UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

Type all entries - complete applicable sections

Rhode Island 02891

STATE:

Rhode IslandCOUNTY:

WashingtonFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

COMMON:

BabcoCk-Smith HouseANO/OR HISTORI C:

Babcock Dr. Joshua House; Smith Orlando House

IELOCAT!ON’STREET AND NUMBER:

‘124 Granite Street

CODE COUNTY:

44CODE

Washington 009:LASSIFIcATI0r-l

_________________________________ __________________________

CATEGORYChock One

OWNERSHIPI ACCESSIBLE

STATUS ITo THE PUBLIC

C District Building

C Site Q Structure

C Object -

C Pubhc j Public Acquisition:

Private I C In Process

Q Both Q Being Considered

1 Occupied Yes:

C Unoccupied C Restricted

C Preservation word C Unrestricted

in progress No

PRESENT USE Check One Or More as Appropriate -

C Agricultural Government C Pork C Transportation C Comments

C Commercial C Industriol 1 Private Residence C Other Specify

C Educational C Military EJ Religious

C Entertainment C Museum C Scientific

TOWNEROF PROPERTY

-

,

OWNERS NAME:

Phebe A. B. Smith,

-

Trustee under the will of Orlando Smith01

STREET AND NUMBER:

124 Granite StreetCtTY OR TOWN:

WesterlyThdFRIPTloN

STATE:

Rhode Island 02891j CODE

44

COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEED5. ETC:y

Towh ClerkSTREET AND NUMBER:

Town Hall, 49 Broad StreetCITY OR TOWN:

Westerly

TITLE OF SURVEY

DATE OF SURVEY: 1957 J Federal C State C County C LocalDEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS:

Library of CongressSTREET AND NUMBER:

n0Cz

-t

Form I-30O

July 969

CITY OR TOWN:

WesterlySTATE

-C

STATE CODE

Rhode Island 02891

I±_REPR ESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS

Ha.storic American Buildings Survey

CtTY OR TOWN:

IndenendenceAvenue and 1st Street. N.E.

I

STATE:

District of Columbi

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Washington

4’

DEScRIPTION--- ---:-- -.-- . .:.:V ..H2:--.y .::..S

Check One -

C Excellent >ZJ Good C Fair C Deteriorated Q Ruins C UnexposedCONDITION

- Check One Check One

Lic Altered C Unaltered C Moved OQ Origiral Site kDESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL If known PHYSICAL APPEARANCE t

Dating from 1750 or before, the house built for Dr. Joshua Babcockon an elevated site in Westerly is a locally conspicuous, handsome andtypical example of the dwelling of a comfortably prospering Americancolonial of the mid-XVIII Century. It is a timber-framed, clapboardedstructure of two-and-one-half storeys upon a stone basement, with a largecentral chimney of stone, plastered over. It is covered by a gambrelroof of wood shingles which, on the east, is brought down over a rearextension, in stsalt_boxll profile. There is a one-and-one-half storeygabled dl buildt-c. -1848 to replace a less commodious XVIII-Centuryone which extends to the north and whose front is a flush extension ofthe main housets entrance elevation; the dl has also a tall and thincentral chimney. Cellar spaces extend under most of the main house andmost of the dl; in the former, two large cellar chambers are connectedby a brick arch through the large chimney base; in the latter there isalso a partial sub-cellar, said to have beenmade for wine storage.

- mThe main house has a five-bay front elevation and had, originally, ni

two widely-spaced windows on each major floor, and one in the gable, atthe ends. At the south end, two smaller windows have beenintroduced in -

irregular placement in the "salt-box0 extension; at the northern end,the ell partially covers the original arrangement of openings. Thiss dlextends the northsouth elevation by four bays. Front entrance to hemain house is through an imposing doorway in its central bay now forwardfrom the surface of the house and fronting a small vestibule, and frontentrance to the eli is a doorway in its third bay to the north. A low,

C

gable-roofed vestibule modern projecting near the south-east corner ofthe house encloses a basementgaflgway which probably originally had a -Isimple shed-type covering hatch. -

0Simple in exterior form and fenestration, the house is also simple

in exterior trim, with certain emphatic, intended exceptions. Along thefront of the house the gambrel roof extends well forward of the wallplane, and this generous eaves angle houses a pronounced and heavy pro-jecting moulded cornice which has long, narrow modillions beneath it.Beneath the modillions a moulded architrave band runs across the facadeand is brought forward to cap each of the second-floor windows, whoseframes--like those below, and typical of early buildings--project well out - .-. -

from the clapboard wail surface. All windows have simple moulded sills;however, the first-floor windows have deep, high and heavy moulded cappingcornices with due to the projecting window frames a noticeable end return against the house. This latter treatment has been followed on thefront windows of the much later eli also, but side and rear windows

- around the house are not similarly elaborated. Principal windows of themain house have 9-over-9 sashes,which are probably restorations.

