11 - preservation.ri.gov€¦ · the mirror over the richly-carved white - - marble fireolace is...

JForm O-3OOJuly 1969

I-

COMMON

Ii:-

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

STATE:

Rhode IslandCOUNTY:,

ProvidenceFOR N PS L

- OWNERS NAME .

William C. Fisher.Company- ..

.:.*--.. .*, ., t ‘-

-

*

::

4

STREET.ANO NUMBER: - r .

383 Benefit Street t

iCITY OR TOWN: - .

Providence . .. . ‘

STATE:

Rhode*

Island, O29O3CODE

LUOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION

7DATE OF SURVEY: 1956, 19’bl . . Federal -0 State 0 County 0 Lou!DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: - . . -

Library of Congress :i1/ .1*-. -

,..

STRCET AND NUMBER: . -, - . - - .

IndependenceAvenue and let Street, S. S. . -

CITY OR tOWN: .- :1

Washington

ence

STATUS

0 District r Building 0 Public- Public A cquisltion: - -t Occied Yes:

0 Site

0.0 Structure .

Object

1 Private

0 BoTh - .; *:

0 In Process .

Being Considered..

-

0 Unoccupied

0 Preservation workin progress

PoJ

Restricted

Unrestrl-&ted

No.

PRESENT USE Check One or More as Appropriate .

O Agricultural

E Commercial

O Educational -.

0 Entertainment

o GovernmeM ‘:.

0 IndustriaL... .L ..:. 0‘0 Military -

00 Museum

. :- o

Park-

Private Residence

Religious -

Sc lent i f

-, 0 Transportation

- 0 Other Specifr

0 Comment.

-

I

411

I,OCz-I -.

Iz-IS-Il- -Cz

cz 4H

-1

STATE: CODE *k- -

District of Columbia U

Ii -

A: H-

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

Typeall entries - completeapplicable sections

AND/OR HtSTORIC:

HoppinThomas F. House-.

ENTRY NUMBER

CITY OR TOWN:

Providence

[?_LOCA-noN - - . . .. . .

STREET AND NUMBERI

383 -Benefit Street

STATE

Rhode Island, 02903

CATEGORY-Check One

TV:

-

OWNERSHIPACCESSIBLE

TO THE PUBLIC

OWNER OF PROPERTY -

CITY OR TOWN:

Providence

COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS. ETc:

- ity Hall . - --

:ISTREET AND NUMBER:. - . . - - . -

Dorrance Streeat Washington Street.. :

STATE CODE

- Rhode Islând,02903 -- 1411

l- RERRESN1ATUDN IN EXISTING SURVEYSTITLE OF SURVEY:

Historic American Buildings Survey

2 I I

-i - - - Form 1O-300a UNITEOSTATES DE-PARTMENtOFTHE INTERIOR STATE - -

- - - - . July 969 - NATIONAL PARK-SERVICE. Rhode Island -

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES - COUNTY -

- Pro-v-ìdence -

- --- INVENTORY . NOMINATION FORM

- FOR NPS USE ONLY- -

- ENTRY NUMBER DATE - - -

- ContinuationSheet-l - . -

Number .11 enriee. - - -,

7. Description. - -

retaining wall that runs along the west and south sides of the lot was T-. once crested by sanded and painted cast-iron halusters and a brownstone -. - - - -

rail. An iron gate remains at the sidewalk entrance on Benefit Street,- -

but the larger one in the John Street driveway piers has been lost. The : -

grounds are informally planted with shrubs, and today unkempt.- - -

The Hoppin house is laid out about a central hallway running north-V -

south; thesouth end is a large vestibule for the main entrance. The-

- half of the house west of the hall is divided into three large drawing- - - -

and dining--- rooms; the east half into a-large room at the south front, - - -;1

- a stair hall and east entrance hall at the center, and a smaller room andcorridor leading to the kitchen at the rear north. A door from the -

small room gives accessto a service stair. The second floor of the - A:- - house has eight roomè in an arrangementlike that of the first floor, - - --

around a long central hall; and the third floor is similarly laid out. - -.

Many rooms on the secohd and third floors have now been dsuhdivided for -

- .- office use. The stair hall on the first floor is separatedfrom the -

-. . central hallway by an open triple arcade correspondingto the east and - - .

