Harmony, RI - friends of harmony

Harmony, RI
PICTORIAL DIRECTORY
CONTENTS
Harmony Village
3
Putnam Pike
48
59
110
121
185
190
199/201
200
204
207
222
245
246
274
281
367
383
455
474
479
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Putnam
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
Pike
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
14
15
16
17
18
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Road/210 Putnam Pike
Road
Road
Road
Road
Road
Road
Road
27
28
29
30
31
33
34
35
Saw Mill Road
1
9
14
21
246
300
359
419
Saw
Saw
Saw
Saw
Saw
Saw
Saw
Saw
Mill
Mill
Mill
Mill
Mill
Mill
Mill
Mill
1
Snake Hill Road
346
347
352
591
688
Snake
Snake
Snake
Snake
Snake
Hill
Hill
Hill
Hill
Hill
Road
Road
Road
Road
Road
36
37
38
39
40
Cooper Road
69 Cooper Road
143 Cooper Road
153 Cooper Road
41
42
43
Evans Road
494 Evans Road
505 Evans Road
506 Evans Road
44
45
46
Farnum Road
96 Farnum Road
247 Farnum Road
47
28
Other Roads
176
16
97
55
128
74
Absalona Hill Road
Elmdale Road
Howard Lane
Melody Hill Lane
Phillips Lane
White Oak Lane
2
49
50
51
52
53
54
Harmony Village
Fall 2004
Spring 2004
HISTORY:
The village of Harmony is located in the southeastern corner of Glocester, Rhode Island and at one
time was part of the town of Providence. When Roger Williams arrived in Providence, he bought from the
Indians land which included Glocester and all of northwesterly Rhode Island (Hopkins, 1950). Later a land
survey was done establishing the “Seven Mile Line.” This line was set off seven miles west of Fox Hill -near
Fox Point in Providence - and extended north and south from the Kent County line to the Massachusetts
border. Part of this line marks the border between Glocester and Smithfield. Within that line was known as the
inner land and outside was called the outlands. Therefore, Glocester being west of that line became known as
part of the outlands.
In an effort to tell the history of Harmony it must not be forgotten that the American Indians were the
first known settlers of this land although it is hard now to find any evidence that they were ever here. Now and
then, a farmer may find an arrow head when he plows his garden and Indian names such as “Absalona Hill” and
“Schinscott Brook” are still in use but that is about all. The Indians in this area were of the Nipmuc tribe, a
group only loosely connected to the Narragansetts after declaring their independence during the King Philip
War (Perry, 1886, p. 6).
After the Indian Wars of 1675-1676, Roger Williams decreed that persons wanting land in the outlands
should go there and live or forfeit their claims. John Steere of Wayonkege Hill (Smithfield) owned land that
extended both east (Smithfield) and west (Glocester) of the 7-mile line (Root, 1890). In 1694, he granted land
in Glocester to his son-in-law Rev. Peter Place. Early records of Providence indicate that the earliest settlers
in Harmony were John’s sons William Steere in 1697 and Samuel Steere in 1702 - both having received land
grants from their father. William Steere’s land was probably on Absalona Hill Road; Samuel Steere’s land was
where the Glocester Country Club is now; and Peter Place’s land was somewhere in between.
Note that it is almost impossible to locate property by the description given on early deeds. Land was
described as “Beginning at the northeast corner on the highway and running north along William Colman’s land
ten rods to a pile of stones then east to a chestnut tree...” We don’t know what highway, nor do we know
where William Colman’s land was, and the pile of stones probably disappeared long ago.
Records of March 6, 1719 indicate that David Burlingame was one of the original proprietors of the
town (Burlingame, 1971, p. 19). Capt. David Burlingame’s son Richard, a major in the Revolutionary War,
engaged in lumbering and the lumber was hauled by four yoke of oxen to Providence for British government
ship building (Hopkins, 1950, p. 10 and Bayles, 1891, p. 540).
In 1731 Providence was divided into Providence, Smithfield, Scituate, and Glocester. No, Glocester
isn’t spelled wrong. Tradition has it that someone spelled it that way in the records when the town was set off
from Providence and so it has remained even though it was named after Frederick Lewis, Duke of Gloucester
(son of King George II in England). Glocester originally extended as far north as the Massachusetts border.
According to Potter (1939),“ ‘A number of very respectable freemen’ asked for a town meeting on August 22,
1795, when it was voted and resolved that the Town of Glocester ought to be divided into four towns, by
running a line each way. Seventy votes were cast in favor of the division and none against it (Potter, 1939, p.
3
91).” Such a division never took place. In 1806 after another meeting and unanimous vote, a petition was
submitted to divide the town in half with Burrillville to the north and Glocester to the south. That division
resulted in the boundaries of Glocester that we know today.
When and how did Harmony get its name? The name seems to have come into general use about the
time that the town was divided into school districts in 1828. “Harmony” was used to name one of the districts.
From that time on, the term “in the Village of Harmony” gradually came into use in the property deeds when
land ownership was transferred in that part of town. How it came to be called Harmony is debatable. Some
people say that the settlers who moved to the countryside in the early 1800s named their villages for qualities
they sought: Hope, Success, Comfort, Victory and Harmony (Providence Journal, June 15, 1991). Another
assumption is that “the original settlers lived together so harmoniously that they named their settlement
Harmony” (Hopkins, 1950, p. 11).
4
48 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story, Greek Revival house with extensive additions and
alterations. It has a central entry in a 5-bay facade and a 1 1/2 story wing at the rear.
There is a barn-garage attached to the rear of the house. (1851 - J. C. Medbury.)
(Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
2009 - Owned by Russell Steere.
5
59 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story, Greek Revival structure, with a small. brick, center chimney; a central
entry in a 5-bay facade; a wing at the rear; and a flat-roofed wing at the left side. John Barnes, who lived
here from 1843 to 1853, was the brother of Thomas Barnes, who owned the nearby acid works. (1851 - J.
Barnes.) (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
about 1790 - Built .
“The whole weight of the house rests on a massive stone chimney in the basement, taking up half of the cellar
space, running from the basement to the roof. Opening out of the chimney are fireplaces in every room. . .
The boarded up fireplace in the old kitchen is five feet in length and four feet high. Over the fireplace, like all
in the house, is a long fire shelf. . . To the left of this fireplace is the old iron oven. It is the butterfly type with
a swinging door (Eleanor Wood, Growing up in Harmony, The Observer, July 14, 1977).”
1842 - The house served as a first aid station during the Dorr Rebellion in Rhode Island in 1842.
1898 - Mrs. Soffa offered the estate which “consisted of a seven-room home, in excellent repair, a 2-story
barn, a woodshed and other necessary building, all painted white. Everything was in ship shape condition.
There were 40 acres of cleared land fronting on Putnam Pike and Phillips Lane. The northern boundary was an
ever running brook. The price was $1600. There was also a ten acre wooded lot fronting on Waterman’s
Reservoir. Its price was $200. Everything being satisfactory, the price was paid and my aunt and uncle
became the owners (Eleanor Wood, Growing up in Harmony, The Observer, July 14, 1977).”