The main decorative feature of the house is its large front door-way: Surrounded by a robustly-moUlded, architrave, the six-paelled door

- - See Continuation Sheet

,-:-,-----., aP--,’7-n-7,.-.1-:Nt .---.,,--r - -

STATE

- Rhode IslandCOUNTY

WashingtonFOR NPS USE ONLY

____________________

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

Number all entries

7. Description.

probably also a restoration is flanked by fluted Tuscan pilasters uponpanelled pedestals; these suprort a frieze, which breaks forward over them,and a wide and impressive broken-Scroll pediment with carved rosettes inits volutes. The base cornice of the pediment is also brought forwardover the pilasters, and -again at its middle, where it supports a panelledplinth rising against the tympanum. At this central point the moulded

- architrave is given a curved pinch or point upwards, as if to form a bracketfor the plinth above. This is the frontal pièce de r4sistance the ellhas its front doorway of simple Greek Revival design, and the other elevations are modest and silent. -

Internally, the house has on its principal floors the expected, customary five-room plan dictated by a central chimney. An entry hall immedi-

- ately bnhind the added front vestibule contains the main staircase, risingin three angular runs against the chimney and having a ramped rail supported by three varieties of twisted halusters rising from each tread anda twisted newel encaged in carved openwork all now, if not originally,shown in natural wood finish. A ramped wainscot moulding echoesthe lineof the band-rail. The principal reception rooms open off the hall to northand south--the parlour to the south having a fully-panelled and pilasteredfireplace wall, a wooden cornice, embrasuredwindows with interior shuttersand window-seats, an elaborately pilastered and coved corner cupboard alloriginal. The dining-room to the north was lengthened towards the rearof the house in the restoration of the 1920’s, and its fireplace wall thencopied that of the parlour. The old kitchen across most of the zar ofthe house became a sitting-room after removal of domestic offices to thel8L1f3 eli, but it retains its high and eight-foot-wide mortar-covered fireplace with oven; flanking the kitchen at the rear are small chambers. Theplan of the second floor follows that of the first, hut with simpler trim,although two upstairs chambers at the front of the house have panelledfireplace walls and hearth surrounds of old blue-and-white Dutch tiles.

The house remained in Babcock ownership until 1817.- There was intervening ownership until 18L8, when it was purchased by Orlando Smith, whowas resnonsibie for rebuilding of the eli. Successors in his family madealterations in the 1880’s, which included the small hip-roofed vestibulewhich retains hut protrudes the fine front doorway; a balcony added above;and stained-glass windows now replaced at the sides of the vestibule.Since the Smiths discovered, and prosoered from, a nearby granite quarry,the residence property was early in their time given the granite walls andcopinrs which still surround it on three sides. Later Smiths, in 1926-1928, engaged Norman Isham, a Providence architect and historian of localarchitecture, torestore the house to its original appearanceas much aspossible. This he did with characteristic expertise and sympathy, and--excepting the nevertheless harmonious later eli--the house is now presentedas of the XVIII Century. Careful collecting and sorting by Smith occupantsleave the house now with valuable furnishings of that period and of theearly XIX Century.

Form 1O300e

- July 1969UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

INVENTORY . NOMINATION FORM -

Continuation Sheet

A.

‘,1

I

4

6

GPO 901.062

rnnrr. -I.- -

_________

PERIOD Check One or More as Appropriate

C Pre.Calunbian Q 16th Century XJ 18th Century C 20th Century

Q 15th Century 3 17th Century J 19th Century

SPECIFIC DATESI If Applicable andxnown c. 1750, C. 1848 .

AREAS OF SIGNI FICANCE Check One or More a. Appropriate

Aba, gina1 ‘ - X Education - - .Xj Political C Urban Planning

C Prehistoric C Engineering Religion/Phi. Other Specify

Q Historic C Industry losaphy 1. Medicineo Agriculture 0 Invention Science 2. site of first

Archit.cture 0 Londscape o Sculpture Westerly Post f- -ii-.o Art Architecture C Social/Human. fice, est. byfl Commerce 0 Litereture torian Benjamin Franklin.o Communications o Military D Theater

________________________

0 Conservation Music Q Transportation .. -

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE--

- From its first building and occupancy by the Babcocks, and then formore thahone hundred years in use by the Smith family, this house hashad an important position in the town of Westerly--topographically, historically, politically and socially. Even now, with shopping plazas,super-markets and eating-places nudging it, the house on its slightly

o elevated plot--with its walls, lawn and oneor two outbuildings--retains- its importanöe, though -its physical survival will depend upon both recog

nition of its history and value and legal and financial support of itsfabric.

