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John R. Wheaton House

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c. 1833, probably Russell Warren. 90 Union St.
  • John R. Wheaton House (John M. Miller)

Foliage, even in winter, permits only a vignette view of this fine Greek Revival house over a cast iron Greek Revival fence. Both its quality and originality suggest that it is likely Russell Warren's design. Formal yet relaxed, it has a compelling boxiness enhanced by the parapeting in solid and fretted panels which conceal the hipped roof up to a centered monitor wrapped in more paneling. A generous porch with widespaced Ionic columns and a second-story deck with balustrade provides the more relaxed side of the combination, although it is possibly a bit too open for the apparent weight of the closed parapeting on the roof. The interior (not open to the public) contains mantels painted to simulate marble and good Greek Revival woodwork.

The client was one of two brothers who succeeded to ownership of the nearby Wheaton and Baker Rope Works. Warren once had two ropewalks—elongated clapboard buildings in which horses or donkeys walked the strands of rope back and forth before they were twisted by machine—specializing in rope for such maritime uses as rigging, hawsers, nets, shrouds, and stays.

Writing Credits

Author: 
William H. Jordy et al.
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Data

What's Nearby

Liberty Street School
Thomas Cole House
Charles Wheaton Cole House
G. G. Hazard House
General Nathan Miller–Commodore Joel Abbott House

Citation

William H. Jordy et al., "John R. Wheaton House", [Warren, Rhode Island], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/RI-01-WN22.

Print Source

Buildings of Rhode Island, William H. Jordy, with Ronald J. Onorato and William McKenzie Woodward. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004, 462-462.

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