???? - Miss Eleanor T. Wood, who died in 1976, and her brother Alan A. Wood lived here after their parents
died in Philadelphia during a TB epidemic. They were taken in by their Aunt Emma----- and Uncle Homer----. They owned a grocery store in Providence before moving to Harmony.
1950s and later - Since the 1950s, Milton Aldrich has lived here.
2009 - Owned by David A. Wood .
(David A. Wood, October 2009)
6
110 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story dwelling of modest scale reworked with a great wealth
o applied and possible genuinely antique Federal detail. (Rhode Island Historic
Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
August 19, 1999 - Florence E. Brown conveyed to Prime Properties.
November 3, 1999 - Conveyed to Florence E. Brown.
May 25, 2000 - Purchased by Robert W. Irving et us Melinda S.
7
121 Putnam Pike
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION:
HISTORY:
October 22, 1996 - Thomas J. Byrne et ux conveyed to Jane G. Byrne.
August 24, 2000 - Purchased by Timothy S. Byrne.
July 2, 2003 - Purchased by Patrick C. McCluskey.
August 30, 2006 - Purchased by Jamie Finklestein.
October 30, 2008 - Conveyed to Jamie Finklestein t ux Shivali.
8
185 Putnam Pike
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 1-story, brick, neo-Georgian Structure with two large, exterior
chimneys; a central belfry; a projecting pedimented entry, with double doors; two
flanking wings at right angles at the ends; and a flat-roofed addition at the right side,
set on a triangular lot at the intersection with Cooper Road. This school, and the
contemporary Chepachet School - both consolidated schools with indoor plumbing,
ample closet space, and other conveniences, marked the end of the one-room school
era in Glocester. The Adah Hawkins School was discontinued in the 1970s (when a new
elementary school was built on Snake Hill Road), in mid 1978, the building became the
home of the Northwest Community Nursing and Health Center, and in 1980 it was
purchased from the town and converted to use as the Roger Williams General Hospital
Medical Offices as well. A primary care medical facility, it provides service to people of
northwestern Rhode Island. (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission,
1980)
HISTORY:
June 17, 2004 - Northwest Community Nursing sold to Krawiec Tree Service Inc.
September 20, 2005 - Conveyed to Cooper Hill Office Complex Inc.
9
190 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
Fall 2004
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: One and one-half story Greek Revival house with late
Victorian alterations; 2 small brick interior chimneys; central entry with
bracketed hood; 5-bay facade; wing at left side, rear. (Rhode Island Historic
Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
1865 - Built. Owner was Gardiner P. Millard.
1870 - Owner was G.P. Millard according to map. (Beers, 1870)
1895 - Owned by R. H. West according to map. (Evert & Richards, 1895)
circa 1900 - C. L. (Henry) Whipple and Carrie Whipple owned the house. Children would come
from the school across the street to get water from the spring on the property.
1938 - Apple orchard was destroyed in the hurricane.
1993 - Owned by William Chartier et al. Had been previously divided into two units.
November 10, 1993 - Conveyed to Carol Ethier.
10
199/201 Putnam Pike
Fall 2004
1920s?
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: Two and one-half story Greek Revival building, central entrance in
front flanked by display windows. (Rhode Island Historic Preservation
Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
1838 - Built.
1851 - E.M. Aldrich owned the building according to map. (Walling, 1851)
NOTE: In 1855 the first Harmony Post Office opened in a building located on the present site of
212/214 Putnam PIke. (See that location for more information.) In 1870 the Harmony Post Office was
located at 199/201 Putnam Pike. Exactly when the move took place is not known, but it may be
assumed to be around the time Cyrus P. Burlingame became postmaster.
1859 - Cyrus P. Burlingame was appointed postmaster on June 22.
1865 - Charles O. Barnes was appointed postmaster on March 16.
1870 - C.P. Burlingame and Sons operated the store. They were dealers in dry goods, groceries, hats, caps,
boots, shoes, flour, grain, provisions, drugs, medicines, paints, oil, hardware, etc.
1871 - Cyrus A. Burlingame was appointed postmaster on April 17. Henry A. Randall was appointed postmaster
on August 4.
1881 - Fred W. Perry was appointed postmaster on April 6. William A. Brown was appointed postmaster on
September 12, but may not have served.
1883 - Charles Whipple was appointed postmaster on January 4.
1891 - C.L. Whipple kept store and post office. William and Ellen Hancock owned the store.
1894 - Henry A. Randall was appointed postmaster on May 29.
1895 - According to map, Henry Randall owned store and post office. (Evert & Richards, 1895)
early 1900s - According to some sources, Charles Place and Andrew Brown also ran the post office, but U. S.
Postal Service records do not substantiate this. Andrew Brown did run the store. In addition to a
variety of other items, he carried hay and grain at the store and would go throughout Greenville in the
morning to get orders, then deliver in the afternoon.
1916 - Harry Staples was appointed acting postmaster on March 13 and postmaster on June 9. The building
continued to house a store.
1946-47 - Charles Dunn, son-in-law of Harry Staples, was appointed acting postmaster on July 31, 1946 and
postmaster on November 28, 1947.
(See next page.)
11
INTERESTING ANECDOTE: According to Dick Martin, who attended the Adah Hawkins School in the
1950s, “When noon recess arrived at the school, children were allowed to make a brief sojourn to
‘Dunn’s’ with pennies and nickels in hand for the purpose of buying some sweets to make lunch
complete. Perhaps on a good day, the total spent might have reached a dime, affording the choice
of an ice cream bar from deep down inside the horizontal freezer that stood in front of the ancient
plate glass windows looking out over route 44. Shelves carried cereal, bread, soap, and other
sundry items, reinforcing the meaning of the word General Store, barely legible over the front door.”
1976 - 1979 - Corona Magner, Roberta Lisker, and Anthony Malardo served as officer-in-charge at the post
office.
1979 - Roberta E. Lisker-Goldsmith was appointed postmaster.
1990 - The Harmony Post Office moved to its new location at 391 Putnam Pike.
August 13, 1998 - Barbara Dunn et al conveyed premises to Genevieve (Dunn)Goditt and Mary G. (Dunn)
Carr.
12
200 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: One and one-half story late 18th century structure, medium-sized
brick chimney and a central entry with sidelight in a 5-bay facade. Has five fireplaces:
one in the basement, three on the first floor, and one on the second floor. There is a
borning room on the first floor. (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission,
1980)
HISTORY:
1790 - Built. Indicated on reproduction map. (Cole, 1963)
1870 - C. Barnes lived there according to map.
(Beers, 1870)
early 1900s - Harry Staples lived there. People in the village would get water from a well in front of the left corner of
the house.
1920s? - The Fogarty’s lived there.
1956 - The Shellenbergers purchased the house from the Lord family after the death of Miss Lord, the previous
owner.
1960s - When replacing the bricks in the center chimney, it was discovered that the existing bricks were extremely
small and were stamped “England.” They probably were ones that had been used as ballast in ships.
