Part 11/13:
In 1939, Nelson Aldrich’s descendants sold Indian Oaks to the Providence Roman Catholic Diocese for a modest sum of approximately $75,000—equivalent to about $1.7 million today. The estate was renamed "Our Lady of Providence" and repurposed to serve educational and religious functions, adapting from its original grandeur to new uses.
Throughout the 20th century, the mansion’s role evolved, serving various schools and community programs while remaining under diocesan ownership. Despite these changes, the estate’s historical and architectural significance endured.