Historic Homes Magazine Summer 2023

heila are so many here Last Look Editor's choice

istoric doors to pen . . .

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been my favorite fortunate Summer, Itofind havemyself so many Beaches season. quaint towns are and beaches along the northeast seeking calling my to be name coast, outside with toMaine. Not only do S halong e ifrom la M .Connecticut B etravelling l a n g e r to we visit every Ochance wthe n e r /beaches EI dget, i t o r /but P u bof l i scourse h e r / P hwe o t oseek g r a p out h e r museums and historicmany doing buildings of myalong the way. I think we can say it is that Dennis Belanger time of the year to be outside and enjoy the sunshine, air and Design and Layout abundance of green everywhere. I believe that everything good and fun happens M a t tbetween B e l a n g ethe r months of May and of Digital anddefining Social Media August. IfDirector Summer had one scent it would be the smell of fresh cut grass. What is your favorite Summer time In Print activity?

Visit www.historichomesmagazine.com Our Summer issue includes a young man’s journey to find Online: Visit www.historichomesmagazine.com the perfect historic house. “The house had to be special” for Mike, and after searching upstate New York and not finding Newsletter: Visit this www.historichomesmagaine.com special antique home, he expanded his search to Connecticut.

He has spent the last seven years renovating Social Media: Instagram: the homewww.instagram.com/historichomesmagazine yet maintaining the historic integrity of the Facebook: www.facebook.com/historichomesmagazine Stephen Smith House. Meeting these stewards of historic You Tube: www.youtube.com/@historichomesmagazine homes is one of the best parts of my job. We truly meet the Q u e s t itheir o n s historic homes. nicest people who treasure contact@historichomesmagazine.com

We visited Newport, 8 6 0Rhode - 4 1 3 - 2Island 3 6 1 last Summer – the city by the sea. Our Summer issue features the home of Ryan and Monica who live in possibly one of the oldest homes in Rhode Island. The John Bliss Homestead, circa 1680, is H i s t o r i c H o m e s significant M a g a z i n e , Sbecause u m m e r 2 0it2 3is©one b y of H i sthe t o r ifew c architecturally Rhode Home Magazine All rights reserved. Permission to Island stone enders. Thank you to Ryan and Monica for reprint or quote excerpts granted by written request l y. sharing your home witho nus.

One benefit of Summer day we have more light P r i n t e is d ithat n U Seach A to read our favorite book or magazine. I hope you all have a memorable Summer enjoying what you love to do this time of the year. It goes so fast, so enjoy!

As always, thank you for your support of our magazine and all the likes, comments and emails.

Graciously, Sheila

Nunnepog 8th uteur he Young Seven Century Man's Hearths Whaling Contents ourney

Seaside John Stone Chairbler Cranesbill Bliss ender City House houses of Rhode Island

A young man's journey

A young man's journey

a welcoming home

a welcoming home

e about them than words ever could. ybe that's because our homes allow us unique freedom to surround ourselves h our favorite colors, textures, objects, memories.

more about them than words ever could.

Maybe that's because our homes allow us the unique freedom to surround ourselves with our favorite colors, textures, objects, and memories.

ple of an 18th century ox structure common ughout Connecticut and England. It reflected the h and status of the nal owner during his me. It is a three-bay nial-period home built in featuring lush grounds, ning gardens, and a te Airbnb guest cottage. main house is of post and construction with a al chimney and rear leanving it the characteristic box” appearance. Finely red to its original ition, this clapboarded ing features twelve-overe sash windows on the loor, and eight-overe tucked under the eaves. central doorway exhibits -paned-over light and an nal beaded double-leaf The interior has retained y of its original features, ding a large kitchen h in the east parlor, a ve hearth in the rear en ell, and wide boards throughout.

example of an 18th century saltbox structure common throughout Connecticut and New England. It reflected the wealth and status of the original owner during his lifetime. It is a three-bay Colonial-period home built in 1720 featuring lush grounds, stunning gardens, and a private Airbnb guest cottage.

The main house is of post and beam construction with a central chimney and rear leanto giving it the characteristic “saltbox” appearance. Finely restored to its original condition, this clapboarded building features twelve-overtwelve sash windows on the first floor, and eight-overtwelve tucked under the eaves.