November 19, 1996 - Wellingron Shellenberger conveyed to Mildred A. Shellenberger.
July 7, 1997 - Sold to Paul W. Hamilton.
August 31, 2006 - Purchased by Kathleen M. Buckley.
13
204 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: One and one-half story federal structure with small, brick center
chimney and a simple entry at left side of a 3-bay facade. Slightly below road level,
with a full basement at the rear. (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission,
1980)
HISTORY:
1790 - House indicated on reproduction map. (Cole, 1963)
1851 - House indicated on map. (Walling,1851)
1870 - Andrew J. Hubbard lived there.
1920 - William C. Steere was the owner.
1960s - Owned by the Stockwell family.
Fall 2004
June 29, 1995 - Gertrude M. Stockwell sold to Curtis P. Meader.
February 26 2001 - Sold to Homeside Lending Inc.
March 19, 2001 - Conveyed to Secretary of HUD.
August 22, 2001 - Conveyed to Stephen J. Duquette, Sr. & Margarate.
14
207 Putnam Pike
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: One and one-half story late eighteenth century structure, mediumsized brick chimney and a central entry with sidelight in a 3-bay facade. (Rhode Island
Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
1788? - John W. Smith acquired from Daniel Page?
1790 - House indicated on reproduction map. (Cole, 1963)
1822 - Richard Aldrich purchased from John W. Smith.
1854 - John Steere acquired property and house from Elisha Aldrich, son of Richard Aldrich. He later
conveyed the School House Lot to the Harmony School District.
1859 - Gaius (Gains) Hubbard acquired property and house from John Steere.
1870 - G.W. Hubbard was owner as indicated on map. (Beers, 1870)
INTERESTING ANECDOTE: “Gaius Hubbard was a cobbler in Harmony, where he plied his trade for
many years. As might well be the case with a man who had spent a considerable portion of his life with
his mouth filled with shoe pegs, he was a person of few and pointed words (of course that was natural
as every one of the pegs was also pointed). He was said not to have been a religious man and in fact
had at times been decidedly a worldly man. But when his big lubberly son, Andrew, burst into the shop
one day and said, ‘Father, there is no God,’ it was no surprise that he looked up and tersely said,
‘Andrew, you’re a d..... fool.’ Nothing else and nothing more.” (Potter, F.H., p.74)
1878 - Stevens Beck acquired house and property known as the Homestead estate from the trustee of Gaius
W. Hubbard. In the deed, mention is made of a shoe shop on the property.
1880 - Ellen Hancock acquired house and property from Stevens Beck.
1891 - Charles H. Randall acquired property and house from William Hancock and Ellen Hancock.
1893 - Henry A. Randall deeded to Maria A. Randall, wife of Charles A. Randall (Henry’s brother) the same
premises deeded to Charles H. Randall in his lifetime by William Hancock and Ellen R. Hancock in 1891
and one blacksmith shop located partly on the orchard lot and partly in the turnpike road.
1940 - Purchased by Joseph and Rose McCaull.
1971 - Purchased by William H. Rhodes and Diane (Bartlett) Rhodes.
2009 - Owned by Diane Bartlett.
15
222 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: One and one-half story Federal house, end-to-road, medium-sized,
brick, center chimney; central entry in a 5-bay facade, wing at the rear. (Rhode
Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
1770 - Built. Was in the Riley Steere family.
1790 - Indicated on reproduction map. (Cole, 1963)
1870 - Owned by Mrs. C. Steere according to map, but may not be correct. (Beers, 1870)
???? - In later years, it was the home of Emma Steere Coman; Patience Steere, an osteopath; her brother, Lucius
Steere; his son, L. Byron Steere; and Ray and Bethany Mason.
1990s - Owned by Roland and Nancy Fisher.
May 31, 2007 - Purchased by Barry J. King.
16
245 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: One and one-half story, 18th century “half house” with a small, brick
chimney left of center; entry at the left side of an original 3-bay facade. (Rhode
Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
pre-1800 - Built
1870 - N. (Nelson) Place indicated as resident on map. (Beers, 1870)
1895 - Dan Cox indicated as owner on map. (Evert & Richards, 1895)
1994 - Owned by Deborah Dickson.
August 21, 1998 - Scott J. Dickson sold to Joseph L. St. Pierre.
August 19, 2008 - Conveyed to Joseph L. St. Pierre Trustee.
17
246 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
Spring 2004
HARMONY MEETING HOUSE
HISTORY:
In 1805 Nehemiah Tinkham purchased two acres of land on the south side of the turnpike (Putnam Pike) from
Jesse Steere (Glocester Town Records, Book 17 Page 71). This land was located directly across the road from his
dwelling place and blacksmith shop (Glocester Town Records, Book 18 Page 165 and 188). According to Nehemiah’s
will, written in 1812 and probated in 1813
upon his death at the age of 46 , he designated one-quarter acre of the two acres he had purchased from Jesse Steere to be
reserved for a cemetery where his honored father and mother had already been buried (Glocester Probate Book 3, Pages
345, 346, and 347). Both Nehemiah and his wife Lydia who died in 1815 at the age of 36 were buried beside his father
and mother in the designated cemetery. This was the beginning of the Harmony Cemetery.
Nehemiah Tinkham’s sons, Daniel and William, inherited two acres of land from their father and in 1816 they
designated a piece of the land measuring 60 feet by 40 feet adjacent to the cemetery on the south side of the turnpike.
They donated this parcel of land to a committee or society for the purpose of building a meeting house or school for the
piety and morality of the community (Glocester Town Records, Book 18 Page 203). Based on this information and the
size of the lot - 60 feet by 40 feet - that the Harmony Meeting House (Chapel) is presently situated on, the building is
probably at its original location and was not, as sometimes reported in the past, built elsewhere and moved.
It appears that the Harmony Meeting House (Chapel) was used as a school because Bayles (p. 534) states that in
1832 or 1833, a Sunday School was also established in the schoolhouse. “ It was well attended and had a library of about
100 volumes purchased from the Rhode Island Sunday School Union (Hopkins, p. 1-2).” The collection of books from
the Sunday School, with probably more added as time went on, were still in existence in 1925 when Gladys (Steere) Hall
acted as the librarian and opened the building one afternoon a week from 2-4 o’clock for people to take out books
(Clarke).
In 1870, Harmony Chapel became a free chapel with various denominations worshiping there. In addition to
serving as a chapel, the building also served as a meeting house. The Harmony Division, Sons of Temperance #13 was
chartered February 4, 1875 and the group met on Saturday nights at the Harmony Chapel (Perry, p. 49) with A. J.
Hubbard serving as worthy Patriarch and Henry C. Brown as recording scribe (Hopkins, p. 8).
The Harmony Cemetery and Chapel Association was incorporated April 12, 1878 by the following people:
William Tinkham, Alanson Steere, Henry A. Tinkham, Elisha A. Aldrich, Lucy A. Steere, Rachel Stanfield, Alzada
Tinkham, Ellison Tinkham, and Whitman Steere. The purpose of the Association was to maintain and care for the
cemetery and chapel.
