Silver Lake, Providence, Rhode Island

Since the mid-1990s, Silver Lake has undergone a radical transformation into a largely Hispanic neighborhood, as evidenced by the recent influx of Central American restaurants, bars and markets.

Shortly thereafter, Silver Lake witnessed its most significant period of development in the early 20th century prior to the Great Depression.

[1] From the late 19th century until the 1970s the neighborhood was predominately Italian with Irish, Polish, English and a mix of other European immigrants.

Neutaconkanut Park (NEW-tah-kon-kuh-nut or NEW-tah-kon-uh-kut[5]) occupies most of Silver Lake between Plainfield Street and the border with Johnston.

It is a 73-acre (300,000 m2) park with baseball fields, basketball courts, public pool and recreation center as well as forest and walking trails.

[7] The hill was Providence's original northwest boundary, by agreement between Roger Williams and Narragansett sachems Canonicus and Miantonomi.

[7] Author Henry David Thoreau wrote in his journal about climbing Neutaconkanut Hill, during a visit to Providence in 1854.

The church was built by the Italian immigrants in the neighborhood, who in large part had lived in Vairano Patenora, Caserta, Campania in Southern Italy before settling in Silver Lake.

The Church is named in honor of La Parrochia di San Bartolomeo (Saint Bartholomew Parish) located in Vairano Patenora.