The central doorway exhibits a five-paned-over light and an original beaded double-leaf door. The interior has retained many of its original features, including a large kitchen hearth in the east parlor, a massive hearth in the rear kitchen ell, and wide floorboards throughout.

The Potting Shed

iginal to the operty - today it used for wood orage and as tertaining space.

The Potting Shed original to the property - today it is used for wood storage and as entertaining space.

continued to enhance the property with care and respect for the historical significance it holds while introducing the perfect balance of simple sophistication for their modern lifestyle. Individually significant as a well-preserved early eighteenth-century house, the Stephen Smith House is also important as part of the group of residences built by the Smith family.

r. great bones, lots of potential, historic, pool, greenhouse, and a guest cottage".

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remembers some nice restaurants growing up and and shops. seeingAfter the old a year Bucks of visiting Countyhomes stone in homes upstate andNew York he was not able to findand barns what falling he was in love looking withfor. historic He decided properties, to expand along with his search the stories to Connecticut. In June 2016 he stumbled behind them. upon Mike TheisStephen a BrandSmith Consultant House,and a circa works 1720 in saltbox creativeinstrategy the village in of Higganum, Connecticut, advertising and notmarketing far from the for Connecticut large global brands River. "The as wellhome as start-ups. was justHe what I was looking for - great bones,inlots lived New of York potential, City historic, for eighteen a pool, years, greenhouse, settling inand stunning a guestBrooklyn cottage." Mike and his partner Nick Smith leftinBrooklyn Heights a 1920s brownstone. in 2021 andIn moved 2015 to he Connecticut started his search in their looking historic forhome. a Mike has spent the last seven years renovating their home and bringing a modern sophistication yet maintaining the historic integrity. "I wanted to keep my design approach simple and calming, letting the character of the house speak for itself. It's a small space so I had to scale the furniture properly and bring in the right objects without overwhelming them."

Creating a Sanctuary

Creating a Sanctuary

Tuteur T

deur ully controlled into 20th geometric plan is asis ry modernity for this style of garden. out interpreting implest parterre designs can be main historical most effective, especially in smaller nnsfeatures of rooms within a or outdoor ra: the parterre, r garden.

The plants’ carefully tained, strictly geometric shape s great style and simple grandeur e landscape. age, the use of wooden trellis, has a feature of gardens since eval times and was popular in century formal gardens. The sk trellis, also called a tuteur, gives den height and dimension. isks were often used in 17thry gardens as a focal point or to the center of an open space or ng of pathways. In contemporary ns they bring an atmosphere of ality, especially when used among mal plantings. These garden res can be used to support bers and roses or for growing iate conifers, but the simplicity of nclothed obelisk can add a more al appearance, especially within a r design.

Tuteur T grandeur controlled carefully into 20th geometric plan is the basismodernity century for this style of garden. is about interpreting The simplest parterre designs can be the main most historical effective, especially in smaller design of rooms within a gardensfeatures or outdoor the era:garden. the parterre, larger The plants’ carefully maintained, strictly geometric shape brings great style and simple grandeur to the landscape.

Treillage, the use of wooden trellis, has been a feature of gardens since medieval times and was popular in 17th-century formal gardens. The obelisk trellis, also called a tuteur, gives a garden height and dimension.

Obelisks were often used in 17thcentury gardens as a focal point or to mark the center of an open space or meeting of pathways. In contemporary gardens they bring an atmosphere of formality, especially when used among informal plantings. These garden features can be used to support climbers and roses or for growing fastigiate conifers, but the simplicity of an unclothed obelisk can add a more formal appearance, especially within a looser design.

