If you're driving up Route 146 North, headed toward North Smithfield in Rhode Island, you might see something unusual by the side of the road. You may think you have stumbled onto the set of the old 1960's television show: "Land Of The Giants", or perhaps the 1980's movie: "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids", but what you have really spied is the giant milk can building. The milk can building was an ice cream stand built around 1931 in Lincoln, Rhode Island, in the shape of an old fashioned cream can. It is a wood frame structure with a cap, and handle made of sheet metal. After 37 years, the business closed down, and was boarded up for 20 years. It was almost torn down, but in 1989 the structure was moved about 10 miles north, to North Smithfield, Rhode Island. There were plans were to reopen it, but it never happened. Today the milk can building stands only as a landmark surrounded by torn-up asphalt. We visited the site, and found this old ice cream stand to still be empty, with only some minor signs of possible renovations inside; a mere reminder of a time in the past when architecture
was more literal. One can imagine buying the property, restoring the building, and living inside. Directions to friends visiting your house would be: "Just drive up Route 146, and look for the giant milk can!".

About a block down the road, on the other side of Route 146 North, you'll see another oversized object: a giant coffee cup that promotes the Coffee And Cream coffee stand. This small shop was no doubt created to compete with the visual appeal created by the giant milk can building. This stand is still open for business, but don't try drinking from the giant coffee cup. You'll burst your bladder!

~ Mr. Grisley

<Pictures of the milk can's interior>