List of the oldest buildings in Rhode Island

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Template:Use mdy dates Template:Side box This article attempts to list the oldest buildings in the state of Rhode Island in the United States of America, including the oldest houses in Rhode Island and any other surviving structures. Some dates are approximate and based on architectural studies and historical records, other dates are based on dendrochronology All entries should include citation with reference to: architectural features; a report by an architectural historian; or dendrochronology

Very few Rhode Island buildings have been tested yet using dendrochronology (less than a dozen houses as of 2019),[1] and most buildings outside of Aquidneck Island were burned in King Philip's War in the 1670s. The oldest building in Rhode Island tested using dendrochronology was the Clemence-Irons House (1691) in Johnston, although the Lucas–Johnston House in Newport holds some timbers which were felled prior to 1650, but likely reused from an earlier building.[2]

List

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Building Image Location First Built Notes
Governor Peleg Sanford House File:Governor Peleg Sanford House, before 1700 - Newport, Rhode Island - DSC04029.jpg Newport Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".–1701
  • One of the oldest buildings in Newport
  • Constructed before the death of Gov. Sanford in 1701[3]
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
White Horse Tavern File:The White Horse Tavern Newport Rhode Island est. 1673.jpg Newport Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1652; 1673
  • Oldest tavern in America, originally built in 1652 as a residence and expanded into a tavern in 1673, likely including parts of the original structure[4]
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Stephen Northup House File:Stephen Northrup House North Kingstown RI.jpg North Kingstown Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".–1661 (possibly rebuilt in 1670s)
  • Possibly burned during King Philip's War in the 1670s and rebuilt, later modifications 1712, 1850, 2004
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Newport Tower File:Newport Tower - Newport, RI (51488606239).jpg Newport Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Purported to be a Viking structure;[5] likely the remains of a colonial windmill[6]
  • No roof or floors since the mid-18th century
  • Radiocarbon dating tests of the tower's mortar suggest a probable date of production of the mortar between 1635 and 1698.[7]
Philip Sherman House File:Sherman.Philip.House.jpg Portsmouth Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • House of Philip Sherman, one of the founders of Portsmouth, RI
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Thomas Fenner House File:CranstonRI ThomasFennerHouse.jpg Cranston Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1677
  • Early stone ender
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Edward Searle House File:Searle.Edward.House.Oaklawn.RI.20110721.jpg Cranston Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1670–1720
  • Early stone ender
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Capt. John Mawdsley House File:John Mawdsley House Newport RI.jpg Newport Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".–1680
Smith's Castle File:Smith's castle 2018.jpg Wickford Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1678
Clement Weaver House File:Clement Weaver House Daniel Howland House in East Greenwich RI.jpg East Greenwich Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1679
  • Early stone ender
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
  • Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
John Bliss House File:Bliss House Newport.JPG Newport Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Early stone ender
Nathaniel Bosworth House Bristol Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Oldest house in Bristol[8]
Forge Farm File:WarwickRI ForgeFarm.jpg Warwick Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1684
  • Oldest portion of the structure dates to 1684
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Daggett House File:Slater Park Daggett House 2 2009.JPG Pawtucket Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1685
  • Oldest house in Pawtucket
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Gorton-Greene House File:Gorton-Greene House in Warwick Rhode Island built around 1685.jpg Warwick Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1685
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Palmer-Northrup House File:Palmer-Northrup House in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.jpg North Kingstown Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Early stone ender
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Hopelands File:WarwickRI Hopelands.jpg Warwick Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Western ell of building dates to 1686, though not yet tested using dendrochronology
  • Now part of Rocky Hill School
Peleg Arnold Tavern File:Peleg Arnold tavern North Smithfield RI.JPG North Smithfield Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Wilbor House File:Wilbor House in Little Compton RI.jpg Little Compton Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1690
  • Oldest house in Little Compton
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Clemence–Irons House File:Clemence-Irons House - Johnston, Rhode Island 2.jpg Johnston Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1691
  • Primitive stone ender
  • Oldest house in Rhode Island to be dated using dendrochronology (2005)[9]
Samuel Clarke House File:Samuel Clarke Farmhouse - Today.jpg Kenyon Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1691
  • Retains original exterior wide oak weatherboards – on the north side, early 18th-century window sash and frames, a granite central chimney with four fireplaces and original period interior architectural detail
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Eleazer Arnold House File:Eleazer Arnold House Lincoln RI.jpg Lincoln Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Valentine Whitman House File:ValentineWhitman.JPG Lincoln Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1694
  • Early stone ender
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Smith-Appleby House File:Smith Appleby House flare 2013.jpg Smithfield Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1696
  • House Museum
  • Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House File:Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, Newport, RI edit1.jpg Newport Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1697
  • One of the oldest houses in Newport
  • Currently a museum
  • Dated using dendrochronology in 2005.[11]
Joseph Reynolds House File:Joseph Reynolds House, Bristol, RI.jpg Bristol Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".–1700
Great Friends Meeting House File:Great Friends Meeting House in Newport, Rhode Island.jpg Newport Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1699
  • Quaker Meeting House
  • Oldest surviving church building in Rhode Island
  • Dated in 2005 to 1699 using dendrochronology[12]
Portsmouth Friends Meetinghouse File:Portsmouth Friends Meetinghouse in Rhode Island.jpg Portsmouth Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1699–1700
  • Quaker Meeting House and original site of Moses Brown School
  • Likely the oldest church building in RI used continuously as a church.
Samuel E. Perry House File:Samuel E. Perry House.jpg South Kingstown Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1696–1716. Foundation purportedly dates from 1661.
  • Private home located on Matunuck Schoolhouse Rd[13]
Nathaniel Daggett House File:Nathaniel Daggett House corner view.jpg East Providence Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Likely the oldest house in East Providence
Perry-Carpenter Grist Mill File:PERRY-CARPENTER GRIST MILL, WASHINGTON COUNTY, RI.jpg South Kingstown Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1703
Six Principle Baptist Church File:Six Principle Baptist Church North Kingstown RI.jpg North Kingstown Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1703
  • Oldest Baptist church building in RI
  • Possibly the oldest Baptist church building in the U.S.
Saylesville Meetinghouse File:Saylesville Friends Meetinghouse Quaker in Lincoln RI Rhode Island.jpg Lincoln Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1704
  • Possibly the oldest church building in Providence County, RI
Old Narragansett Church File:Old Narragansett Church Wickford front view.jpg Wickford Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1707
Governor Stephen Hopkins House File:Stephen Hopkins House 2.jpg Providence Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1708, 1742
  • Oldest extant home in Providence
Dr. Charles Cotton House File:Cotton House, c. 1720 & c. 1817 - Newport, Rhode Island - DSC04072.jpg Newport Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Dr. Charles Cotton, a great-grandson of Josiah Cotton and surgeon aboard the USS Constitution, owned the house in the early 19th century
Peter Greene House File:WarwickRI PeterGreeneHouse.jpg Warwick Script error: No such module "Coordinates". c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".–1750
Henry Palmer House File:Henry Palmer House. South Kingstown, RI USA.jpg South Kingstown 1721
  • Private home in East Matunuck
  • Located on Old Succotash Rd[13]
Carr-LeValley House West Warwick Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1722
  • Possibly the oldest building in West Warwick, RI
Phillip Walker House File:Phillip Walker House East Providence RI 2012.jpg East Providence Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1724
Trinity Episcopal Church File:Trinity Church Newport RI 2006.jpg Newport Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1726
Antram-Gray House File:Roger Williams National Memorial Visitor Center, Providence Rhode Island.jpg Providence Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1736
Captain John Warren House
Captain John Warren House (c. 1737)
Captain John Warren House (c. 1737)
Newport Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1737
  • French Navy Artillery Headquarters 1780–1781[16]
Gilbert Stuart Birthplace File:Gilbert Stuart birthplace and barn.jpg Saunderstown Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1750
  • Birthplace of Gilbert Stuart, one of 18th-century America's most noted portrait artists
  • National Historic Landmark
Willow Dell (Weeden Farm House) File:WILLOW DELL, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, WASHINGTON COUNTY RI.jpg South Kingstown Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1753
  • Located in Matunuck[13]
Rocky Meadows Farm House File:Rocky Meadows Farm House.jpg South Kingstown 1754
  • Rumored to have been a tavern
  • Private home located on Old Post Road (Route 1)[13]
  • The farm land is now protected by the South Kingstown Land Trust.[17]
Henry Marchant House File:Henry Marchant Farm.jpg South Kingstown Script error: No such module "Coordinates". pre 1760
Touro Synagogue
Touro Synagogue, Newport, Rhode Island
Touro Synagogue, Newport, Rhode Island
Newport Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1759–1763
University Hall File:Brown's University Hall in 2007.jpg Providence Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1770
Jonathan Treadwell House File:Jonathan Treadwell House.jpg Providence Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1783
  • Private residence on North Court Street
  • Possible inspiration for the home of Dr. Elihu Whipple in "The Shunned House" by H. P. Lovecraft
Prudence Island Light File:Prudence Island Light 2007.jpg Portsmouth
(Prudence Island)
Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1824
  • Oldest lighthouse tower in Rhode Island
  • Moved from original location on Goat Island in Newport to Prudence Island at a later date
Poplar Point Light File:Poplar Light Rhode Island.jpg North Kingstown Script error: No such module "Coordinates". 1832
  • Oldest wooden lighthouse tower still standing in the United States