stephen house

smith

stephen house

smith

Nunnepog

dgartown Vineyard Martha's

"Nunnepog " Edgartown Martha's Vineyard

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wland Edgar after had itsdied purchase at the by agehis of three on June 8, rItThomas was oneMayhew. of the two Originally original towns on dha's Great Vineyard, Harbor,along it was with Tisbury, porated on at the July same 8, 1671, time.as Edgar ne, namedMayhew for Edgar, whose younger began his work which led James II ofthe England, was heir sr becoming first church planting stant missionary after he settled in rtown. A Wampanoag Indian named oomes who lived nearby became his partner unding the churches in the Indian munities. rtown was one of the primary ports for the ng industry during the 1800s. Ships from all the world would dock in its sheltered bay and ins would build grand mansions for their ies with ornate top floor rooms called w's walks, which overlooked the harbor. A developed that wives would watch for hs from these tiny rooms, hoping to see the of ships that would bring their husbands e from the sea. There is little or no evidence widow's walks were intended or regularly for this purpose. They were frequently built nd the chimney of the residence, thus creating sy access route to the structure, allowing the ents of the home to pour sand down burning neys in the event of a chimney fire in the s of preventing the house from burning n. ore economical alternatives became available whaling industry began to decline. By the ning of the 20th century, its influence on the own which had made its fortunes through the try, was ended.

I

the island know Edgar after had itsdied purchase at the by agehis of three on June 8, 1671. ItThomas father was oneMayhew. of the two Originally original towns on Martha's called Great Vineyard, Harbor,along it was with Tisbury, incorporated on at the July same 8, 1671, time.as Edgar Towne, namedMayhew for Edgar, whose The younger began his work which led father James II ofthe England, was heir to his becoming first church planting Protestant missionary after he settled in Edgartown. A Wampanoag Indian named Hiacoomes who lived nearby became his partner in founding the churches in the Indian communities.

Edgartown was one of the primary ports for the whaling industry during the 1800s. Ships from all over the world would dock in its sheltered bay and captains would build grand mansions for their families with ornate top floor rooms called widow's walks, which overlooked the harbor. A myth developed that wives would watch for months from these tiny rooms, hoping to see the sails of ships that would bring their husbands home from the sea. There is little or no evidence that widow's walks were intended or regularly used for this purpose. They were frequently built around the chimney of the residence, thus creating an easy access route to the structure, allowing the residents of the home to pour sand down burning chimneys in the event of a chimney fire in the hopes of preventing the house from burning down.

As more economical alternatives became available the whaling industry began to decline. By the beginning of the 20th century, its influence on the tiny town which had made its fortunes through the industry, was ended.

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18th Century Whaling

en written origin of the early yearsabout the oilthe from sperm whales was used to produce smokeless ys that allowed their construction. for wealthier Americans.

Over time the oil lit streets and lubricated 6 years Industrial — from 1738 to 1894 — merican Revolution.

In later whaling years, the baleen from ng dominated economy on steel to manufacture a host of s was used likethe plastic and spring a’s Vineyard. cts.

Ambergris, a byproduct of sperm whales, was an extremely valuable onent ern New in making Englandperfume, was known although for the it was later outlawed. One town ived from whaleship, the capture the Mary of whales.

Frazier, returned from a whaling expedition 3 with a 25-pound piece of baleen that alone may have been worth as as $500 per pound — in today’s dollars that would translate to $300,000. rliest recorded whale trip left Martha’s Vineyard in 1738. The last was attie E. Smith’s trip that ended on Nov. 18, 1894, captained by John E. on. ng spanned three wars: the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the War. min Franklin, the U.S. envoy in London, was once queried by the h on how ships crossed the Atlantic so quickly. Franklin consulted a e who was a whaling captain and learned that the Gulf Stream, wn at the time to the Brits with its three-mile-per-hour north or bound current, could make a two to three-week difference in the trip. while, the British used their sea power to blockade our trade — ing whaling — and damage our whale oil-fueled economy. They ed or killed 1,200 seamen and took 134 of our ships, many of them rs. Impressment affected our national economy so deeply that in 1796 urth Congress authorized Seaman’s Protection Certificates, which as passports for U.S. seamen. For black seamen, the certificates were oof that they were free men and not slaves. f color were full participants in the whaling industry, a business so lt and dangerous that most people only went out once. In an era when were few options for advancement among men of color on land, at sea perience they gained from whaling made promotion achievable. ns who managed to return home safely with crew and cargo were ns above all else — few cared about the color of their skin. men of color either led whaling voyages from Martha’s Vineyard or were on the Island. Three of them — Capt. William A. Martin (black), Capt.

