Federal Style

Rowell’s Inn // 1826

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An outstanding example of a two-story, brick Federal style house with a five bay, front gable elevation, Rowell’s Inn of Andover, Vermont, is arguably the most famous landmark in town. The inn was constructed in 1826 by Edward L. Simons, for whom Simonsville, the area village, is named. Mr. Simons operated the building as a stagecoach inn and tavern for those traveling along major highways through the state. The building was also the home to the local post office, with Mr. Simons serving as the first postmaster. The inn, which had been in operation almost continuously since 1826, was purchased in 1910 by Frederick Rowell, hence the name, Rowell’s Inn. It is not clear when the distinctive wooden porch was added, which includes two-story full-length porches with a third-story porch set within a broad elliptical arch set in a flush-board pediment. The historic porch was altered years ago before it was purchased by the present owners, who renamed the building, The Inn Between, continuing its legacy as a stop for weary travelers.

Jaquith Homestead // c.1820

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Erected in the 1820s by Joshua Jaquith, a prosperous mill owner who operated a sawmill and grist mill on the river directly behind his house, this residence in Andover, Vermont, exemplifies vernacular Federal period residential architecture in rural New England. The residence is said to have been carved up inside into apartments in the mid-1800s but was restored by Alden Jaquith, the third generation of the family later in the 19th century back into a single-family residence. The handsome brick home is symmetrical with a five-bay facade, 12-over-12 sash windows, and large end chimneys. Of particular note are the relief arches above first floor windows and above the door and the attached sidelight windows.

John Larchar House // c.1820

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The John Larchar House at 282 Benefit Street in Providence is one of the many stately Federal period homes in the city designed by great architect, John Holden Greene. John Larchar (also spelled Larcher), was born in Providence in 1787 and worked in local businesses, eventually becoming a bank director that was involved in many mercantile pursuits. The residence remained in John’s family long after his death in 1863, and has been maintained so well by subsequent owners. The 2½-story, brick Federal house features stone trim, four chimneys, a central elliptical fanlight doorway, modillion cornice and amazing 12-over-12 windows. The cupola at the roof appears to be a is a mid-19th-century addition, possibly after John’s death. The garage and two-story side addition dates to the 1960s but does not detract from the architectural integrity of the home. 

Ives Rowhouses // 1814

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The Ives Rowhouses stand at 270-276 Benefit Street in Providence and are an important and intact example of a Federal period row from the early 19th century. These four, three-story brick rowhouses were built between 1814-19 as investment property for Thomas Poynton Ives, a successful local merchant and partner in the firm of Brown & Ives, who lived nearby on Power Street. Each of the houses has a three-bay facade with pedimented fanlight doorways. The one residence was significantly altered in 1948 by the massive archway for vehicular access at the rear. The houses stand out in Providence, as fairly uncommon rowhouses, which never took off quite like they did in Boston and other New England cities. The row is today neighbors with the National Historic Landmark Hopkins House.

Benoni Cooke House // 1828

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The Benoni Cooke House at 110 South Main Street in Providence, Rhode Island, is one of the finest examples of an architect-designed Federal style residence in the state. A fine and somewhat-typical example of architect, John Holden Greene’s 1820s work in the Federal style, the residence is actually the remaining half of what was originally a pair of mirror-image houses, built for two brothers-in-law and business partners, which once faced one another across a driveway leading to a large, well-preserved service court defined by connected stables (most of which remain). The mirror house, built for Rufus Greene, was demolished in 1895 for the expansion of the Old Stone Bank next door. The Benoni Cooke House was built in 1828 and sits atop an arcaded basement on the street elevation, which historically was used for commercial use. The Cooke House retains its iconic hipped roof with monitor (common for John Holden Greene’s works), an Ionic portico sheltering the entry with sidelights and fanlight transom, and elaborate stairhall window above. The building was later occupied as offices for the Old Stone Bank, and along with the Old Stone Bank, was acquired by Brown University, who sold the property in 2009 to an LLC, but its current use is unclear.

Eddy Block // 1812

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The last of the three similar brick rowhouse blocks on South Main Street in Providence’s East Side is the most altered, but maintains much of its architectural integrity and street-presence. Like the Comstock and Clark-Nightingale blocks further up South Main Street, the Eddy Block was built in 1812, at the beginning of the 19th century for a wealthy merchant, Moses Eddy (1766-1823), who owned and operated packet ships that transported mail and other goods between Providence and New York. The building is one of the oldest rowhouses in Providence, and its three-bays contain an interesting mix of alterations and original details that were changed or preserved over-time. Like the other two rows nearby, the Eddy Block was gutted, and rehabilitated in the 1970s as part of the Urban Renewal plan for Providence’s East Side.

Comstock Block // 1824

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Located next to the Clark-Nightingale Block on South Main Street in Providence’s East Side, the Comstock Block echoes the form, materials and rhythm of the older building, but employs some additional architectural detailing courtesy of a local architect. The Comstock Block at 263-273 South Main Street was built in 1824 from plans by architect, John Holden Greene, who designed many stately buildings in Providence during the early 19th century. The typical fanlights over two of the entrances are common in nearly all of Greene’s Providence buildings. Joseph and William Comstock owned the block which seems to have operated as residential rowhouses, possibly with storefronts at the ground floor. This block, like much of the street, was acquired, gutted and rehabilitated as part of the East Side Urban Renewal project of Providence in the 1970s, luckily for us, this handsome block was not demolished like so many other great buildings of the time.