Destroyed early Rhode Island buildings

Building Image Location First Built Destroyed Notes
Henry Bull House File:Henry Bull House Newport Rhode Island 1639.jpg Newport c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1912
  • Destroyed by fire on December 29, 1912
  • Allegedly the oldest house in Rhode Island until its destruction
William Coddington House File:Historic American Buildings Survey, pen and ink sketch before 1886 VIEW FROM THE SOUTH. - Governor Williams Coddington House, Marlborough Street (Parts in Rhode Island Historical HABS RI,3-NEWP,16-1.tif Newport 1640–1641 1835
  • Razed 1835
Roger Mowry Tavern File:Among old New England inns; being an account of little journeys to various quaint inns and hostelries of colonial New England (1907) (14595771060).jpg Providence c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1900
  • Restored and documented by Norman Isham in the late 19th century
  • Oldest house in Providence until its demolition in 1900
Arthur Fenner House File:Arthur Fenner House in Cranstone Rhode Island.jpg Cranston c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1886
  • Arthur Fenner House (c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".) in Cranston, demolished 1886
John Smith House File:Smith.john.stone.castle.jpg Warwick Before 1663 1779
Epenetus Olney House File:Epenetus Olney House in North Providence.jpg North Providence c.Template:TrimScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". by 1900
  • Stone ender was one of oldest houses in North Providence until its demolition in 1900

See also

Notes

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  1. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  4. Architecture and Town Planning in Colonial North America – Page 1036, by James D. Kornwolf, Georgiana Wallis Kornwolf (2002)
  5. , but there is no archaeological or documentary evidence for this, but the theory has persisted since the early 19th century
  6. William F. McNeil, Visitors to Ancient America (McFarland: 2004), 78.
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  13. a b c d e f Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links