Manuel Ears (mixed blood) and Capt. John T. Gonsalves (Cape an) — returned in the late 1800s with oil valued at more than $766,000 in s dollars. Amos Jeffers, a Native American from Aquinnah, was lost at a fishing accident before he would have captained the Mary on a trip New Bedford, according to an account in the Gazette published in July

ng from our native population how to capture whales, Vineyard men enowned, not only from the pages of Moby Dick but in whaling ports wide. The American whaling industry lasted from 1715 to 1928, a 213eriod during which over 2,700 ships conducted 15,913 whaling trips. a’s Vineyard’s whaling captains and crewmen were prized worldwide iled from virtually every port used for whaling. ers help tell the economic story. There were 175 whale captains who 98 ships on 247 voyages from Martha’s Vineyard and returned with products valued at more than $228 million. That doesn’t include the ds from voyages led by these Vineyard captains from Nantucket, New rd and the other 70 some whaling ports. Even today, $228 million could nt for the construction of many beautiful homes.

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18th Century Whaling

has been written origin of the In the early yearsabout the oilthe from sperm whales was used to produce smokeless money allowed their construction. candles that for wealthier Americans.

Over time the oil lit streets and lubricated For 156 years Industrial — from 1738 to 1894 — the American Revolution.

In later whaling years, the baleen from whaling dominated economy on steel to manufacture a host of whales was used likethe plastic and spring Martha’s products.Vineyard.

Ambergris, a byproduct of sperm whales, was an extremely valuable component Southern New in making Englandperfume, was known although for the it was later outlawed. One Edgartown oil derived from whaleship, the capture the Mary of whales.

Frazier, returned from a whaling expedition in 1883 with a 25-pound piece of baleen that alone may have been worth as much as $500 per pound — in today’s dollars that would translate to $300,000.

The earliest recorded whale trip left Martha’s Vineyard in 1738. The last was the Hattie E. Smith’s trip that ended on Nov. 18, 1894, captained by John E. Johnson.

Whaling spanned three wars: the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Benjamin Franklin, the U.S. envoy in London, was once queried by the British on how ships crossed the Atlantic so quickly. Franklin consulted a relative who was a whaling captain and learned that the Gulf Stream, unknown at the time to the Brits with its three-mile-per-hour north or southbound current, could make a two to three-week difference in the trip.

Meanwhile, the British used their sea power to blockade our trade — including whaling — and damage our whale oil-fueled economy. They captured or killed 1,200 seamen and took 134 of our ships, many of them whalers. Impressment affected our national economy so deeply that in 1796 the Fourth Congress authorized Seaman’s Protection Certificates, which served as passports for U.S. seamen. For black seamen, the certificates were also proof that they were free men and not slaves.

Men of color were full participants in the whaling industry, a business so difficult and dangerous that most people only went out once. In an era when there were few options for advancement among men of color on land, at sea the experience they gained from whaling made promotion achievable.

Captains who managed to return home safely with crew and cargo were captains above all else — few cared about the color of their skin.

Five men of color either led whaling voyages from Martha’s Vineyard or were based on the Island. Three of them — Capt. William A. Martin (black), Capt.

Jasper Manuel Ears (mixed blood) and Capt. John T. Gonsalves (Cape Verdean) — returned in the late 1800s with oil valued at more than $766,000 in today’s dollars. Amos Jeffers, a Native American from Aquinnah, was lost at sea in a fishing accident before he would have captained the Mary on a trip from New Bedford, according to an account in the Gazette published in July 1847.

Learning from our native population how to capture whales, Vineyard men were renowned, not only from the pages of Moby Dick but in whaling ports worldwide. The American whaling industry lasted from 1715 to 1928, a 213year period during which over 2,700 ships conducted 15,913 whaling trips.

Martha’s Vineyard’s whaling captains and crewmen were prized worldwide and sailed from virtually every port used for whaling.

Numbers help tell the economic story. There were 175 whale captains who sailed 98 ships on 247 voyages from Martha’s Vineyard and returned with whale products valued at more than $228 million. That doesn’t include the proceeds from voyages led by these Vineyard captains from Nantucket, New Bedford and the other 70 some whaling ports. Even today, $228 million could account for the construction of many beautiful homes.

Seven Hearths

Seven Hearths

Old Yankee Ingenuity

Things are beautiful

if you love them"

"Things are beautiful

if you love them"

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corner of on which "Seven Hearths"for now stands. John Jr. be hadbrought been married year before at the east end Hooks in his thelot ceiling indicate that carcasses butchering could in and the hung.

