List of the oldest buildings in Rhode Island

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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[]

Building	Location		First Built	Notes
Governor Peleg Sanford House	Newport	41°29′27″N 71°18′47″W / 41.49077°N 71.31315°W / 41.49077; -71.31315	c. 1640s–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	Newport	41°29′30″N 71°18′51″W / 41.491667°N 71.314167°W / 41.491667; -71.314167	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	North Kingstown	41°33′05″N 71°26′52″W / 41.551389°N 71.447778°W / 41.551389; -71.447778	c. 1660–1661 (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	Newport	41°29′09″N 71°18′36″W / 41.4858°N 71.3099°W / 41.4858; -71.3099	c. 1670	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]
	Portsmouth	41°35′00″N 71°14′45″W / 41.58340°N 71.24577°W / 41.58340; -71.24577	c. 1670	House of Philip Sherman, one of the founders of Portsmouth, RI Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Thomas Fenner House	Cranston	41°47′27″N 71°29′19″W / 41.790833°N 71.488611°W / 41.790833; -71.488611	1677	Early stone ender Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Edward Searle House	Cranston	41°44′54″N 71°28′56″W / 41.748333°N 71.482222°W / 41.748333; -71.482222	1670–1720	Early stone ender Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Capt. John Mawdsley House	Newport	41°29′03″N 71°18′44″W / 41.484167°N 71.312222°W / 41.484167; -71.312222	c. 1677–1680	Significantly modified in the 18th-century Not yet tested using dendrochronology Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Smith's Castle	Wickford	41°35′00″N 71°27′16″W / 41.583333°N 71.454444°W / 41.583333; -71.454444	1678	Site of Roger Williams' trading post Today a National Historic Landmark and house museum Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Clement Weaver House	East Greenwich	41°39′32″N 71°28′37″W / 41.658889°N 71.476944°W / 41.658889; -71.476944	1679	Early stone ender Not yet tested using dendrochronology Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
John Bliss House	Newport	41°29′59″N 71°18′07″W / 41.49974°N 71.30204°W / 41.49974; -71.30204	c. 1680	Early stone ender
	Bristol	41°40′43″N 71°16′42″W / 41.678509°N 71.278333°W / 41.678509; -71.278333	c. 1683	Oldest house in Bristol^[8]
Forge Farm	Warwick	41°38′19″N 71°27′06″W / 41.638611°N 71.451667°W / 41.638611; -71.451667	1684	Oldest portion of the structure dates to 1684 Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Daggett House	Pawtucket	41°53′19″N 71°20′39″W / 41.888667°N 71.344056°W / 41.888667; -71.344056	1685	Oldest house in Pawtucket Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Gorton-Greene House	Warwick	41°39′55″N 71°27′35″W / 41.665179°N 71.45967°W / 41.665179; -71.45967	1685	Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Palmer-Northrup House	North Kingstown	41°34′37″N 71°27′40″W / 41.576944°N 71.461111°W / 41.576944; -71.461111	c. 1685	Early stone ender Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Hopelands	Warwick	41°39′29″N 71°25′17″W / 41.65798°N 71.42135°W / 41.65798; -71.42135	c. 1686	Western ell of building dates to 1686, though not yet tested using dendrochronology Now part of Rocky Hill School
Peleg Arnold Tavern	North Smithfield	41°59′21″N 71°32′02″W / 41.98916°N 71.53388°W / 41.98916; -71.53388	c. 1690	Home of Peleg Arnold Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Wilbor House	Little Compton	41°29′43″N 71°11′11″W / 41.495278°N 71.186389°W / 41.495278; -71.186389	1690	Oldest house in Little Compton Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Clemence–Irons House	Johnston	41°50′21″N 71°29′04″W / 41.839167°N 71.484444°W / 41.839167; -71.484444	1691	Primitive stone ender Oldest house in Rhode Island to be dated using dendrochronology (2005)^[9]
Samuel Clarke House	Kenyon	41°27′38″N 71°37′29″W / 41.46065°N 71.624775°W / 41.46065; -71.624775	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	Lincoln	41°54′10″N 71°25′14″W / 41.902778°N 71.420556°W / 41.902778; -71.420556	c. 1693	National Historic Landmark Dated using dendrochronology in 2005^[10]
Valentine Whitman House	Lincoln	41°55′55″N 71°27′24″W / 41.931843°N 71.456664°W / 41.931843; -71.456664	1694	Early stone ender Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Smith-Appleby House	Smithfield	41°54′07″N 71°31′06″W / 41.901944°N 71.518333°W / 41.901944; -71.518333	1696	House Museum Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House	Newport	41°29′27″N 71°18′45″W / 41.49084°N 71.31261°W / 41.49084; -71.31261	1697	One of the oldest houses in Newport Currently a museum Dated using dendrochronology in 2005.^[11]
