence Journal, April 30, 1933.
"Side of Roger Williams Spring on North Main Street to be Prepared as Memorial Soon." Providence Journal, June 22, 1933.
"Memorial Spring Work to Continue. City Asks Bid for Completing Project at Roger Williams Shrine. Started Three Years Ago." Providence Journal, June 22, 1933.
"Site of Roger Williams Spring, North Main Street, Beautified by Park Department." Providence Journal, October 31, 1933.
"Spring Property Viewed." Providence Journal, November 2, 1933.
"Unimproved Lot Becomes Park. Roger Williams Spring Property Undergoes Magic Change." Providence Journal, November 5, 1933.
"City Padlocks Roger Williams’ Spring After Shrubbery Theft." Providence Journal, August 1, 1934.
"Roger Williams Spring." The Day (New London, Connecticut), August 2, 1934.
Skelton, James D. Roger Williams Spring. Hahn Memorial. Boston: National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior, December 1978. https://npshistory.com/publications/rowi/spring-hahn-mem.pdf.
Foundation Document. Roger Williams National Memorial, Rhode Island. Boston: National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior, February 2017. https://www.nps.gov/rowi/learn/management/upload/ROWI_FD_2017_508.pdf.
Walden, Jamie. "RIJHA Shines a Spotlight on Hahn Memorial." Jewish Rhode Island, June 7, 2024. https://www.jewishrhody.com/stories/rijha-shines-a-spotlight-on-hahn-memorial,68301.
"Hahn Offers City Site of Old Spring. Justice Asks Location Reminiscent of Roger Williams Be Maintained as a Park. Gift Tribute to Father." Providence Journal, December 9, 1928.
"Mayor to Bring Hahn’s Offer Before the Board. Message Will Be Communicated to City Council." Providence Journal, December 11, 1928.
"Alderman Thank Hahn for Gift. Request Committee to Prepare Plans for Park off Roger Williams Spring." Providence Journal, December 21, 1928.
"Isham Will Supervise Memorial Springs Work. Architect Retained to Represent Judge Hahn in Future Negotiations." Providence Journal, January 25, 1929.
"Park Board Votes to Accept Donation. Confers with Judge Hahn on Memorial at Roger Williams Spring." Providence Journal, February 9, 1930.
"Council Accepts Judge Hahn’s Gift. North Main Street Property Donated in Memory of Jurist’s Father." Providence Journal, March 4, 1930.
"Deed Giving Spring Site to City Recorded. North Main Street Property to be Used as Park." Providence Journal, March 9, 1930.
"New City Park Being Planned. Will Surround Famous Site of Roger Williams Spring, MacKinney Announces." Providence Journal, June 4, 1930.
"Fund for Historic Spring Is Sought. Park Board Acts to Preserve Roger Williams Reminder." Providence Journal, May 1, 1931.
"Board Opens Bids on Retaining Wall. Steps Taken Toward Development of Roger Williams Spring Property." Providence Journal, December 15, 1931.
"Special Session on Relief Asked. City Council Finance Committee Requests Action Thursday on $100,000 Loan." Providence Journal, October 18, 1932.
"State Aid Sought for City Highway. Committee Action Would Place Part of Reservoir Avenue in State Care. Board and Council Meet." Providence Journal, March 5, 1933.
"Park Appropriation." Providence Journal, April 28, 1933.
"Major Questions Confront Council. Proposals for Raising of Tax Revenue Coming Before Body Tomorrow. Park Completion Listed." Providence Journal, April 30, 1933.
"Side of Roger Williams Spring on North Main Street to be Prepared as Memorial Soon." Providence Journal, June 22, 1933.
"Memorial Spring Work to Continue. City Asks Bid for Completing Project at Roger Williams Shrine. Started Three Years Ago." Providence Journal, June 22, 1933.
"Site of Roger Williams Spring, North Main Street, Beautified by Park Department." Providence Journal, October 31, 1933.
"Spring Property Viewed." Providence Journal, November 2, 1933.
"Unimproved Lot Becomes Park. Roger Williams Spring Property Undergoes Magic Change." Providence Journal, November 5, 1933.
"City Padlocks Roger Williams’ Spring After Shrubbery Theft." Providence Journal, August 1, 1934.
"Roger Williams Spring." The Day (New London, Connecticut), August 2, 1934.
Skelton, James D. Roger Williams Spring. Hahn Memorial. Boston: National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior, December 1978. https://npshistory.com/publications/rowi/spring-hahn-mem.pdf.
Foundation Document. Roger Williams National Memorial, Rhode Island. Boston: National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior, February 2017. https://www.nps.gov/rowi/learn/management/upload/ROWI_FD_2017_508.pdf.
Walden, Jamie. "RIJHA Shines a Spotlight on Hahn Memorial." Jewish Rhode Island, June 7, 2024. https://www.jewishrhody.com/stories/rijha-shines-a-spotlight-on-hahn-memorial,68301.
Rights Holder
Department of Art, Culture, Tourism, City of Providence
Geolocation
Citation
Isham, Norman Morrison, 1864-1943, “Isaac Hahn Memorial,” Commemorative Works of Providence, accessed April 1, 2026, https://monuments.artculturetourism.com/items/show/50.