Upstairs andthe this would help himdown start to histhe store andfor provide his meat family. of biggift room, stairs lead cellar accessfor to the supply, while another stairway leads up to John Beebe what was a big Jr. had unfinished really big room, planswhere for his names house, ofwhich furs over he finished hooks on inthe 1754, beams according indicate toitthe was date used as a trading found on the south chimney. The building measures 52 feet by 32 feet. Across the north end John Jr. post. builtrest a complete sectionarea, within the as frame of the for his was store.

The of the upstairs as far the wall to house the hallway, an open area used variously as a meeting room, This measures social center, ballroom, 13 ½ feetand by 32 in feet, the middle with an1800s entrance an academy. on the east Nine-and-a-half-foot and the main entrance ceilings on the throughout west, the house facing are unusual his neighbors in so early and a house, the "12-rod and especially highway"inalong a country whichvillage. his business Besideswould thinking come. "big," John Jr. had ingenious ideas about construction that are unique to the house.

The main front door is unusual. It has a double stretcher with seven panels on the outside and four panels on the inside. The door is hung on heavy strap hinges. The latch is also unusual in that it rises whichever way the brass knob is turned. Most of the interior doors still retain the original hand wrought H.L. hinges .The south rooms are small in comparison to the store. The room on the southwest corner, most recently a dining room, sometimes a library, had a fireplace which had been sealed and destroyed to make closet space between this room and the kitchen. The chimney had to be rebuilt and the fireplace has been restored using antique jamb stones and bricks. The east wall of the room has paneling to the ceiling around the fireplace, with a floor-to-ceiling builtin cupboard and paneling to window level around the room.

Across the hall on the north, the parlor has a handsome corner fireplace with a beautiful mantelpiece showing Queen Anne influence. Its center panel measures 40 by 52 inches. There is panel wainscoting around the room.

The whole has a feeling of delicacy and formality.

Behind the parlor to the east is another small room with a corner fireplace, paneled to the ceiling, with a cupboard to the right side. Currently a sitting room, it may have been a bedroom originally and was frequently so used during the life of the house.

The kitchen, which has nine doors, originally had a big fireplace and a Dutch oven. This fireplace was also sealed and the oven destroyed when the closet was built between the kitchen and dining room. This has been rebuilt with bricks from the old chimney.

hangs over the well to raise and lower the waterbucket. This water system, directly outside the kitchen was far more convenient than is found in many early houses. In addition, just outside there is a wooden gutter that carries water to a cistern a few yards away. The stone sink, with a hole to drain water to a bucket below, stood inside, just beyond the outside door. Across the room the door on the south leads to the dining room, and beyond the fireplace is the door to the cellar, with a third door into the hall.

The cellar, which is high, extends completely under the house. The north end under the store is separated by a brick wall with a large door, isolating that area.The chimney base is tremendous. Unusual construction is shown in the bracing of the hearths of the upstairs rooms.

The chimney base on the south is built over an arched vault probably used for root storage in the winter. Between the chimney base and the cellar wall are the remains of an ash bin formerly connected with the kitchen fireplace.

Because the brick wall has stood firm and the chimney on the south has settled more, the upstairs floors and the main stairway tilt to the south. However, the house is completely sturdy.

When the roof was renewed it was found that the entire east side had an underlay of birch bark as a kind of insulation.

Paneling in the house is carefully done. Whether Beebe did it himself or whether it was done by journeymen who traveled about specializing in cabinetry is not certain.

When the Nelsons bought the house in 1919, it was in disastrous condition, full of trash and dirt, but still basically sound and unspoiled by drastic changes. There was no running water and no plumbing. The well, providing a trickle, was full of scrap iron, buckets, bones. Once cleared, it provided a fine supply of water piped into the kitchen. The cistern supplied the upstairs bath and the regular kitchen water.

Luckily the house has survived its rise and fall in fortune without damage. When the Historical Society received the house in 1978 it needed repair and restoration. The old floors are intact. Most of the window panes are original.

Except for the upper section of the south wall the siding is original. The south chimney had to be rebuilt when the two fireplaces were opened in the kitchen and dining room in 1979.