In 1875 Gaius Hubbard, a cobbler who was active in civic affairs, bought two pieces of land bordering the
Tinkham one-quarter acre cemetery. One parcel was sold to him by Robert West and it was described as a portion of his
farm on the right side of the cemetery passage way from the cemetery line to the chapel building (Glocester Town
18
Records, Book 30 Page 356). The second parcel was sold to Gaius by George Hawkins and was described as land on the
left side of the passage way 153 feet from the cemetery line to the turnpike. The deed designated that the land bordering
the turnpike be “out to common” to be used as a chapel yard (Glocester Town Records, Book 30 Page 353). After the
death of Gaius, Charles Hubbard, executor of the estate, gave a quit claim deed to the Harmony Cemetery and Chapel
Association for both parcels of land (Glocester Town Records, Book 34 Page 29). According to the deed, the land was to
be plotted into burial lots numbering 1 through 17 with lots numbered 1 through 5 reserved for himself and the rest to
be sold to interested families.
In 1902 a parcel of land was purchased was purchased from Maria Randall on the west side of the cemetery
(Glocester Town Records, Book 38 Page 222). Lots were sold by the Harmony Cemetery and Chapel Association and
recorded in the Town Hall. These lots were numbered 18 through 58. The inscriptions on all the gravestones in the
Cemetery were compiled by Betty Clarke in 1991 and recorded in several locations including the Harmony Library and
the Computer Program of Rhode Island State Grave Yards by John Sterling. Old Harmony Cemetery records are now
being gathered and compiled to be recorded in the Glocester Town Hall.
For a number of years, the Harmony Chapel was the only public building where villagers could meet. In 1923,
the members of the community felt the need to form a volunteer fire department after the Hall family house on Putnam
Pike burned to the ground due to the lack of equipment to fight the fire. On February 19 of 1924, a meeting was called
in the chapel to organize a fire department and elect officers (Harmony Fire Department and Improvement Association
1924-1999). The purpose of the organization was to raise money to buy a “motor pumping engine,” 500 feet of two and
Spring
2004250 feet of one and a half inch hose, six hand extinguishers, and other equipment at the cost of about
a half
inch hose,
$5000. According to some, the first effort to raise money was a ham and bean supper held at the chapel in spite of the
fact that the chapel had no water or toilet facilities.
A May 12, 1960 article in The Observer describes the mid-20th century use of the Harmony Chapel as a
church:
“It seems that for a period of 15 years, previous to 1948, there was little activity in the
chapel, except for a few years when a man from Chepachet conducted a Sunday School.
In the fall of 1948, seven students from the Providence Bible Institute (now Barrington
College) came to Harmony and canvassed the neighborhood and invited anyone without a
church home to join them in starting a Bible School in the small building known as Harmony
Chapel.
For three years with three oil stoves used to keep the building warm, the Bible School
was conducted. Since then, gas heat has been installed.
At the end of 1951, another group came from Barrington College: Mr. and Mrs. Glen
Gammon, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Christiansen, and Gordon Muir. At this time a worship service and
Bible School were started. Various films on religious subjects were shown on Sunday evenings
and special speakers, who were ordained ministers from Barrington College, came occasionally.
One summer a daily Vacation School was held, with an attendance of 20 children.
In 1957 changing the name of the church was discussed in order that it would become
recognized by the state. The name First Grace Church of Harmony was finally decided upon and
became effective in 1959.
Since 1957, a Bible Study and prayer meeting have been held every Wednesday night.”
Names associated with Grace Church during that period included the following: Jean Schmidt,
Ethel Grassy, Violet Stock, Daniel McGuire, George Aberle, Mr. Robert Delamatta, Rev. Roger K. Lark, Mr.
Paul C. Anderton, Mr. Alvin Heath, Estelle Beaumont, Mrs. Frances Metheny, Miss Alberta Beaumont, and
Mrs. Alvin Heath.
In 1980, the Harmony Meeting House (Chapel), a building of Early Federal style with a unique arched ceiling,
was placed on the National Register of Historic Places .
In 2000, the Friends of Harmony Village., Inc. was formed to preserve the heritage and generate the sense of
community in the village, by assisting in the restoration of its historically significant structures and landmarks, to
gather and maintain archival artifacts, and encourage education, cultural and social activities. This organization has
been instrumental in the restoration of the Harmony Meeting House (Chapel).
19
274 Putnam Pike
DESCRIPTION: A 1-story, brick, flat-roofed, square structure, with a large, double-
door entry and large, round-head windows, set close to the road. This building was
erected as an electric-power booster for the trolley line between Providence and
Burrillville. On July 1, 1914, the first trolley arrived in Chepachet from Providence. The
substation was built in 1917. Passenger service along the line ended in 1924, but
freight and coal was carried along the line until 1926. The building is now used as an
auto body shop. (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
August 23, 1996 - Conveyed from Edward A. Angell et ux to Paul Cunha.
September 25, 1996 - Conveyed to Paul Cunha et ux.
August 22, 1997 - Conveyed to Property Marketing Inc.
March 5, 1998 - Conveyed to Angell Realty
June 5, 1998 - Conveyed to Edward A. Angell.
August 19, 2003 - Conveyed to Richard Johnson.
August 25, 2003 - Conveyed to Edward A. Angell
January 20, 2009 - Conveyed to Edward A. Angell Estate.
20
281 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: A pair of early 19th-century houses, with one-story connecting link,
were used as an inn for a period of eight to ten years in the early 20th century. A
gambliing establishment was located in a nearby building. (Rhode Island Historic
Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
1720 - The property at what is now 281 Putnam Pike was purchased in 1720 from Obadiah Lewis by Hezekiah
Tinkham and was later owned by Hezekiah’s son Nehemiah.
1894 - Ed Walling bought the farm from Ellison Tinkham in. It had two dwelling houses, a blacksmith shop,
wheelwright shop, barns and other buildings (Glocester Deed Book 36, page 157).
1912 - When Walling died in 1912, it was purchased by Albert F. Eastman who started a restaurant and gave it
the name In-Yan-Yan-Ke. IN-YAN-YAN-KEE derived from In-Yan-Yan-Ke which is supposedly an Indian
name meaning “stony ground” and, if you look around, you will be bound to agree that the name was a
most suitable choice.
It was the time when automobiles came into general use and people from Providence liked to enjoy an
excursion to the country and have Sunday dinner. It was also the time of Prohibition and there were
rumors that added attractions could be enjoyed there. Gaming tables may also have been available but
no proof of this has been uncovered.
The two houses mentioned above were connected by an addition which contained a group of private
dining rooms. A wide porch with green awnings and comfortable rocking chairs was built on three sides
of the main house. A new shed provided shelter for the customers’ autos. The grounds were smartly
kept by Lucius B. Steere, the handyman-gardener.
Despite the Great Depression when business fell off considerably, Mr. Eastman kept the inn open until
his death.
mid-1900s - 2004 - Owners in more recent years included Aileen Wray and the Beaumont family who changed
the property to a kennel and raised collie dogs. A subsequent owner was Josephine Richards and the
dining rooms were converted to apartments. Recently the property has been owned by the estate of
Josephine Richards.
