The older Ford is definitely not a 49, as that was the first year of the postwar restyling. If you say 47, I won't argue. Thanks.

[I made a dumb typo, I meant 47-48; you're right, no way a 1949. The difference between '46 and '47-8 is the position of the parking lights. -tterrace]

Providence City Archives has some things to say about the Providence Journal-Bulletin and WEAN and WPJB- FM:

All of these events and developments, the good and the tragic were covered by the Providence Journal-Bulletin, the city's only daily newspaper of general circulation since the demise of the News-Tribune and its successors in 1937-38. The influence of the Journal and its radio affiliates WEAN and WPJB- FM on Providence thought and opinion is perhaps greater now than at any previous time.

What a great photo--it really gives the flavor of a rainy fall New England day. Cars from left: 57 Chevrolet (around corner); c. 51 Olds; 51 Ford in front of c. 55 Nash Rambler, itself in front of 57 Chevrolet; buses; 46-48 Ford in front of c. 50 Studebaker; 55 Pontiac parked in front of van; 57 Ford parked behind truck.

[The Rambler is a 1957; the 46-48 Ford is either 1947 or 1949 (typo) 1948; the Studebaker is a 1950. -tterrace]

The buses in the picture are intercity buses: in this case Providence to nearby New Bedford. Meanwhile, the city transit at this time was the fabulously luxurious UTC system, second only to the Registry of Motor Vehicles in its ability to torture and befuddle the good citizens of Rhode Island. A typical UTC bus of the period is shown. As Mark Twain said "Difficult? Troublesome? These words cannot describe it."

Unfortunately, though, the windows of the handsome building have been replaced. They are not an ideal choice (economical, no doubt) and change the character of the building.

A Providence-based company, still family-owned with headquarters on Jackson Walkway in Providence. They went on to build the Air and Space Museum, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial, just to name a few. A long way from a street corner in Providence.

The image is sharp all over but very grainy. If that's a full frame and the negative isn't reticulated, I'd guess it was shot with something like Kodak's Royal-X Pan. Do the edge markings identify the film?

Depot gone, Chicken Roost gone, but the handsome building behind remains.

Just look at all those solid, chrome-enhanced, built-to-last American cars! Before I got my own car, I also used to ride buses just like this to get to work and back every day. At the time, I still lived at home in Ct., the second smallest state, and only Rhode Island was smaller, but both states were heavily industrialized and people worked, hurried everywhere and rushed around just like in the biggest cities, with never an idle moment. I also like the art deco vertical bus station sign on the extreme left of the picture. I'm guessing it lit up blue at night like ours did. Wouldn't it be nice to go back there, even for a day?