-. west exterior arcdae treatment; this decorative feature i5 repeated by

- blind arcading on the west wall of the hall. The stairway is U-shaped -:

around an open well, with two landings between floors; it.. hasa closed--- - F::

panelled string, panelled soffits, heavy angular newels betweenwhich - - --

- turned balusters support a molded, ramped -handrail;, the whole is stained. - H --

a dark oak color. The floor of the vestibule is covered with hlack:and - - - - -

white marble tile; the wide pine hoards flooring the first and second - - - -

stories were intended always to be covered by carpeting; and the third - - -:

story now is floored with asphalt tile. - --- -:-‘.

- - Walls on the first floor display elaborate plaster and wooden panel- - - I- - ling. The two front rooms at the southeastand southwest cbrners have -

oak-panelledwainscoting, plaster ceilings laid off in panels, and in - -‘ -

-- the southeastroom an entablature with a Doric frieze. The ceilin1 in -- -

the southwest room is grained to look like wood. The plaster ceilin inthe vestibule has one large recessedpanel, heavilymolded, with quad- - -

rants taken out of the corners. The two other principal rooms on the first ‘-:2 --

floor have olaster walls and ceilings with elaborate trim, and the ceiling-above the stairwell has a deeply-recessed ovalpanel. Doors on the first -

-

floor--some of which are sliding--have heavily-molded surrounds and panels -

some later glas doors have beeninstalled in the hall. The upper - - - -

floors have plaster walls with molded, mitered architraves on doors many -

of which have been removed and windows, and generallr simpler trim.Windows are recessedin the thick walls and have panelled reveals, folding -

shutters. Corner rooms on all floors have fireplaces, many with heavy,decorated iron hearth surrounds or with marble mantels typical of the - -1850t5. - The mantelpiece in the southwest room of the first floor, however, -

- - See Continuation Sheet 2. - -

- --

- GPO 001.051 -: -

---I

‘F

FORNPSUSE,ONLY -:.-‘- -

ENTRY NUhIDER DATE‘F-‘ -

-

--

-F’

-

F’

F F - - - - -

-

- - -: - -

1:

-- F

:1:

F‘ ‘FF1

F _ F--F

h. - - - F

- -F: F, _ --

-:-. ±F!F

-F-

FF__

‘-Fr__Fl

F ‘ -:F GPO aOl 062

Form 1O-300oJuly 1969

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL. REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

STATE -F F

Rhode Island -

ContinuationSheet-2

COUNTY

Providence

Number .11 entrie.

‘7. Description.

is of deeply-carved oak, with twisted columns and a great libn mask; ithas a pink marble facing and a black marble hearth. The west middle roomon the first floor is notable for its decoration. The walls have panels -

of raised plaster molding with rococo leaf detail at the tops and bottomsabove a chair-rail and panelled wainscoting, and there are carvings overthe doors. The ceiling has a center medallion from which a crystal chandelier is hung, and it is bordered by a molded plaster cornice with egg-and-dart and guilloche ornament. The mirror over the richly-carved white - -

marble fireolace is part of the original scheme of decoration. - - F

8. Significance.F

only cultivated hut also an heiress; together they made their :Iarge residence a center of artistic and social life in the city: due to their

- lavish style of entertaining it becameknown as tithe house of a thousandcandles." After Mr. Hoppin’s death in 1873, his widow remarried, and thehouse was scmetimes let-, among its occupants beingGovernor George P.Wetmore, who in winters in the state capital neededmagnificence equal towhat he had during summers’at Château-sur-Merin Newport. In 1877, thehouse was taken over by the then Governor, Ambrose Burnside, on the occasion of a visit by President Rutherford B. Hayes, who-was given a greatfate at the Hoppin house, with ornamental illuminations outdoors.

In 1920 the house passedfrom ownership of the Hoppin heirs. Todaythe building houses two businesseswhose needs have considerably alteredthe interior. The exterior is being allowed to deteriorate badly a1thou-it retains, as of now, most of its visual integrity. The grounds arepoorly kept, and the retaining wall has lost all of its balustrade. F

The Hoppin house is one of the great mansions on Benefit Street, an -

important part of the fabric of the Historic District in which it ‘stands, F:

and by itself deServesalso this separate nomination to the National - *F -.

Register., ‘- - -

‘F ‘_-‘_*‘‘‘

F- F ‘F F’ -

- -- - H -4F-’ -:F

- _F:.F: *F’-* FFk - - F

F F F- F,

F -F - -

‘ -;-, -:----

F’-/ -:‘ -

-FF

--I

0

I-o

-tF

I-Id.,

-L- - F F

-F!