21
367 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: This fine farm complex includes a residence, several outbuildings,
and a large tract of open land along both sides of Putnam Pike. The c. 1860 farmhouse
is a Greek Revival structure with two brick interior chimneys; a central entry in a 5-bay
facade; and two ells at the rear. There is a wood-shingled barn and a shed near the
house. Across the road is a large, gambrel-roofed, vertical-boarded, early barn and
19th century barn and a corn crib. Most of the farm land, including an orchard; lies
along the south side of the road. The Cutler Farm and tavern property land transactions
date from about 1760. There was a dwelling along “the country road,” probably ear the
site of the tavern; the latter was built between about 1827 and 1834, and attached to
the house. The large barn along the south side of the road was used in connection
with the nearby tavern and was probably built at the same time. Around 1832, the farm
was sold to Caleb and Cyrus Farnum. Cyrus, who operated the tavern, ad whose
house was east of the tavern, was active in politics, serving booth as a representative
in the General Assembly and as a state senator. In 1845 or 1847, Farnum sold the
place to Thomas Cutler, who came here from Killingly, Connecticut. Cutler lived in a
building on the south side of the road and ran the tavern, or hotel there. He was also a
farmer. His farm, with forty-eight improved acres, included livestock, a orchard, ad a
variety of crops. Shortly before his death in 1860, Thomas Cutler built a new dwelling
house, barn, and shed north of the road. He built his house away from the tavern to
remove the family from the tavern environment, although about this time the tavern
business topped. In about 1860, the land and buildings on both sides of the road went
to Thomas’s son, James N. Cutler, who farmed the land until his death in 1903. Shortly
afterward, the place was purchased at auction by John F. Phillips, who operated a
dairy farm. The present owners, John Phillips’s daughter Elizabeth and Avis, raise
some beef cattle and have the fields cut for hay. Several outbuildings north of the road
are still used, as is the former stagecoach barn south of the road, part of which was
once used for ice storage; it now holds hay and farm equipment. The dwelling attached
to the tavern was torn down sometime between 1895 and 1903, and in about 1970 the
former Cutler Tavern was knocked down to prevent it from falling into the road. The
Cutler Tavern site is very important archeologically because of its potential to yield
information important to history and prehistory. The farm is one of Glocester’s oldest
surviving farms. The outstanding farm complex, fields, stone walls, and historical
associations with the early turnpike era constitute one of Glocester’s most valuable
cultural resources. (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
22
383 Putnam Pike
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story, 18th century structure with, a large, brick, center
chimney; a simple entry in the center of an asymmetrical, 5-bay facade; and an entry
in the right side. The house was restored in 1973. (1851 - Clark Steere.) (Rhode Island
Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
1727 - 1943 - Names associated with the property: James Walling (1727, 1729, 1730, 1731, 1733, 1735);
James, John, and Cornelius Walling (1733); Cornelius Walling (1737); Jonathan Cutler (1743); James
Blackmarr (1743 or 1744); Alvin & Aaron Cutler (1820); Cyrus Farnum, Enoch Steere, and Thomas Cutler
(1838); Clarke Steere and Edwin Steere (1845); George Steere (1911); Daniel Steere (1914); Arthur
Drew, Ellis Yalman and Robert Givens (1920).
1943 - Purchased by Angells.
1968 - Purchased by Kestoolots.
1974 - Purchased by George and Georgiana Adams.
2009 - Owned by Georgiana Adams.
(Georgiana Adams, 2009)
COMMENTS:
“Built originally as a half-cape in the early eighteenth century, the original beams & floors are intact.
“The keeping room fireplace occupies two-thirds of a west wall with bee-hive oven at the rear of the
fireplace. This usually denotes structural design prior to 1750.
“The beams of the original half-cape are chamfered & lambs-tongue grooved. They top 8 1/2 ft. heights,
with wood ceilings.
“About 1790, addition(s) were added, bringing the farmhouse to a 3/4 & then a full cape.
“Exposed chimny breasts are noted in the front downstairs hall & rear upstairs hall.
“Original windows were long & narrow, 9 over 9 lights.
“The rear staircase was perhaps originally a ladder to afford access to the upstairs left & bedroom.
“The four original rooms had three fireplaces, the pantry of course was a cold storage room.
“The Angell’s were the last of the farming families to live here, moving on in the ‘50s. Their daughter
Alice was the last child born in the house.” (Georgiana Adams, 2009)
23
455 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: A large 2 1/2 story mid-19th century, bracketed, cross-gabled
structure, with a central, portico entry flanked by 2-story bay windows; a 1-story bay
window above the entry; and a flat-roofed 2-story addition at the west end. There is a
large barn near the road. The place was reportedly built as a summer hotel by Henry
Brown. An earlier building, on or near the site, was a store rim bu the Brown family.
Today, it is a rest home. (1851 - V. Brown (on site).) (Rhode Island Historic
Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
June 16, 2000 - Robert O. Malin sold to William R. Arsenault and Steven J. Masso.
24
474 Putnam Pike
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: a 1 1/2 story, Greek Revival structure, with a small, brick, center chimney; a central entry
in a 5-bay facade; and two shed dormers in front. There is a large, old, wood-shingled barn nearby, close
to the road, and a recent barn-garage on the property. Extensive fields to the rear contain stone walls,
and a burying ground atop a small hill to the west. (1855 - C. Farnum.) (Rhode Island Historic
Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
???? - Known as theTaylor Farm.
1907 - Owned by Joseph and Eliza Hartness 1907.
1910 - Challoner C. Gross purchased property at tax auction May 28, 1910.
???? - From Challoner Gross to Clifford to Ralph K. and Kenneth Gross.
???? - Russell K. Gross purchased Ralph’s half interest.
2009 - Owned by Russell K. and Jessie M. & Russell G. Gross.
(Russell Gross, October 2009)
25
479 Putnam Pike
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: The Hunt-Farnum Farm is centered on the late 18th-century farmhouse,
a 2-story structure, with a large, brick, center chimney, a central, pedimented entry in
a 5-bay facade; and a small ell at the rear which includes a well. Behind the house are
a corn crib and two, wood-shingled outbuildings which were once used as a butcher
shop-slaughterhouse, and a blacksmith shop which started in the early 20th century
and was used until recently. The buildings occupy a neat lot, which includes stone
walls. There are fields north of (behind) the house. (1851 - Cyrus Farnum.) (Rhode
Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
1793 - Daniel and Olney Manton
1815 - Pardon and Nancy Hunt
1847 - Cyrus Farnum
1850s - Harris S. Farnum and Charles W. Farnum
1868 - John Farnum
1894 - Mary S. Farnum
1905 - Swan F. Garrity
June 1, 2004 - Helen G. Garrity Trustee conveyed to Sandra Hagopian.
June 1, 2004 - Conveyed to Sandra Hagopian et al Janet H. Johnson et al David M. Kendall et al Kathy A.
