rhode island real estate

Butler House // 1865

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A true Italian Villa can be found in the dense center of Newport, Rhode Island. This is the Butler House, built in 1865 for physician Samuel Butler (1816-1881) and his wife, Emeline. Dr. Butler was born in Maine and was educated at Harvard before moving to Newport to become a member of high-society there. Besides working as a physician, Samuel Butler served on the Newport School Committee and as a director of the Redwood Library. His house was originally built in 1865 (as the right half) in a late-Greek Revival style as a side-hall house with flushboard siding and pilasters between the bays. As Newport continued to grow in wealth as a summer destination, Dr. Butler modernized his home in 1876, adding the oversized corner tower with round arched windows and bracketed cornice. The two aesthetically opposing styles somehow work well together in this eclectic home, which today, is further enhanced by a color palette to accentuate the two sections.

Buckingham House // 1903

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This period Queen Anne residence in Warren, Rhode Island was erected for Erastus and Hannah Buckingham and today remains essentially as originally built. Erastus Buckingham made his money by opening an oyster plant where he would collect and package oysters. I think it is safe to say that someone opening up a similar plant would not be able to afford such a house today… Its simple forms, coupled with its use of natural materials illustrate early 20″ century design simplification while retaining the use of materials typical of late 19″ century Queen Anne style. Oh and those diamond pane windows are something special too!

Miller-Abbot House // 1789

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More impressive than elegant, this unusually large Federal house in Warren, Rhode Island was the home to two important military leaders, Nathan Miller and Joel Abbot. Nathan Miller (1743-1790) was a Brigadier General of the Rhode Island Militia during the Revolutionary War. He was a deputy in the Rhode Island State Assembly for six years, and he represented Rhode Island in the Continental Congress in 1786. After his death in 1790, the general’s daughter, Abigail, and her husband, Charles Wheaton inherited and enlarged the property. Their daughter Laura married Joel Abbot in 1825 and resided here afterwards. Joel Abbot (1793–1855) was a Naval officer in the War of 1812, and commanded a ship during Commodore Perry‘s 1853-1854 visit to Japan, opening the Asian country up to trade with the western world. The large home has maintained its charm and the dated chimney is just too perfect!

Samuel and Patty Randall House // c.1810

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This stately three-story Federal style mansion sits on Baker Street in the lovely town of Warren, Rhode Island. The house was funded by James Maxwell, of the local family of merchants and slave traders, for his daughter Martha “Patty” Maxwell and her soon-to-be husband, Samuel Randall. The house was gifted as a wedding present to the new couple, and an expensive one at that! Judge Randall operated a school nextdoor and established “The Telescope,” Warren’s third newspaper nearby the house. The pop of color at the entry and the Victorian-era door hood work so well on this facade as well.

Hill-Collins House // c.1761

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Located at the corner of Water and Baker streets in Warren, Rhode Island, this Georgian Colonial-era home oozes charm! The house was built around 1761 for, and likely by shipwright William Hill. Mariner Caleb Collins, who had a wharf near the foot of Washington Street to the south, bought the house in 1806, and sea captain Haile Collins lived here in the mid-19th century. The house was restored in the early 2000s by architect and preservationist Lombard Pozzi, who is credited with restoring and preserving many iconic buildings in this area.

Carr Homestead // 1790

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By about 1790, Caleb Carr (1768-1853) built or renovated this stately Federal style mansion on Water Street in Warren, Rhode Island. He operated a tavern from the house, and had an elegant fanlighted door put on each facade—one for household use, the other for tavern customers. The property was inherited by his son, Captain Caleb Carr Jr., who continued as a tavern owner, but was also an important shipbuilder and operator of the ferry to Barrington, which docked at the end of the street. The Carr Homestead is today covered with later siding and has Victorian-era two-over-two windows but I would bet all the original siding is still under there and the house would shine with some repairs. I hope to see it happen!

Hazard-Gempp House // c.1800

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Opposite the Liberty Street School in Warren, Rhode Island, you will find this beautiful painted brick Federal period home. The residence was built around 1800 and owned later by George Hazard, of the prominent Hazard Family of Rhode Island. The Federal style house exhibits a three-bay facade with slightly projecting central pavilion with a semi-circular fanlight transom above. By 1915, the house was owned by Louise and Gottlieb Gempp, a German-born couple who settled in Warren and ran the German-American club in town.

St. Mark’s Chapel // c.1855

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This charming old chapel was built in the 1850s in Warren, Rhode Island, to accompany the larger St. Mark’s Church. The building was relocated from the lot of the main church across the street to its current location and converted to a parish house. In the 1890s, the building was covered in wooden shingle siding and an addition was added to the rear, giving the building its current appearance. Today, the former chapel is used as a residence, and is very well maintained by the owners.

Smith-Waterman House // c.1820

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While Warren, Rhode Island is best-known for its 18th and early 19th century houses, there are some great Victorian-era homes to be discovered. This is the Smith-Waterman House on Broad Street, which was apparently originally built around 1820 on a different site and relocated here by around 1860 by Nathaniel Phillips Smith. After Smith’s death in 1872, the property was owned by John Waterman, the Treasurer and General Manager of the Warren Manufacturing Company in town. Mr. Waterman undertook a massive renovation to the house, more than doubling its size and adding Italianate style trim details, the porches, and the 3 1/2-story tower off the rear.

Harkness House // c.1730

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The award for the cutest house in Newport goes to this c.1730 beauty on Green Street! This charming Georgian cape house sits just one-and-a-half stories tall under a squat gambrel roof. The house was originally located at the corner of Thames Street and was moved at least twice until it was placed on its present site by the Newport Restoration Foundation, after they acquired it in 1983, restoring it soon after. The center-hall house has just two rooms on each floor with a central staircase and chimney. The small dormers add some light to the second floor without compromising the historic and architectural integrity of the cottage.