F--

PERIQO Check One or More a. Appropriate - ,- - - - - F " - - F

- 0 Pre-Columbian - - 0 16th Century - ,, Q 18th -Century -‘ -- - 020th Century-

- 0 15th Century -- - - - fl 17th Century - - 19th C.ntury-:. - - - -

SPECIFIC DATEISI if Applicable end Known C. lö53-l55 --fl-:

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE Check One or Mare as Appropriate

Aboriginal - - 0 Education -- L 0 Political I s rj Urban Planning

0 Prehistoric 0 Engineering‘ D ReIigion/PhI_ -- - -D Other Specify

F- 0 Historic -- SF;

industry F- ‘-P: - Iosophy’ - A::j’xF,!" - - -

F 0 Agriculture- 0 Invention .

- F - flScienceF

FtYq’F, - F

F Architecture 0 Landscape---- 0 Sculpture

________________________

- 0 Art Archjtectur FF -0 Social/Human-

________________________

- 0 Commerce 0 Literature ‘- itarion F

F-F: - F

O Communications- 0 MilItary F

- 0 Theater - -

0 Conservation o Music C Transportation -

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFIcANCE - - -

The Thomas F. Hoppin house is one of the largest and most eleganthousesbuilt in Providence during the mid-nineteenth centurt arid is ahandsomeexample of the interest during this period in formal Englishurban architectur, particularly that of Sir Charles Barry. The house -1is similar to contemporaryLondon mansions in St. Jamestsand in Ken-

- sington PalaceGardens, whose style is also reflected in Thomas A.Tefftts Tully B. Bowen house, just to the south, of a year or two

- earlier. Being’ in such close oroximity, the two housesform an in-- structive pair; having a long, impressive façade on Benefit Street, the--j

- Hoppin house proclaims itself more grandly than does the Bowen housea discreet Florentine palazzo. The Hoppin house, built about 1853, 4-is also significant becauseit precededHenry Childs’s Henry Lippitt

- house 1863 on Hope Street, and Richard Upjohn’sMarshall Woods housel86h on ProspectStreet--both of which represent a move away fromthe academicallyItalianate forms seen in the Hoppin house to a more.

FF stylized, Victorian mode during the 1860’s. The interior of the Hoppin]house displays an eclectic use of materials and-deôoratión.- -The still-regular formal plan and massive staircase; the plaster moldings and

-marble fireplaces are among its most notable featuresv -

-‘

U- - Alpheu’C. Morse 1818-1893, was the architect of this imposing’ Hdwelling, his first commission in Providence.- Born in Massachusetts,he apprenticed as a draftsman in the Boston office of Alexander Parris’in the 1830’s.andby 18h2 was travelling in Europe, no doubt with an -

influence upon his future architecture; the buildings by Thomas Tefft- which he could see in Providence and other places upon his return

F

must surely have been another influence. After executing the Hoppin -

house, Morse remained the restFof his life in Providence, where he F

enjoyed a prosperous practice, designing numerous prominent buildings- and important residences. He became the first president Of the RhodeIsland chapter of the American Institute of Architects.: F - - -

On the site of the Hoppin house had first stood John InnesClark’s "mansiän house," a close duplicate of the JosephNightingalehouse still nearby on Benefit Street. A fire razed the Clark house -

Fin l8S during the occupancy of William Jenkins, whose daughterAnnasubsequentlymarried Thomas F. Hoppin and commencedby 1853 the present:

-building. - - Thomas,Hoppin was very cultivated and Anna Hoppin was not

F’. FrF F

F’--

SIGNIFICANCE -

________________________________________

F.:

- C-’

FFF’:l-.j-1

F F F

F

-t

- F_I

F--

- - F_I

---‘lSee Continuation Sheet 2.

F I c I-- - -

- -1-- - -

1‘F F -F - - - - F

-

- *.-

CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE LATITUDE - LONGITUDE

STATE:

F - - -

STATE;

APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTYLe5S than one acre - - - -- -

LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY 000NOARtES -

STATE: F CODE COUNTY F -F

COUNTY:F F -

- F F F --CODE

STATE; - F - F

CODE

CODE

CODE

CODE

COUNTY:- :‘ F -

COUNTY -F F -

CODE

Cady, John Hutchins: The Civic and Architectural Development of Provi- . -F

dence, 1636-1950 ntvidence, Rhode Island, 1957, pp.- -126, -ibO. -

- *F

Glass, Anita F.: Early Victorian DomeSticArchitecture on College Hill F F -

F

-Unblished thesis for N. A. degree,,Depamentof. Art, Brown Uni- .-

versity, Providence, Rhode Island, 1960.- - - I - -

Hitchcock, Henry-Russell, Jr.: Rhode Island Architecture Providence, t F

- - Rhode Island, 1939,-p. 50. - - -- - - - -

The Merchants National Bank, Providence, Rhode Island: Providence -.