Dr. Joshua Babcock was born in Westerly in 1707 and attended YaleCollege, where, in 1724, he was the fi±st student from Rhode Island toreceive a degree. Later he studied medicine and surgery in this country Y -

and in England. Returning to Westerly to practice the skills he hadlearnt, he gave time also to other important interests and demands. Hewas amemberof the Rhode Island legislature, served as this colony’s

- Chief Justice, and was among the founders of what is now Brown University.w This many-faceted personagebecame a friend of Benjamin Franklin and as

often host to him in Westerly, where they indulged in fishing and colloquia. In return for hospitality, Franklin provided his host1s house withsome of his newly-invented lightening-rods. When an independent Americangovernment had been declared, Franklin saw that his friend was appointedpostmaster for the Westerly area, and the original ell of Babcock’s house

- -

- becamethe post office. -

The local importance of the house was revived when it and its landwere accuired, 1846-1848, by Orlando Smith, who had uncovered granitequarries nearby, producing wealth for himself and, for Westerly, prosperity and industry for many years to come. About 1848 he moved his house-hold into the old Babcock dwelling, and ever since then descendantsin theSmith family have given the house good care.

smith heirs have now undertaken arrangements to devise the house tothe Westerly Historical Society, which is willing to accept the propertyand responsibility for its future maintenance--with contents--as a head-quarters and house museum. Westerly is a bustling modern town, but it isalso one which embraces a long period of Rhode Island history and events,a long succession of architectural styles: the Babcock-Smith house is ofprime importance in all of these. -

- -c-2 -:--. - -.

rkAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

Downing, Antoinette F.: Early Homes df Rhode Island Rthhmond,- 1937, pp. ‘124, 128, 134, 135, 146, 147;-173, 193, 195, 202,

Smith, Franklin C.: Unpublished paper read before the WesterlySociety, Westerly, Rhode Island, Nay, 1959.

U.S. Works Progress Administration. Federal Writers’ Project:

_____

Island. A Guide... Boston, Massachusetts, 1937, p. 307.

Virginia,235, 237.

Historical

Rhode

CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE

GEOGRApHjCALOATA.....::..... .7: ..:: ..L:..: -:. ...*

LATITuDE ANO LON GITUDE COORDINATES LATITUDE AND LONGI TUDE COOROINA TES

DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY 0 DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY

________ ____________________________________________

OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES

NWNE

SESW

Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Secondsa . . 0

a - 0 I

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LATITUDE LONGI TUDE

Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds

41 0 22 ‘16.37 . 71° 49 1.2.68 W

APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: approx. one acre -:

LIST ALL ST ATES AND COUN TI ES FOR PROPERTI ES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOuNDARIES - -

STATE:-

CODE COUNTY --

CODE

STATE: - - - - CODE COUNTY: . CODE

STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

[ti. FORM PREPARED BY

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STREET AND NUMBER:’

52 Power Street

ORG ,NIZATION

Rhode Island Historical Preservation CommissionDATE

- c. 24, 1971

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NAME AND TITLE,

Richard B. Harrinoton, Consultant

CITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE CODE’

Rhode Island 02906 44STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIPICAIION NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION

As the designated.Stote Liaison Officer for the Na- - -

tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Public Law I hereby certify that this property is mcluded in the

89-665, I hreby nominate this property for inclusion National Register. - - --

in the Nations lLRalster and certify that it has been -

evaluated according to the criteria and procerkires set -

forth by the National Park Service. The recommended- - - - Chief, Office of Archeology andHisforic Preservafion

level of significance of thss nomination is: -

National XI State C Local

- - - - Date

Name-. AflEST:

Title -

-

- Keeper of The Nafional Regisfer

Date Date

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NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES..:

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM - -

Type all entries - attach to or encló e with photograph.

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STATE -

Rhode IslandCOUNTY - ...- -.

WashingtonS -- -

- FOR NPS J5E-ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER . DATE

IIYNAME . . ..: -..*. -......

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COMMON: BacC1-STT11t}1 -House -. . . . . . S

AND/OR HISTORIC:PahCOC Dr. Joshua--$rnith Orlando HouseOCA1’lGN

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STREET AND NUMBER: , .

12h Granite Street . ,-. . - -

CITY OR

STATE:

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TOWN: -

Westerly-

Rhode Island

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CODE

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COUNTY:

Washington.