26
1 Saw Mill Road/210 Putnam Pike
Fall 2004
Fall 2004
HISTORY:
1870 - A. B. Steere was owner of a house and blacksmith shop at the west corner of Saw Mill Road and Putnam Pike.
1893 - Frank Steere had a house and blacksmith shop at what is known as Tucker’s Corner.
1903 - The property and building were sold to Jesse Lee Tucker, who carried on the blacksmith business for many
years.
INTERESTING ANECDOTE: According to Howard Tucker, grandson of the blacksmith shop owner, Jesse Lee
Tucker, who had first lived in Harmony on Farnum Road, apprenticed as a wheelwright and blacksmith for about
12 years in Artic. In the cellar of the shop there were water driven shafts to move a saw and other equipment.
The water flowed over a 6 foot water fall and Jesse owned the water rights. One of the functions of the saw
was to cut up chestnut wood which then was split into kindling by some of his 12 children or later his
grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, each driving his/her own horse drawn carriage delivered the kindling to
Atwells Ave. and Broadway St. in Providence. In traveling between Providence and Harmony, there was no
causeway across Waterman Lake; therefore, they had to go up a road known as Pig Road, which was
approximately where the drive goes into “The Village at Waterman Lake,” and would come out on Sidney
Winsor Rd. On one of the trips, Mrs. Tucker gave birth to one of her children, wrapped up the baby, and
continued home. In addition to being a carriage driver, mother, etc., Mrs. Tucker was an excellent cook and
would keep peeled boiled potatoes in the ice box and quickly prepare a meal of eggs, potatoes, and ham. She
never made just one pie; it was always a half-dozen or so.
1912 - Jesse L. Tucker built a building on the corner for a store.
circa 1936 - Putnam Pike was widened and much of the land and building were taken. In 2009 Howard Tucker wrote
the following: “The highway line survey map 1936 shows land taken; less than half of the Mill Bldg. was moved
close to the house; soon after it was destroyed by fire, as was the shed and much of the back of the house at
1 Saw Mill road. The house at 210 Putnam Pike is 1/3 the size of the Mill Bldg. and has no resemblance.”
late 1930s to 1950s - The house on the corner was built on part of the foundation of the blacksmith shop. It also
served as a store during this period.
October 21, 1998 - Howard F. Tucker, Jr. conveyed to Howard F. Tucker, Jr., et al Howard F. III and Marjorie.
27
9 Saw Mill Road
Fall 2004
HISTORY:
1880 - House was built.
2009 - Owned by Helen Stone.
28
14 Saw Mill Road
Fall 2004
HISTORY:
1778 - House was built.
2009 - Owned by Alyce Mack.
29
21 Saw Mill Road
Spring 2004
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 1-1/2 story wood-shingled gambrel-roofed residence, with a piazza
with cemented fieldstone posts around the south and east sides, an exterior, stone
chimney and an exterior, brick chimney, an entry in a 3-bay facade, two small dormers
in front, and a large, gambrel-roofed wing at the rear. The house, a gazebo, and two
wood-shingled, gambrel-roofed outbuildings, occupy an ample, well landscaped lot on a
slight hill behind a cemented stone wall along the road.(Rhode Island Historic
Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
Prior to 1999 - Owned by Maria Stamp
November 7, 1999 - Conveyed to Lillian S. Kimball
December 20, 2004 - Purchased by Kevin R. Conare and Richard M. Stineman.
30
246 Saw Mill Road
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: One and one-half story Federal structure with a small, tall, brick
cener chimney; entry, with sidelights, in an asymmetrical, 4-bay facade; and a one and
one-half story wing, larger than the main house, at a right angle at the left side. The
smallhouse lot at the crossroads is bounded by a wood picket fence. (Rhode Island
Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
1780 - Built. Located at the southeast side of Waldron’s Corner, the intersection of Snake Hill and Saw Mill
Roads. Benazah Whipple was original purchaser. Later owners wer Nathaniel and Mary Blackmoor.
1791 - Obediah Lewis, Jr was house carpenter.
1796 - Edmund T. Waldron, a physician, bought it at auction. According to his tombstone located in a family
cemetery on the farm, he came here from Dudley, Massachusetts after the Revolution. He was an
active member of the Town filling the position of Justice of the Peace from 1818 to 1835 (Perry, p.111)
and, based on Town records, was involved in many real estate transactions. It is said that at his death
the house remained vacant for a number of years until it was bought by Seth Hunt Steere and wife Lucy
in 1855.
1855 - Seth Hunt Steere bought house. In his early years, Seth Hunt Steere sailed around Cape Horn to
California at the time of the 1849 Gold Rush. He didn’t look for gold but found work because he knew
how to handle horses. He drove four horse teams taking supplies to the people who were looking for
gold. Later he returned to Rhode Island, married Lucy Smith, the girl down the road, and bought the
Waldron house in 1855. He conducted a teaming business and stable in Greenville for many years. He
and his wife had eight children of whom there are many descendants still in the area.
1898 - Owned by Seth Herbert Steere. Seth Hebert, son of Seth Hunt, also went West for a time and worked
building the railroad through Denver and west and was present when the last golden spike was driven in
at Ogden, Utah in 1869. He also returned to Rhode Island married Lillian King, the girl down the road,
and took up residence in the family homestead when his father died. Seth Herbert and his wife Lillian
ran the farm as, what would be called today, a subsistence farm having two horses, a cow, pigs,
chickens, a small apple orchard and a vegetable garden large enough to sell strawberries, rhubarb,
potatoes, etc.
1943 - Gladys (Steere) Hall
1980 - Elizabeth (Hall) Clarke and Linda (Clarke) Reinert
2000 - Elizabeth Clarke
July 23, 2000 - Elizabeth Clarke et al
(See next page)
31
October 25, 2001 - Linda Clarke Reinert
October 26, 2001 - Barbara Joyal
March 11, 2008 - HSBC Mortgage Services
May 7, 2008 - Lisa Adams
32
300 Saw Mill Road
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story, Late Victorian house, with a small, brick, center
chimney, central entry, with bracketed hood, in a 5-bay facade, and a wing at
the rear. The hose is set on a slight terrace behind a stone wall. There is a row
of mature trees in front of the house. (1895 - Jos. Cole.) (Rhode Island
Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
August 16, 2002 - Neil E. Esposito conveyed to Carol M. Esposito
.
January 31, 2009 - Sold to L & V Properties LLC.
33
359 Saw Mill Road
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 2 1/2 story, Federal structure, with a small, brick, off-center chimney; central entry in a
5-bay facade in a screened porch across the front; and a 1 1/2 story wing at the right side. There is a
garage-barn on a large lot, which includes large trees and a stone wall along Saw Mill Road and Howard’s
Lane. (1851 - Elder Williams.) (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
REVISED DESCRIPTION: Screened porch on front has been removed.
(Bernard and Mary Ellen Smith, October 2009)
HISTORY:
1796 - Built in 1796 by Winsor brothers - also built Howard farmhouse.
late 1900s - Restored by Bernie and Mary Ellen Smith who also created a blueberry and apple farm on the 30
acres.