Providence, Rhode Island, 1918, pp. 60-62. F F - -

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA F -

______--F----

F--

F LATITUDE AND LON6ITUDE COORDINATES LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINA TES -

DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY 0 DEFINING THE CENTER POINT O A PROPERTY - : - &fF

R -

- OF LESS THAN TFFNFACRES - F - F

FDegrees Minute Seconds Degrees Minutes SeConds U ran - Minutes Seconds U. rees - - Minutes Seconds - F

NW0 . . o . T1 b9-16.60-4 110 -2b-:.10.5% FF:F:J

NE0 F* Or F - - - F- - - F

SE a F F -o .- F

-F -

SW p C 0 -

______________________________

-

-rn

_________ _ _________ _

fl

zF -

______

F

F I’,,

F

__ __

F

_____________ __ __

EORMPREPAREOBY ‘F 4F

aNAME AND TI TLE:

FFFFiFFFF F F - F - F -

B. ChristopherBene -Surveyor-Researcher-:- - FF i F1! ---

F - - -- :

F

ORGANIZATION - F F - -- F

DATE -: - F- _4 F -

Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission :.r--F-

Feb. 12,1972 - - 1-F -

I

_______________ _______________

z F’

FE

________ ________

F

-:

I - F

I JF?C-F:

GpoQol.oFe7..F.F: - F

F F - F F F - - F ‘F- --F F

-F F --F -F

- -: --

CITY OR TOWN

CODE

Providence - - - -- - -- - -

STREET AND NUMBER; FF

Room 201, 265 Melrose Street-

FF -

- -- - - -

F - - F - F

-F : - -

STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICAl ION

STATE CODE

Rhode Island, 02907 -.

NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION

As- the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na

tional Historic Preservation ACt of 1966 Public Law

59-665, 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion

in the National Register and certify that-it has been -,

evaluated according to the criteriaand procethres set-

forth by the Natioaal Park Service. The recommended

level of significance of this nomination is:F - F . F

National C - State C Local C- FIFF -F.. 1FF.- - F[FiFF

Name FIF F - -

*j hereby certify that

F National Register.

c-

this proerty isinéluded;.. F

:-:-4 F::. -r.

in the-

- F FFFIIFF F F

-[F-

: : F: --LTitle -- -

FF ‘FFFF FFFFF:F:FF ?-.-

- -- : F ;F

: - ‘ - - -

ChieF

Date

OfficeFFFFFF FI

---FFFF

and. Historiá Preservaüon

-1-’-F:n-.7-:. i-----: F

FF:FFFH ; F

- F:FFF.FFFF.i F,

-ATTEST:,_ci.FF.Ft;-: :- i:-:. ‘- F-

F -

Date - : FF F

: IF: -

--. -- Keeper of The National Register

Date - - - -I -

r

I

I

LINt I LI Si A I I S tI I’AIlIMI N I 01- I III INTERIORNA1IONAL PARK srivic Rhode Iniind

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUN

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FORPIPS USE ONLY

Typeall entries - attach to or enclosewith photographENTRY NUMBER DATE

Z :... . . .*. .

o COMMON: Hppin Thomas F. House- AND/OR HISTORIC:

I- I,0CATION

u STREET AND NUMBER:

383 Benefit StreetCITY OR TOWN: S

ProvidenceSTATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island Providence 007-

- HOTO CREDIT: B. Christopher BeneDATE OF PHOTO: February, 1972

LU 4EGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission Ráom 201265 Meirose Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 09O7

, mFIcArIoNDESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

Partial view of drawing-room.

‘1

1.

- c

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES[cou;Tv

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM L FORNPS USE ONLY


o COMMON: Hoppin Thomas F. House- AND/OR HISTORIC:

I- L1.OCATONo STREET AND NUMBER:

383 Benefit StreetCITY OR TOWN:

Providence1* STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island bL Providence 011’z LOTORERENCE- IPHOTO CREDIT: B. Christopher Bene

bATE OF PHOTO: February, 1972LU EGATIvEFILEDATI Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, R6cm 201,LU I .26 Meirose Street Providence, Rhode Island2 02907

[ IDET1FCATL0NDESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC.