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009T- H-OTO . -.

CREDIT: Isaac 0. SmithDATE OF PHOTO: 19 71 . . . -

FILEDAT: Isaac G. Smith, 69 East Avenue, Westerly, Rhode IslandS.:S.. .-.:-S.. -S5S _.__.-_ .S-

DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION. ETC.

Sketch-plans of cellar, first-floor and second-floor arrangements,and of south elevation, after restoration work by Norman Ishamfinished by 1928 i. e. present condition.

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE -

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE , Rhode Island - - -

COUNTY -

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES WashinrtonPROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM -

Typeall entries -- attach tQ or enclosewith photograph

Sketch-plans of. first- and ‘second-floor arrangements,and 0j’, south‘elvat±on, up to and ±ncludig renovations of c.

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NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROP RTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

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STATE

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WashingtonFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island 1414 Washington - 009P1OTO RffERECE -.

PHOTO CREDIT: Ross S. NcElweeDATE OF PHOTO: November1 1971 - - -

IEGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, State House,

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DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

Entrance west front.

eMMON: BahcOckmith HouseAND/OR HISTORIC: liabcock

TREET AND NUMBER:

1214 Granite Street:ITY OR TOWN:

Westerly

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‘ UNITED STATES DEARTMENTOF THE INTERIOR-- ‘ - - - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

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COMMON: Bahcoek-SmithHous.AND/OR HISTORIC: Pahcock "Dr. Joshua

TREET’ANb

".l2hGrasi-te Street

STATE

Rhode IslandCOUNTY

WashinrtonFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER -DATE: -

CITY OR TOWN: ‘ - . . , - , -

Westerly - , ‘ -‘ -

STATE: ‘ -. CODE COUNTY: - *, CODE

- ‘ - Rhode: Island - ‘ .. Washincton - " - -- g.

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IPH0T0 CREDIT: Ross S. NbElwee - -- -.- - - -- - - - . -. - -

IPATE OF PHOTO: November, 197,1. - , . . ‘ - . S ‘ .

- .IEGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical PreservationCommission, State House, -‘

. .90 mi’th S-teèt, ‘Providence,Rhode Island, 02903 - - ‘.

LuENnFIçATio -‘4 -.4

-S -OESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. - -. - ‘ ‘ - , - ‘ . . -- . , --

North, or fireplace, wall in parlour, showing stair-hall andvestibule space through doorway

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF’ HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

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STATE

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WashingtonFOR NPS USE ONLY -

ENTRY NUMBER I DATE

COMMON: Babcock-SmithHouse -

AND/ORHISTORICBacock Dr. Joshua House Smith Orlando HouseISOCAT1ON

STREET ANL NUMBER:

-1214 Granite Street .

CITY OR TOWN: . . -

Westerly - . -

STATE: . CODE - COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island - - - Washington , 009,

PHOTO CREDIT: Rog S. McElweeDATEOFPHOTO: November, 19TLIEGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, State House,

-

- 90 Smith Street Providence Rhode Island. 02901 -

OENTIJCATL -

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECuwn., ... c.

- Main- house seeni’rom the $ou6h-east, showing salt-box"-. extension.

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GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES

Latitude: 41° 22’ 16.37" N

Longitude: 71° 49’ 12.68" W

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Form O-3OJuly 1969

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY MAP FORM

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith map

STATE

Rhode IslandCOUNTY

- WashingtonFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

f NAME- ,. ,.‘‘" :.:. 44-’:.4-.44.: 4-.’4’’-"-"4-’.’." :-‘‘.-‘. ,-.-,. .- >:

COMMON: Babcock-SmithHouse . - -

AND/OR HISTORIC: Babcock Dr. Joshua--Smith Orlando House0CM’tON

STREET AND NUM BER: - - -

1214 Granite Street S . - -

CITY OR TOWN: .

Westerly S - - --

STATE: . CODERhode Island - . 1414COUNTY:

Washington-

-

- CODE

uoyMAP REFERENCe

SOURCE: - .

- U. 5,. Geological Survey -

-

-

-

SCALE: 1: 2h,,000 - . - . -

DATE: lO3 - - - . . - .

EQUIR.EMENTS ‘;..,..,-... ,,, ".‘.," -.4-44-:..4-4-1 4-::4-:44-141..::-..;S.,... ‘. .:--, :-‘ ..-:-.>4-

TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL’ MAPS

- 1. , Property broundaries where required.- 2’. North arrow.’ - - -- "- - -:

3.- Lotitue and longitude’ rforence.