The History of Chapel View Cranston, RI

The History of Chapel View

Adriana Bruzzese
September 3, 2025

The land where Chapel View now stands was originally owned by descendants of Stukely Westcott, an early settler of Rhode Island and associate of Roger Williams. By the late 1800s, the property transitioned into a state institution, becoming the Sockanosset Boys’ Training School. After its closure, Carpionato purchased the historic buildings and repurposed them into a mixed-use development, blending preserved architecture with modern retail, office, and residential spaces.

The Beginning

The land where Chapel View now stands was originally part of the territory purchased by Roger Williams from the Narragansett Chiefs. Williams gifted equal ownership to his twelve associates, including Stukely Westcott, one of Rhode Island’s earliest settlers.

1870

The State of Rhode Island acquired the property from decedents of the Westcott family

Prosilla (Priscilla), great-great-granddaughter and Stukely Westcott III, great-grandson of Stukely Westcott

Josiah Westcott, eldest son of Stuckely Westcott III, is buried at the cemetery with his wife, and daughters, Priscilla and Ethellanah

The family burial site, Josiah Westcott Lot, is located on a hill overlooking Sockanosset Crossroad in Chapel View

1881-1895

1881

Sockanosset School for Boys opens with the goal of institutionalizing and reforming juvenile offenders.

Five stone cottages with dormitories and schoolrooms, as well as a superintendent’s house, an infirmary, a gymnasium, and a stone chapel were constructed through the 1890s

Mid 1980s – Early 2000s

1985

The Sockanosset School for Boys, known to locals as "The Bad Boy School," closes after over a century of operation.

Recognizing the property's potential, Carpionato Group begins purchasing pieces of the former training school site

Mid 2000s

The company invests $90 million to create Chapel View, a mixed-use development, covering 30 acres and 470,000 square feet of space.

A historic chapel and three Gothic-style stone dormitories were restored and connected with new construction, creating a three-story building with retail on the first floor, offices on the second, and condominiums on the top.

Late 2000s

2008

Carpionato Group completes Phase 1 development of Chapel View.

Key openings include: REI, Ted’s Montana Grill, Johnny Rockets, and Shaw’s Supermarket

Today

Carpionato Group is continuously enhancing Chapel View with a balance of retail, office spaces, residential units, and hospitality offerings to meet evolving community needs.