With Laurence's casual selection of accessories, John Jr.'s lack of precision, and the still unfinished restoration, perhaps we should call it "the imperfect house" but we feel it has charm and a very human quality.

hington DC

C

Cranesbill

T

the plant in the portrait of Rubens Peale by his brother Rembrandt Peale, painted in 1801. It is said that the museum's range of cutting also passed through Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. So the plant has been propagated for at least 222 years! circa 1800.

Chairbler

century a chairmaker, or chairbler, a craftsman in the furniture trades specializing in chairs.

Chairbler century a chairmaker, or chairbler, is a craftsman in the furniture trades specializing in chairs.

hey .Chair, were or made "Roundabout in the same Chair," New England. 18th Century. The robably aturing an original, unusual and crest thewith legs aare probably worn down to a shorter Collection the middle.of Kent Historical Society.

century.

1750.

Corner They Chair, were or made "Roundabout in the same Chair," New England. 18th Century. The shop,is featuring seat probablyan original, unusual and crest thewith legs aare probably worn down to a shorter space in Collection height. the middle.of Kent Historical Society.

circa 1730.

Early Chairs”

Historic Homes Magazine website: historichomesmagazine.com

Seaside City t r o p w e N

Seaside City t r o p w e N

ewport Colonial Era rchitecture

co fortune of her father, James B. Duke, founded the Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) in and for the next 25 years, until her death in 1993, saved much of Newport's colonial architectural age. Under Duke's leadership, the NRF restored more than 80 18th- and early 19th-century ings in Newport and neighboring Middletown, Rhode Island, most of which are still owned by oundation.

Newport Colonial Era Architecture

tobacco fortune of her father, James B. Duke, founded the Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) in 1968, and for the next 25 years, until her death in 1993, saved much of Newport's colonial architectural heritage. Under Duke's leadership, the NRF restored more than 80 18th- and early 19th-century buildings in Newport and neighboring Middletown, Rhode Island, most of which are still owned by the Foundation.

Stone ender

ohn Bliss House

Stone ender John Bliss House

J

Island Stone Garrison, occupied Endersby left.

General Built around Sir Robert 1680Pigot during the Revolution. and most likely It was the positioned oldest house between in the British’s 1st and 2nd lines ofBuilt Newport. defense

by John as they Bliss held and Newport. his wife Bliss served as a Deputy in Damaris Arnold the General on land Assembly, gifted to aDamaris Major of the Militia, and was in 1678 a member by her of father the Seventh BenedictDay Arnold.

Baptist Church. The property, Arnold was which the first originally governor wasof a large RI homestead with considerable acreage that ran down to the shoreline, remained in the Bliss family until 1807, when it was sold to Anthony Wilbur. The Wilburs retained ownership and kept the property in agricultural use until 1906.

were familiar with old homes. couple were ecstatic when the rtunity arose to become the stewards of the John Bliss se. Their children, Charlie and bring an enormous amount of ife into their historic home.

they were familiar with old homes.

The couple were ecstatic when the opportunity arose to become the next stewards of the John Bliss House. Their children, Charlie and Lily bring an enormous amount of new life into their historic home.

A Place to Call Home

A Place to Call Home

tone enderIrons houses of Rhode Island Clemence House

T

of he the firstRhode settlement Islandbycolony. These houses were n end as William stone-enders, as they were built around large eys tonemade in theofarea limestone now which formed an entire nf the as Cumberland, house. Early were settlers found an abundance of one nt from throughout those which the colony, leading to its use in construction. eing built elsewhere w enders England wereduring usually two-story buildings with one per floor. The floors were connected by steep which were often fit between the front entrance e stone wall. Windows were often very small and ealed with oil paper, although leaded glass was mes used. The stone-ender style has roots in n England, where similar houses were ucted. The prevalence of the stone-ender in Rhode and its absence elsewhere in New England is due y to the resources available along the Blackstone