2007 - The Smiths sold the development rights to the farm to the Rhode Island Department of Agriculture in 2007
so the farm will always remain as a farm.
2009 - Owned by Bernard and Mary Ellen Smith.
(Bernard and Mary Ellen Smith, October 2009)
34
419 Saw Mill Road
PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story, Federal structure, with a small, brick, center
chimney; a simple entry in an asymmetrical, 4-bay facade; a 1-story wing at
the right side, rear; and a small ell at the left side. (1851 - H. Sprague.)
(Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
May 29, 1998 - Kenneth A. Diggle et ux conveyed to Kenneth A. Diggle.
May 29, 1998 - Sold to Richard M. Unsworth.
May 4, 2004 - Conveyed to Richard M. Unsworth et al Scott M. Unsworth.
35
346 Snake Hill Road
PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story, Greek Revival house, with a small. brick., center
chimney; a central, recessed entry, in a 5-by facade; a small porch across the left
side; and an ell at the rear. (1851 - Edwards.) (Rhode Island Historic Preservation
Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
???? - Previous owners included Seth and Lotti Steere and the Leach family.
July 25, 2005 - Conveyed from Robert P. McDonough to Jane E. McDonough.
36
347 Snake Hill Road
PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE
DESCRIPTION: Al large, 2-story structure, set at an angle at the crossroads, close to
the road, with a porticed central entry in the gable end and a small, brick chimney near
the rear. The Grange Society was organized in 1907 and met in the nearby former
Union Chapel until the hall was built in 1914. (Rhode Island Historic Preservation
Commission, 1980)
37
352 Snake Hill Road
Labor Day 1908
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story, mid-19th century, end-gable structure, with several
additions, near the road. This building was originally a schoolhouse and was moved
across the road. Purchased from the Jefferson Society. It was consecrated as the
Union Chapel in 1860 and served as a church until 1907. It is now a private residence.
(1870 - Union Church.) (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
???? - Previous owners included Harvey Steere.
October 2, 2001 - Purchased by Maureen T. Girard.
February 3, 2009 - Purchased by L & V Properties, LLC.
38
591 Snake Hill Road
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: A small complex centered on a 1 1/2 story, Greek Revival
structure, with a small, brick, center chimney; a central entry, with sidelights,
in a 5-bay facade; a 1 1/2 story wing at the right side, rear; and a small
weather entry at the right end. There are two barns, one an old, wood-shingled
structure, and spacious fields around. (1851 - E. Phillips.) (Rhode Island
Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
August 4, 1992 - Roy P. Watmough, Sr. conveyed to Ann B. Watmough.
December 17, 1999 - AnnB. Watmough DEC’D conveyed to Roy P. Watmough, Jr.
2009 - Owned by Roy P. Watmough, Jr.
39
688 Snake Hill Road
PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story, Greek Revival house, with a small, brick chimney at the
left side; a central, recessed entry in a 5-bay facade; a 1-story wing at the left side,
rear; and a shed dormer at the rear, is the old Irons Homestead. There are several
outbuildings, stone walls, and trees on the property. The site, and cluster of buildings,
comprise a fine, rural complex. Across the road is a barn foundation The property,
including 100 acres of land, with a pond and a beach, was in the Irons family for many
years. It was given to the Congregational church in 1962 and is now used for
conferences and weekend retreats and is open to all denominations. Several buildings
behind the house are used for recreation and sleeping. (1851 - C. Irons.) (Rhode Island
Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
2009 - Owned by RI Congregational Christian Conference.
40
69 Cooper Road
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: The H. T. Browm Farm is centered on a 1 1/2 story, cross-gabled,
mid-19th century structure, with a small, brick, interior chimney; entry, with bracketed
hood, at the right side of the front; and a 1-story wing at the rear. There are several
outbuildings, including a large barn, and stone walls at the south side and along the
road, and an orchard nearby. (1851 - H. T. Brown.) (Rhode Island Historic
Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
June 3, 1998 - Demaine et al Burlingame conveyed to Demaine et al Burlingame
April 2, 1999 - Conveyed to Russell H. Burlingame et ux Ann G.
41
143 Cooper Road
DESCRIPTION: The H. S. Taylor farmhouse is a 1 1/2 story, Federal period dwelling, with a small,
brick, center chimney; a simple entry in an asymmetrical 6-bay facade; and a 1-story wing at the east
side. There are two barns on the lot. The house set back from the road on a private drive, is surrounded
by fields. (1851 - H. S. Taylor.) (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
1895 - The Taylor Farm was purchased in 1895 by Dyer Y. Cole and Vira G. Cole fromAndrew Brown. He grew
aplles and peaches. He had cows and chickens and big gardens. He used a horse and wagon to carry
his crops to the market in Providence where he sold them.
1934 - Dyer Cole passed away in 1934. The property went to Lyndon A. Cole and Fannie M. Cole who farmed it
in a smaller degree.
1976 - In November of 1976 the property went to Gilbert N. Pfeiffer and Marion L. Pfeiffer.
1977 - Lyndon Cole passed away January 2, 1977.
2009 - Owned by Gilbert N. and Marion L. Pfeiffer.
2009 - Property was sold on September 18, 2009 to Dan and Kirsten Romani.
(Marion L. Pfeiffer, October 2009)
42
153 Cooper Road
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 1-story, Greek Revival structure, the C. A. Farnum farmhouse has a small, brick,
center chimney and a central entry in a 5-bay facade. The landscaped lot includes a stone wall (to the
south) and a barn. Beyond the yard are open fields. (1870 - C. A. Farnum.) (Rhode Island Historic
Preservation Commission, 1980)
REVISED DESCRIPTION:
• 1 1/2 -story
• Cyrus A. Farnum
• c. 1832
(Daniel Romani, October 2009)
HISTORY:
1812 - Cyrus Farnum purchased the house across the street in partnership with his parents c. 1812. He
promptly bought them out and purchased the surrounding property. He became a justice of the peace
anad owned an inn on Route 44 at the base of Farnum Road. He married Maria and their son became
the renowned artist H. Cyrus Farnum.
September 3, 1996 - Caroline F. Barlow Estate sold to Daniel A. Romani et ux Kirsten L.
2005 - The Romani’s moved the historic Daniel Angell Tavern, 1805, to the property and attached it to the
northeast side of the Farnum house. The Angell Tavern was in danger of being desroyed to make way
for a parking lot. The newly connected structures have been fully restored.
(Daniel Romani, October 2009)
43
494 Evans Road
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: The 1 1/2 story, mid-19th century, end-gable farmhouse is set in a high bank at the side of
the road and thus has a full basement story on this side. The house has a small, off-center, brick chimney;
a simple, central entry in its 5-bay, south-facing, flank facade; and a large door at the basement level gable
end. There are fields around the house and a barn across the road. (1851 - Mrs. Place.) (Rhode Island
Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
REVISED DESCRIPTION: Farmer’s porch added in 2003.
(Kevin and Polly Hopkins, October 2009)
HISTORY:
1950s - Owned by Emily Colwell and later Raymond Colwell.
