Architectural story:
The Brown Farm House is a two-story, four-bay structure with a central chimney. The house originally stood in Middletown, Rhode Island, just off West Main Road where it was built ca.1750. The house has also been known as St. Lucy’s House.
Restoration story:
NRF purchased the house from Saint Lucy’s Church in 1979, disassembled it, and moved the house to Green Street where it was restored in 1979-80.
When NRF acquired the building, it had a considerable amount of simple interior trim, much of which was saved and reinstalled or, where necessary, used as a pattern for the making of reproduction moldings and materials.
The house was placed on what was at the time a vacant lot.
People story:
The farm house was originally on the Brookfield Farm that was part of the estate of Edward C. Brown, a Newport Banker. In 1951, St. Lucy’s Catholic Parish was established and the farm house became the rectory for the parish priest. By 1978, the building was no longer feasible as a rectory so the parish sold the building to NRF and built a new rectory.
In the late-19th and 20th centuries, there were many people who lived at 35 Green Street, including painters, a machinist, a policeman, homemakers, a nurse, and clerks. We are looking forward to uncovering more about the history of the house and the people who lived, worked, and worshipped at this home.