Joseph Reynolds House	Bristol	41°41′00″N 71°16′43″W / 41.683451°N 71.278543°W / 41.683451; -71.278543	c. 1698–1700	National Historic Landmark Not yet tested using dendrochronology
Great Friends Meeting House	Newport	41°29′31″N 71°18′47″W / 41.492008°N 71.31305°W / 41.492008; -71.31305	1699	Quaker Meeting House Oldest surviving church building in Rhode Island Dated in 2005 to 1699 using dendrochronology^[12]
Portsmouth Friends Meetinghouse	Portsmouth	41°35′28″N 71°15′16″W / 41.591111°N 71.254444°W / 41.591111; -71.254444	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	South Kingstown	41°22′59″N 71°34′14″W / 41.38298°N 71.57067°W / 41.38298; -71.57067	1696–1716. Foundation purportedly dates from 1661.	Private home located on Matunuck Schoolhouse Rd^[13]
Nathaniel Daggett House	East Providence	41°50′16″N 71°21′46″W / 41.837778°N 71.362778°W / 41.837778; -71.362778	c. 1700	Likely the oldest house in East Providence
Perry-Carpenter Grist Mill	South Kingstown	41°50′16″N 71°21′46″W / 41.837778°N 71.362778°W / 41.837778; -71.362778	1703	Located in Matunuck^[13]^[14]
Six Principle Baptist Church	North Kingstown	41°35′34″N 71°29′29″W / 41.592778°N 71.491389°W / 41.592778; -71.491389	1703	Oldest Baptist church building in RI Possibly the oldest Baptist church building in the U.S.
Saylesville Meetinghouse	Lincoln	41°54′02″N 71°25′06″W / 41.900556°N 71.418333°W / 41.900556; -71.418333	1704	Possibly the oldest church building in Providence County, RI
Old Narragansett Church	Wickford	41°34′21″N 71°26′59″W / 41.5725°N 71.449722°W / 41.5725; -71.449722	1707	Oldest surviving colonial Episcopal church in the Northern United States
Governor Stephen Hopkins House	Providence	41°49′18″N 71°24′12″W / 41.821667°N 71.403333°W / 41.821667; -71.403333	1708, 1742	Oldest extant home in Providence
Dr. Charles Cotton House	Newport	41°29′18″N 71°18′53″W / 41.488333°N 71.314722°W / 41.488333; -71.314722	c. 1720	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	Warwick	41°42′55″N 71°22′34″W / 41.715278°N 71.376111°W / 41.715278; -71.376111	c. 1720–1750
Henry Palmer House	South Kingstown		1721	Private home in East Matunuck Located on Old Succotash Rd^[13]
Carr-LeValley House	West Warwick	41°43′00″N 71°31′58″W / 41.71673°N 71.53283°W / 41.71673; -71.53283	1722	Possibly the oldest building in West Warwick, RI
Phillip Walker House	East Providence	41°49′49″N 71°21′50″W / 41.830278°N 71.363889°W / 41.830278; -71.363889	1724	Research site used by Roger Williams University Dated to 1724 using tree ring dendrochronology^[15]
Trinity Episcopal Church	Newport	41°29′15″N 71°18′50″W / 41.4875°N 71.313889°W / 41.4875; -71.313889	1726	Oldest Parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island National Historic Landmark
Antram-Gray House	Providence	41°49′53″N 71°24′39″W / 41.83132°N 71.41071°W / 41.83132; -71.41071	1736	Now the visitors' center at Roger Williams National Memorial
Captain John Warren House	Newport	41°29′35″N 71°19′16″W / 41.49319°N 71.32108°W / 41.49319; -71.32108	1737	French Navy Artillery Headquarters 1780–1781^[16]
Gilbert Stuart Birthplace	Saunderstown	41°31′13″N 71°26′41″W / 41.52017°N 71.44469°W / 41.52017; -71.44469	1750	Birthplace of Gilbert Stuart, one of 18th-century America's most noted portrait artists National Historic Landmark
Willow Dell (Weeden Farm House)	South Kingstown	41°23′48″N 71°33′04″W / 41.39660°N 71.55115°W / 41.39660; -71.55115	1753	Located in Matunuck^[13]
Rocky Meadows Farm House	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	South Kingstown	41°28′49″N 71°35′47″W / 41.48039°N 71.59650°W / 41.48039; -71.59650	pre 1760	Located off of South County Trail (Route 2) Home of politician Henry Marchant^[13]
Touro Synagogue	Newport	41°29′22″N 71°18′43″W / 41.489444°N 71.311944°W / 41.489444; -71.311944	1759–1763	Oldest surviving synagogue building in the United States
University Hall	Providence	41°49′34″N 71°24′14″W / 41.826111°N 71.403889°W / 41.826111; -71.403889	1770	National Historic Landmark Oldest purpose-built academic building in Rhode Island
Prudence Island Light	Portsmouth (Prudence Island)	41°36′21″N 71°18′13″W / 41.605861°N 71.303528°W / 41.605861; -71.303528	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	North Kingstown	41°34′15″N 71°26′23″W / 41.570833°N 71.439722°W / 41.570833; -71.439722	1832	Oldest wooden lighthouse tower still standing in the United States

