The Smithfield Preservation Society is working to restore the Waterman Tavern on Putnam Pike in Greenville. Work on the tavern, which the town has threatened to demolish, is going on to make it structurally safe and, the society hopes, to qualify it for further restoration work. Above, Andrew Tucker, of Warwick’s Architectural Preservation Group, works on the structure of the historic building. At top, Paul Dooley, of Warwick, works on a side of the building.

The Providence Journal / Bob Thayer