November 26, 2002 - Marcus Thompson Jr., conveyed to Kevin A. Hopkins et ux Polly
COMMENTS:
Kevin and Polly Hopkins own lot across the street where a late 1800s barn stands. In the 1950s the barn was
fixed up by Marcus Thompson Sr. and it was used for storage for hay and machinery for Seldom Seen Farm.
Now it is used as a sheep barn and storage for “Maybe Tomorrow Farm.”
(Kevin and Polly Hopkins, October 2009)
44
505 Evans Road
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story, Greek Revival structure with a small, brick, center
chimney; a central entry in a 5-bay facade; and a wing at the right side, rear. (1851 N. Keech.) (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
July 1, 1994 - Richard Beard et als sold to Jeffrey J. Salisbury.
May 16, 2006 - Sold to Hugh Galusha et ux Lynn.
45
506 Evans Road
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: An altered 1 1/2 story, late 19th or early 20th century, vernacular Queen Anne, end-gable
structure with a small, brick, center chimney; a flat-roofed portico entry at the right side of the front (gable
end); and a 1 1/2 story wing at the left side, rear. (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
REVISED DESCRIPTION:
1) 2 1/2 story home
2) 2 chimneys
3) Post and beam construction
4) 5 bedrooms
5) Basement, 1st floor, 2nd floor, and full attic
6) Hardwood floors on 1st floor
7) Wide plank pine board floors on 2nd floor
8) 11 foot ceilings
(Jane and Michael Shaw, December 2009)
HISTORY:
July 16, 2004 - Miriam E. DiBiase conveyed to Miriam E. Goddard.
April 14, 2006 - Sold to Michael J. Shaw et ux Jane C.
46
96 Farnum Road
Spring 2004
Fall 2004
DESCRIPTION: The center of the Farnum Farm complex is a 2 1/2 -story,
Federal style structure, with a large, brick, center chimney; a central entry, with
transom lights, in a 5-bay facade in a piazza across the front; a portico entry
at the right side, rear; and a large, 2-story wing at the rear. There are two
large, wood-clapboarded outbuildings connected by a smaller building, behind
the house. The fine well preserved house, with a wood-picket fence and large
maple trees in front, stone walls, and apple trees, is an exceptionally fine rural
complex. (1851 - C. Farnum.) (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission,
1980)
HISTORY:
February 28, 1996 - Caroline F. Barlow Estate conveyed to Jeffrey A. Meek et us Robin M.
47
247 Farnum Road
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: This complex includes a 1 1/2-story, Greek Revival, end-gable house,
with two small, brick, interior chimneys; a central,m recessed entry in a 5-bay facade;
and a 1-story wing at the south side. It is the focus of a large, working horse farm at
the corner of Mapleville Road. A large, gambrel-roofed wing was added to the rear of
the house in the 1970s. There are several outbuildings, including a large barn, on a
sizable tract of land, with open fields bounded by many fine stone wall,s on a gently
rolling landscape. The farm complex, fields, and stone walls, comprise one of
Glocester’s finest rural landscapes. (1851 - E. Lapham.) (Rhode Island Historic
Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
October 29, 2007 - David F. Kilmartin conveyed to Elizabeth A. Kilmartin Trustee.
48
176 Absalona Hill Road
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story, wood-shingled Grreek Revival structure with a small,
brick, center chimney and a central entry with sidelights in a piazza across the front. It
is set on a relatively large lot, with stone walls in front, and a barn at the rear, and
apple orchards around. Known as Top Hill Orchards, it is one of several active apple
farms in eastern Glocester. (1851 - E. Winsor.) (Rhode Island Historic Preservation
Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
2009 - Qwned by Peter and Arlene Hood.
49
16 Elmdale Road
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 2 1/2 story, Federal, and gable structure, with a small, brick, enter
chimney, a pedimented, enclosed portico in the center of a 5-bay, south-facing facade,
an entry at the right side of the front (gable end); and a small wing at the left side.
There is a large barn nearby. (1851 - A. Mitchell.) (Rhode Island Historic
Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
October 4, 2001 - John G. Dean conveyed to John G. Dean Trustee.
November 30, 2005 - Conveyed to Elizabeth Dean Gates.
50
97 Howard Lane
PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE
DESCRIPTION: A 2 1/2 story, Federal house, with a large, brick, center chimney,
and a central, pedimented entry, with a fan light,in a 5-bay facade dominates the
complex. Across the lane is a large early 20th century farm complex, including
wooden silos and cow barns with metal ventilators. There are fields to the
south. (1870, A. Lyons.) (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission,
1980)
HISTORY:
2009 - Owned by Robert L., Jennifer M. and Mark R. Howard.
51
55 Melody Hill Lane
Spring 2004
DESCRIPTION: A 1 1/2 story, 18th century structure, with a large, brick,
center chimney and simple, central entry, originally in a 5-bay facade. There is
an extension of the house at the right (north) side, with a simple entry in the
gable end and a small, brick chimney. Formerly a residence, the house is now
part of the Melody Hill Country Club. A large barn, nearby, with a belcast
gambrel roof, was converted into a clubhouse. The house occupied a site atop
a hill with a view over the golf course green. (1851 - Enoch Steere.) (Rhode
Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
2009 - Owned by Melody Hill Country Club.
52
128 Phillips Lane
PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE
DESCRIPTION: This farm consists of two residences and two barns. The larger,
occupied structure, is a 1 1/2 story, Greek Revival house with a full basement in the
left end, a medium-sized brick center chimney, a central entry in a 5-bay facade, and a
small addition at the rear. Built about 1820, during the Federal era, it was later
remodeled in the Greek Revival mode. Nearby is a smaller, vacant, 1 1/2 story
structure with a large, stone, end chimney and an entry at the left side of an
asymmetrical facade. Its style of construction suggests an early 18th or late 17th
century date, which is as y et unverified by written records. There are two barns, one,
a large, Late Victorian structure, with a cupola. The property remained in the
Burlingame family until 1879, when it was purchased by Michael Phillips, and remained
in the Phillips family until 1960. The site, atop a hill overlooking Shinscot Brook and
Nine Foot Brook to the north and east, is outstnading. (1851 - B. Burlingame.) (Rhode
Island Historic Preservation Commission, 1980)
HISTORY:
January 14, 1997 - Linda B. Baxter sold to Lee R. Baxter et ux Lynn M.
53
74 White Oak Lane
PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE
DESCRIPTION: A 2 1/2 story, mid=19th century structure, with a small, off-=center,
brick chimney; two entries; a small piazza across the front; and a 1-story wing at the
left side, front. The house at the end of a long dirt road is surrounded by acres of
apple orchards. Near the house are several structures, including a block
storage shed and water tank. This is one of several apple orchards in the
area. (1851 - U. Baker.) (Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission,
1980)
HISTORY:
May 1, 2006 - Myra S. Phillips Life Estate conveyed to Roger N. Phillips.
June 17, 2007 - Conveyed to Roger N. Patricia A. and Paul Phillips.
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