Destroyed early Rhode Island buildings[]

Building	Location	First Built	Destroyed	Notes
Henry Bull House	Newport	c. 1639	1912	Destroyed by fire in December 1912 Allegedly the oldest house in Rhode Island until its destruction
William Coddington House	Newport	1640–1641	1835	Razed 1835
Roger Mowry Tavern	Providence	c. 1653	1900	Restored and documented by Norman Isham in the late 19th century Oldest house in Providence until its demolition in 1900
John Smith House	Warwick	Before 1663	1779	Built by Colonial president John Smith Razed in 1779^[18]

Notes[]

^ "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Rhode Island".
^ "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Augustus Lucas House - Rhode Island".
^ "The Colony House - Newport - RI - US".
^ Architecture and Town Planning in Colonial North America – Page 1036, by James D. Kornwolf, Georgiana Wallis Kornwolf (2002)
^ , but there is no archaeological or documentary evidence for this, but the theory has persisted since the early 19th century
^ William F. McNeil, Visitors to Ancient America (McFarland: 2004), 78.
^ "The History and Mystery of the Old Stone Mill". The Journal of the Newport Historical Society. 68 (2). 1997.
^ Simpson, Richard V. (2005). Bristol. Arcadia Publishing. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7385-3921-8.
^ "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Clemence-Irons House - Rhode Island".
^ "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Eleazer Arnold House - Rhode Island".
^ "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Wanton-Lyman Hazard House, Rhode Island".
^ "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Newport Friends Meetinghouse - Rhode Island".
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Historic and Architectural Resources of South Kingstown, Rhode Island: A Preliminary Report (PDF). 150 Benefit St Providence, RI 02903: Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission. 1984. pp. 21, 23, 103, 109, 133, 141, 146.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^ "Grist Mill Repairs complete thanks to Foundation & Individual Grants". sklt.org. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
^ "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Walker House - Rhode Island".
^ "Captain John Warren House". Colonial America. Northeast Communications, LLC. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
^ "South Kingstown Land Trust".
^ Bicknell, Thomas Williams (1920). The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Vol. Vol.3. New York: The American Historical Society. pp. 1014–1025. OCLC 1953313. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)

External links[]

[1] "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Rhode Island".

[2] "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Augustus Lucas House - Rhode Island".

[3] "The Colony House - Newport - RI - US".

[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.

[7] "The History and Mystery of the Old Stone Mill". The Journal of the Newport Historical Society. 68 (2). 1997.

[8] Simpson, Richard V. (2005). Bristol. Arcadia Publishing. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7385-3921-8.

[9] "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Clemence-Irons House - Rhode Island".

[10] "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Eleazer Arnold House - Rhode Island".

[11] "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Wanton-Lyman Hazard House, Rhode Island".

[12] "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Newport Friends Meetinghouse - Rhode Island".

[:0-13] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Historic and Architectural Resources of South Kingstown, Rhode Island: A Preliminary Report (PDF). 150 Benefit St Providence, RI 02903: Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission. 1984. pp. 21, 23, 103, 109, 133, 141, 146.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)

[14] "Grist Mill Repairs complete thanks to Foundation & Individual Grants". sklt.org. Retrieved 2016-02-03.

[15] "Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Walker House - Rhode Island".

[16] "Captain John Warren House". Colonial America. Northeast Communications, LLC. Retrieved 18 August 2016.

[17] "South Kingstown Land Trust".

[18] Bicknell, Thomas Williams (1920). The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Vol. Vol.3. New York: The American Historical Society. pp. 1014–1025. OCLC 1953313. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)

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List of the oldest buildings in Rhode Island

Contents

List[]

Destroyed early Rhode Island buildings[]

See also[]

Notes[]

External links[]