Clark & Nightingale Block // c.1815

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In the early 19th century of Providence, wealthy merchants dabbled in real estate and urbanism, not only as an income-producing investment, but also to serve as a buffer to obscure unsightly industrial and wharf uses from their mansions on College Hill. This is the Clarke & Nightingale Block, a c.1815 vernacular Federal style row of residences above commercial storefronts on South Main Street. The block was developed by the heirs of wealthy merchants, Joseph Innes Clark (1745-1808) and Joseph Nightingale (1747-1797), and constructed of brick and stone, providing a handsome structure facing the wealthy residences to their east, and obscuring the view of industrial buildings closer to the river. The block was gutted and rehabilitated as part of the East Side Renewal project in the early 1970s. Arguably the only thing Urban Renewal did right was select restoration of significant buildings within seas of the destruction and scars on the landscape the program left behind.

Tillinghast House // c.1800

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The Tillinghast House at 10 James Street in Providence, Rhode Island, was built around 1800 by Captain Joseph Tillinghast (1734-1816), and it was occupied by a number of his children in the early 19th century. By 1818, with Joseph already deceased, the Federal style home was owned by two of his daughters, Mary, and Amey Tillinghast, who operated a small store from the basement. The two-and-a-half-story, brick Federal house is set on a high basement all with brownstone trim at the stringcourse (between first and second stories) and at the entrance. The house was restored in the late 1970s, along with a new clapboard addition by designers, Luigi Bianco and Georgia Patterson Boomer, of Bianco/Boomer. Without nearly as much ornate detail as many other Federal style homes in the East Side area of Providence, this residence proves that high-quality materials and strong proportions can make a home truly stand out!

William Smith House // c.1826

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The William Smith House at 18 James Street in the Fox Point neighborhood of Providence’s East Side, is similar to its neighbor, the William Woodward House in style and design details. Smith, a carpenter by trade, possibly built this house himself, with inspiration or plans by local architect, John Holden Greene, who designed many similar homes in the city around this time. The residence was built around 1826 and it was built into the steeply sloping hill on its raised granite foundation. Besides its elegant proportions, the house features a shallow hipped roof with monitor, fanlight over the door, and brownstone sills and lintels.

William Woodward House // c.1826

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Providence has some of the finest 19th century housing in New England; from the early Colonial and Federal residences to Victorian mansions, you can find hundreds of architect-designed showpieces that tell the full story of American architecture, sometimes on the same street! This is the William Woodward House at 22 James Street in the Fox Point/East Side area of Providence, built sometime between 1826-1828. The Woodward House is a landmark example of the Federal style, likely designed or inspired by local architect, John Holden Greene, which characteristic features including the hip roof with monitor, fanlight transom, and center hall plan. William Woodward Jr. (1791-1861) worked as a grocer, with a market nearby, and clearly did well for himself to afford such a home. 

Walker – Russell House // 1797

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In 1797, housewright Calvin Walker acquired a house lot on Transit Street in Providence’s Fox Point/East Side neighborhood and built this Federal period residence for his family. The three-bay Federal style home was a side-hall form with off-center entry and a monitor roof. In 1824, Calvin sold the residence to his daughter, Mary and her husband, Daniel Russell, a grocer and shoemaker, for $250. By the 20th century, the house was altered with later siding and a new entry, which were later restored by later owners, back to the home’s original grandeur. The blind fan with engaged columns adorned by rounded capitals, really enhances the design. The Walker-Russell House remains as an excellent example of a Federal style residence in Providence built for middle-class residents. 

William Mason House // c.1812

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This oversized brick Federal style house in Providence looks like it belongs more on the iconic Benefit Street rather than a quieter side street like Transit Street, but its history informs us as to why. Located at 136 Transit Street, the Benjamin Mason House stands as one of the finest (and largest) brick houses in the Fox Point neighborhood of Providence. The residence was built around 1812 by William Mason, who appropriately worked as a bricklayer and builder in 19th century that put his talents to work to build his own home seen here. The large brick residence was not only a family home, but marketed his abilities as a mason to area residents who were in need of his services. Benjamin Mason lived here until he moved to a new house down the street with his wife, Ann. Benjamin died by 1828 and the brick residence was purchased at auction and later sold to Reverend William Phillips. The house retains much of its original fabric, and even includes a stunning courtyard garden bounded by – you guessed it – a brick wall. 

Peirce Mansion // 1799

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The Peirce Mansion on Court Street in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is one of the finest, high-style Federal period homes in the United States. Built in 1799 for John Peirce (1746-1814), the residence is said to have been designed by Bradbury Johnson, a local carpenter and builder who was inspired by the designs of Charles Bulfinch. John Peirce began his career in the counting room of Daniel Rindge and worked in business and banking in Portsmouth. Peirce opposed the American rebellion against England but did not serve either side during the war. After the Revolution, in 1789, John Peirce was one of the leading citizens appointed to escort President George Washington around Portsmouth. The Peirce Mansion remained in the family over 150 years until it was sold by his descendants to the Middle Street Baptist Church in 1955, who extensively modified the residence to serve as a vestry and meeting space for church activities. The building was moved back from the road with the four tall chimneys were removed. Architecturally, the Peirce Mansion stands out for its massing, hip-roof with cupola adorned by a balustrade and urns, and the facade with elliptical arches, molded medallions, pilasters, and the Federal style entry treatment with fanlight transom and sidelights.

Long-Ladd House // 1812

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The Long-Ladd House at 3 Richards Avenue in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, showcases the versatility of the Federal style, an architectural style that dominated American architectural tastes from the 1780s through the 1830s. This house dates to 1812 and was built for George Long (1762-1849), a sea captain and trader until engaging in politics in his later years. He remained in the home until his death in 1449, leaving the property to his only heir, Marcy, and her husband, Henry Hurd Ladd. The Long-Ladd House is constructed of brick with the facade dominated by four, full-height pilasters breaking up the bays. A center portico shelters the main entrance which is adorned by a fanlight transom and classical surround. In a city full of Federal style homes, this one really stands out!