sources have attributed the large number of stonein northern Rhode Island to a man named John a well-known stone mason of Smithfield. Smith as President of the Colony of Rhode Island from o 1650 and as President of Providence and ck 1652–53. John Smith’s most well-known work e “Old Stone Castle” of Warwick, which was the ouse in the town to survive King Philip’s War. The was demolished in 1779. tunately, many of the stone-enders of the eenth century have long since disappeared. The Mowry House, which was demolished in 1900, t the time, the oldest house in Providence. The also served as a tavern, and it was restored by ned preservationist Norman Isham just five years its demolition. Although rare, some houses exist only as stone chimneys, as the home which nded them collapsed at an earlier date. One such le of this phenomenon can be seen in the Waite-Potter House of Westport, Massachusetts (also an le of a rare Massachusetts stone-ender). ning houses in Rhode Island include: Thomas Fenner House, Cranston, built 1677 Edward Searle House, Cranston, built 1677, modeled in 1720 Clement Weaver House, East Greenwich, built 79 John Bliss House, Newport, built c. 1680 Clemence-Irons House, Johnston, built 1691 Valentine Whitman House, Lincoln, built 1694 Smith-Appleby House, Smithfield, built 1696

Stone enderIrons houses of Rhode Island Clemence House

T

with the years of the firstRhode settlement Islandbycolony. These houses were known as William Reverend stone-enders, as they were built around large chimneys made Blackstone in theofarea limestone now which formed an entire wall of the known as Cumberland, house. Early were settlers found an abundance of limestonefrom different throughout those which the colony, leading to its use in housebeing were construction. built elsewhere Stone-enders in New England wereduring usually two-story buildings with one room per floor. The floors were connected by steep stairs, which were often fit between the front entrance and the stone wall. Windows were often very small and were sealed with oil paper, although leaded glass was sometimes used. The stone-ender style has roots in western England, where similar houses were constructed. The prevalence of the stone-ender in Rhode Island and its absence elsewhere in New England is due largely to the resources available along the Blackstone River.

Some sources have attributed the large number of stoneenders in northern Rhode Island to a man named John Smith, a well-known stone mason of Smithfield. Smith served as President of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1649 to 1650 and as President of Providence and Warwick 1652–53. John Smith’s most well-known work was the “Old Stone Castle” of Warwick, which was the only house in the town to survive King Philip’s War. The Castle was demolished in 1779.

Unfortunately, many of the stone-enders of the seventeenth century have long since disappeared. The Roger Mowry House, which was demolished in 1900, was, at the time, the oldest house in Providence. The house also served as a tavern, and it was restored by renowned preservationist Norman Isham just five years before its demolition. Although rare, some houses exist today only as stone chimneys, as the home which surrounded them collapsed at an earlier date. One such example of this phenomenon can be seen in the WaiteKirby-Potter House of Westport, Massachusetts (also an example of a rare Massachusetts stone-ender).

Remaining houses in Rhode Island include: • Thomas Fenner House, Cranston, built 1677 • Edward Searle House, Cranston, built 1677, remodeled in 1720 • Clement Weaver House, East Greenwich, built 1679 • John Bliss House, Newport, built c. 1680 • Clemence-Irons House, Johnston, built 1691 • Valentine Whitman House, Lincoln, built 1694 • Smith-Appleby House, Smithfield, built 1696

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collect them all !

and experience all four seasons www.historichomesmagazine.com

order or today!

yourgift camera forapp on your phone

yourself or others

*Indulge in stunning interiors and historic homes *Ad Free

Resources Thomas Rhode Island

VisitAuthor hisJefftey instagram Skip Morgan, Finley pageTrustee for information Author Zachary Garceau ished in print inonthe hisAugust Air B&B 17, 2018 rican Ancestors/New edition of the VineyardEngland Gazette. istoric Society. ted withGenealogical permission from the Vineyard vitabrevis.americanancestors.org azette, www.vineyardgazette.com.

Griswold House

Resources Thomas Rhode Island

VisitAuthor hisJefftey instagram Skip Morgan, Finley pageTrustee for information Author Zachary Garceau published in print inonthe hisAugust Air B&B 17, 2018 American editionAncestors/New of the VineyardEngland Gazette.

Historic Society. reprinted withGenealogical permission from the Vineyard www.vitabrevis.americanancestors.org Gazette, www.vineyardgazette.com.

Griswold House

Stories

Here are some of our most loved stories.

it's all in the Historic homes details magazine

he Seven Hearths details hn Bliss House