Mantel in room on first floor.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Piiode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

Typeall entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph

COUNTY

ProvidenceFOR lIPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

LIAiTTT. ..

S::.

OMMON:Honjn Thomas F. House

- - - ________

LAND/OR HISTORIC:

z0

IU

I-

z

STREET AND NUMBER:



Rhode Island Providence 007

HOTO CREDIT: B. Christopher Bene

LU

LU

ATE OF PHOTO: Fhrn.rv.. 1972

PHOTO RffERENCE

1’

EGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Cc’imission, Room 201,

West elevation.



NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUNT

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FORNPSUSE ONLY


Z

0 COMMON: Hoppin Tho’ras F. House- AND/OR HISTORIC:

- 1OCATION

u STREET AND NUMBER:


ProvidenceI STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island Providence UU

z 1OTOREfERENCE- IPHOTO CREDI.T: B. Christopher Bene

IPATE OF PHOTO: February-, 1972LU 4EGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical PreservationCommission, Room 201,11.1. tPyi ihod1and QO7

___

. .. . .x

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTI ON. ETC.

Exterior from the south-east, showing left entrance porch,centre arcadeentrance frii driveway with niche 3nd statue:above, right centre service wing connectedby arcadeto stablefacilities far right.

STATEUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

TREET AND NUMBER:

383 Benefit StreetITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE:

Rhode Island

Rhode IslandCOUNTY

ProvidenceFOR NPS USE ONLY

I!0T0 CREDIT: B. Christopher Bene

Typeall entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph

ICOMMON: to1n Ltnomas if., i-iouse0

I‘AND/OR HISTORIC:

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

QAT ION

I‘I

z

CODE COUNTY:

LuUi

Providence

ATE OF PHOTO: February, 1972EGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical PreservatIonCommission, Room 201,

Main staircase, seen at its first-floor beginning.



NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUN

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY


Z NgkME . ::. . . ..

0 JMON: Hoppin ThomasF. House- SAND/OR HISTORIC:

i- :z..U STREET AND NUMBER:


ProvidenceSTATE: CODE COUNTY: - CODE

_

Rhode Is land Providence 007

z rHOTRtERENCE .. .

I

- HOTO CREDIT: B. Christopher Bene -

DATE OF PHOTO: February, 1972LU IEGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, Room 201,LU .24 Melrose Street Pr9vidence Rhode Island, 02907

1ICA1ON -

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

Detail of first-floor hail and main stairway, looking north-east.

STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode IslandS

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUNTY

ProvidencePROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photographENTRY NUMBER DATE

XiNAME’ . .. 5 S ... *. ..S.. *S .. 5

0 jpMON: Hoppin Thomas F. HouseU.

- ,_JAN 0/OR HISTORIC:

LOCATIONSTREET AND NUMBER:

3 3 Benefit StreetCITY OP TOWN:


Rhode Island Providence 007z iOTORffERENCE- PHOTO CREDIT: B. Christopher Bene

DATE OF PHOTO: February, 1972LU IEGATIVE FILED AT:Rhode Island HistoDical Preservation Commission Rocni 201,LU 26 Meirose Street, Providence, Rhode Island, O907

YWICATIONDESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION. ETC.

Detail of second-floor bed-chamber.

BacIi Ave

"%._ . ..

Iigh S

LX

GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES

Latitude: 41° 49’ 16.6011 N

Longitude: 71° 24’ 10.53" w

0

I Light

Li 0

Lt

DATE

1Form 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY

ProvidencePROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBERType all entries - attach to or enclosewith mapI

*: :

COMMON:HOifl Thonas F. HouseAND/OR HISTORIC:

£LOCATION Lk JJ1STREET AND NUN BER:


ProvidenceSTATEI I CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island r Providence 007fMAP REFERENCE

SouRcE:u. S. Geological Survey

SCALE: 1: 2t.0QpDATE: 197

TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Property broundorl.s wh.rs r.qulr.d.

2. North arrow.

3. Latitud. and longitude r.f.r.nc..

z0

I-

U

I

z

LU

LU

11 - preservation.ri.gov€¦ · the mirror over the richly-carved white - - marble fireolace is...

Documents