By David Levesque

Issue date: 09/28/1998

News  

ONCE UPON A TIME in Warwick this was a social center for Rhode Island. Now shuttered even the first letter of The Palladium is missing.

When the Rocky Point Palladium closed two years ago it shut its doors on a long history of weddings, political fund-raisers and union parties.

All of the functions quickly found homes at nearby hotels and halls, but the atmosphere created by the Palladium will never be matched, many locals say.

"If you were going to have a large event in Rhode Island, the Palladium was the place to do it. It was a fun place," said Joseph Walsh, former Warwick mayor.

Walsh, who held many political fund-raisers there, shares the same memories many Rhode Islanders have of the hall.

While the Palladium had good food and facilities at a reasonable price, the greatest attractions at Rocky Point Park were the acres of amusements and rides. There is activity again at the park surrounding the Palladium, but the facility is not sharing in it.

A weekend flea market is held in a portion of the park and the take-out window at the Shore Dinner Hall continues to serve up food, especially the clam cakes and chowder for which it was famous. And soon a Halloween amusement park will be up and running on a seasonal basis.

"As for the Palladium there is nothing going on," said Lorrie Francisco of Rocky Point. "We have received some interest in reopening the building as a hall, but it's not enough to make it feasible."