Hello from 1698!!!

[LoveBlockIsland]

Hello. My husband and I am into our third week of assisting in renovations of a 1698 colonial home in Rhode Island, a mile out in the woods on 100 acres of land for us to live in. We are just filling holes, painting, cleaning and pulling up old rugs, etc, not heavy detail.

We are renting from distant relatives who want to maintain the integrity of the home and I don't blame them! I have been filling holes with putty for weeks! There are so many nooks and crannies and the house definitely has character.

There is a hidden room in between the three fireplaces. I was told this room was for the colonists to hide from the Indians during the King Philips war. The war ended in 1676, so maybe they began construction of this house around the same time. This house sits on the area of the Second Battle of Nipsachuck Battlefield.

There was an apple orchard here in the 1930's that was taken out by the Great New England Hurricane of 1938. I was told people came from miles around to pick apples here. Occasionally, while standing on the back deck, there is a sweet smell in the air. I think there may be some apple trees still standing in the forest.

We are closing off all the fireplaces because it will be just too difficult to keep warm in the winter. I just love the look of the "Dutch oven" style fireplace. I found what looked like a pew in the basement, but from what it looks like, I seen an online picture, it was used near a fireplace for sitting on to keep warm? maybe.

There is a room attached to the side of the house with the room with this Dutch oven fireplace. Is this where they stored firewood? There is also and outside door to this.

3 ceiling were removed from the dining room ceiling and multiple layers of wallpaper in the living room. At least one room has horsehair plasterboard.

I am just curious how those with old homes like this keep warm in the winter. I was told with these old beams and wood, there is no way to blow in insulation.

Pictures are just from work on the first floor. We haven't gotten to the second floor yet! We will do that once we move in.

Thanks for any suggestions. I am enjoying reading about others' older homes!

[LoveBlockIsland]

I couldn't add pictures to my original post. Some of what you see, has been worked on or cleaned up. Two pictures are of the main entryway to the front of the house and two pictures are of the top of the stairs. We haven't started these areas though. Waiting until we start working on the second floor.

Anyone know if this bureau is a period piece or just an item left upstairs? There are other older type pieces of furniture here too.

The craftsmanship of that era is amazing! You can't see in the picture, but one is of the exposed beams of the ceiling in the living room. In person, you can see the notches from an ax that carved each beam. I can't imagine the work that went into building this house.

One image shows you just how deep into the woods we are. We are at the clearing almost to the top of the hill. The owners are at the very top of the hill behind us.

[Gothichome]

Welcome to the District. Your new home has a nice bit of history and will give you plenty to do. Your home to my eye looks to have had a major refit in the Federal (Georgian) style, some were in there I suspect there is a more rustic original home. Your two sided fire place may of actually been one large hearth with inglenook. The second smaller fireplace added with the refit. I think this would be in keeping with a rustic settler home. Most rustic homes built at that time tended to mimic the homes from the country the settlers came from. Inglenooks were the way to go in Britain and many parts of Europe at that time. Then again with Providence becoming a larger town it could have been built as a Georgian home by some one of means.
Look forward to hearing of more discoveries as you delve deeper into the home. We have several old home historians here who may comment as well.

[Gothichome]

As far as your set of drawers, we also have some fine carpentry folks here and in the District who may be able to sort it out for you. But from my knowledge it looks to be Georgian period style probably manufactured some were in New England.

[LoveBlockIsland]

Thank you for the welcome! Yes, you are correct. We were told either the first, or one of the first governors of the state of Rhode Island lived here. Behind the house is a worn path by wagon wheels for his journey to the State House. It would be impossible to follow through to the city of Providence today, as there are built up towns and cities along the way.

I can't wait to uncover more interesting facts and finds here!

On my next day off, I will be going to town hall to see how far back I can see ownership of this house. I worked for the town for a little while, and they retained several, VERY old deed books that were never computerized, so this may take some time and effort!

[1918ColonialRevival]

Welcome! You have quite the piece of history there.

As GH said, your house looks to have undergone a major renovation with additions in the later Federal period. I suspect it happened in the 1820s or 1830s from what I'm seeing in the pictures.

A word of advice for stewards of early houses like this - don't do anything that can't be undone in the future. By this, I mean don't remove original materials, change floorplans, etc.

As for the chest of drawers, it's hard to say without seeing how it's put together. Looking at the front, I would say it's an early 20th Century reproduction of a Sheraton styled piece, but the joinery and the type of nails used would tell the full story.

[phil]

cool house . So old! deep in the woods? giant fireplace? why not use it for its intent?

[mjt]

Welcome! I look forward to more updates as you progress.

[LoveBlockIsland]

I would LOVE to use the fireplaces, but the current owner says it would be costly to get the chimney up to code and repaired, and also worried about the old dry wood in the house.

I wanted to strip all the paint and just stain it, but we have limited time to move in, and the owner doesn't want us to go that far.

If we stay here as long as we anticipate, at some point, we will strip all the paint.

I have a picture of the "pew" I found in the basement. I will post that. I found a picture online of these being used to keep warm at the hearth.

Yes, I can see the two fireplaces, the one in the original kitchen and the dining room are attached. The one in the living room is smaller and not attached. When we got here, the dining room fireplace was already blocked off to conserve heat in the winter.

We do not intend to change any of the structure or remove anything, just clean, scrap and putty holes.

Finding so many interesting things! Can't wait to physically be in the house to be able to putter around and do things in it!

[LoveBlockIsland]

I have added pictures of the pew found in the basement and an online picture showing one in Jamestown RI, being used to keep warm at the hearth. (I have since removed this picture to avoid confusion. I am sure all you historians know what this pew was used for.)

Also, one of the pictures is of the walls in the dining room and a closeup. The current owner wanted to stain this and leave it, but the wood is very rough. I don't know how this would look. I could imagine people tearing clothing on it. I can see some kind of plaster wall behind these walls, I imagine the original walls.

A couple pictures of additional finds in the house that need to be stripped and stained and reupholstered.

We found a portrait of the last owner, the brother of the current owner who passed away last year. He was a beloved area Santa for 45 years.

This family goes way back. I can't wait to go to town hall tomorrow to see how far back I can check the deed of the property!

I just realized, I should be posting any questions I may have as a separate question in the other sections of the Historic District.

Thank you all for the welcome! I appreciate your input!