Exploring the ABANDONED Milk Can (North Smithfield, RI)

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Got milk? The town of North Smithfield, Rhode Island sure does! Right alongside the bustling lanes of Route 146 sits a derelict giant milk can, once home to an ice cream scoop shop. This ice cream shop was known as "The Milk Can", a name which is still in use today, and was originally located a mile down the road in nearby Lincoln, Rhode Island. The structure itself was built in 1931, during a period of time where many roadside vendors attempted to attract customers through unique and niche buildings; this architecture is often referred to as "roadside vernacular architecture", or "mimetic architecture", and the Milk Can is a perfect example of this bygone era in American history. In 1947, the Milk Can was purchased by Joseph Mariani, who expanded the business to serve other foods, including burgers, hot dogs, and fried clams. The business would operate for the next several decades, serving many local customers, until it officially closed down in 1968. Following this closure, the Milk Can's future would remain uncertain; by the 1980s, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation was interested in building an exit ramp, but the dilapidated Milk Can ruins lay in the way.

After a series of bidders and buyers expressed interest in purchasing the Milk Can, and even moving it to other nearby cities like Woonsocket and Pawtucket, the building was finally sold in 1988 to Stanley Surtel Jr. and Frank D’Andrea. However, due to RIDOT's intentions to build an exit ramp, the duo decided to move the Milk Can one mile up Route 146 into neighboring North Smithfield, embarking on a planning process that would take up to 17 months and require the cooperation of three government agencies. Eventually, the day would come, and the Milk Can was moved using a specially-made transportation cradle to its final resting place. Unfortunately, this would prove to be a detrimental mistake; it was discovered that the groundwater which sat underneath the Milk Can was highly contaminated, containing an alarming amount of benzene. Thus, the Milk Can would never reopen as intended, and beginning in 1991, it lay abandoned and neglected for the following decades.

Today, the abandoned Milk Can now sits forlorn along the side of Route 146, next to a Gulf gas station. Completely unused, the structure is showing heavy signs of deterioration and degradation: the paint is chipping away, wood shingles are missing, and all visible metal is covered in rust. Taking a peek inside, the Milk Can is completely empty, save for a few utility equipment and trash. Still, this unique abandoned structure remains an icon of not just North Smithfield, but of Rhode Island in general, and serves as a beacon of a bygone era in American restaurant marketing. I hope to someday see this beloved abandoned structure be put to good use again, whether through renovation or a simple refurbishment! This piece of history deserves to be preserved! If you guys liked this video, make sure to stay tuned for more exploration videos all across New England!

https://quahog.org/Attractions/Big_Mi...

00:00 J-MASS Intro
00:41 Introduction to the Milk Can
04:11 Exploring the Milk Can
10:53 Outro
12:50 Drone Shots