Wahconah Students Take First Trip to Woonsocket, Help Lift St. Ann to Record-Breaking Year

When visitors plan a trip to Rhode Island it is often the mansions of Newport, the lighthouses in Block Island and even the historic architecture in Providence that top the itinerary. But as home to North America's own "Sistine Chapel," Woonsocket may finally start to make the list.

Wahconah Regional High School Latin students are making their 27th trip to the state this year and for once, Woonsocket will be more than an exit they drive by on their way to Providence. The students and their chaperones will tour on Monday Dec. 5 to kick off three days of visits to attractions across Rhode Island. 

The former church on Cumberland Street is home to the largest collection of fresco paintings in North America, painted by Italian artist Guido Nincheri in the 1940s. The bright, brilliant images cover nearly every wall of the facility, creating a breathtaking display of beauty rarely seen anywhere. The center was sold by the Catholic Diocese in 2000 and was slated for demolition until a group of former parishioners and art lovers stepped in to preserve the building.

Wally Rathbun, chairman of the Board of Directors for the center said that this type of exposure is exactly what the non-profit organization needs. With few resources to promote St. Ann as a New England attraction, the volunteers who run the facility have focused on small, local events and faced a continual battle to pay for heating and maintenance costs. 

"Woonsocket is not supporting St. Ann," Rathbun said. "You have a lot of poverty stricken areas in the city and St. Ann is in the middle of one. When people are worried about how they're going to put food on the table, charity becomes low-priority."

Charles Bradshaw, chair of the language department for the Massachusetts high school contacted Rathbun to set up the tour, which will also include stops in Providence, Narragansett and Newport. On Wednesday, the students will end their travels with a visit with Governor Lincoln Chafee at the Statehouse. Rathbun has invited Mayor Leo Fontaine to greet the visitors during their stop in the city, but is still unsure if he will be able to attend.

Rathbun hopes that the recent uptick in out-of-state visitors like the Wahconah students in a sign of good things to come. Thanks to a “Best of New England – Editor’s Choice," and some recent exposure in the Boston Chronicle and the Attleboro Sun Chronicle, the center has had its best year to date.

Bradshaw had already planned the group's itinerary when he heard about the venue through an article on the Channel 5 website. "When I read the article, I thought 'Why didn't you know about this?'" Bradshaw said. "It's off the first exit we drive by on our way into the state."

The Latin instructor normally visits the attractions before planning a visit with the students, but after speaking to Rathbun, he decided the building was a 'must-see.' "This year I get to be as excited as the kids because I haven't been there yet."

"I think of the whole state of Rhode Island as one big museum," he said. "And the kids love it. Any history they can connect to what they're studying in school helps them to think outside the box." Many of his students, Bradshaw observed, end up at schools in Rhode Island, including Bryant College.

"St. Ann is getting there," said Rathbun. "This year, outside people have been attracted to it. We're not the mansions of Newport- yet. Our name is not out there."