Fuller Houses facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Fuller Houses
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Fuller Houses
Location in Rhode Island Show map of Rhode Island Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	339–341 and 343–345 Broadway, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Built	1896–1897
Architectural style	Queen Anne
MPS	Pawtucket MRA
NRHP reference No.	83003825
Added to NRHP	November 18, 1983

The Fuller Houses are two old and beautiful homes in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. They are located at 339-341 and 343-345 Broadway. These houses were built between 1896 and 1897. They were designed in the fancy Queen Anne style.

The Fuller family built these homes to rent out to others. People believe the two houses looked exactly alike when they were first built. Each house has a cool 2+1⁄2-story design. They feature an eight-sided section where the front stairs are. There's also a big two-story porch that sticks out from the house.

One of the houses, 339-341 Broadway, is still very much like it was originally. The other house, 343-345 Broadway, has been changed more. It now has four separate apartments inside. The Fuller Houses are important because they are great examples of Queen Anne-style apartment buildings. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

History of the Fuller Houses

The Fuller Houses were built for Susan E. Fuller between 1896 and 1897. Susan's husband, Charles H. Fuller, owned a successful jewelry business. The Fuller family owned these houses until 1915. They planned to use them as rental properties for extra income.

Only one member of the Fuller family ever lived in one of the houses. Alice G. Fuller moved into 341 Broadway around 1911 or 1912. The houses are in a spot where many people can see them. They are on the east side of U.S Route 1. You can also see them easily from northbound traffic on Interstate 95.

These houses became much more visible when I-95 was built through Pawtucket. They are now seen as "I-95 landmarks" by many travelers.

Design and Features

The Fuller Houses were likely built as identical 2+1⁄2-story homes. Both houses were designed in the Queen Anne style. Their pointed roof ends, called gables, face the street.

The side of the building that faces south has a two-story bay window. This window section has its own small gabled roof. On the north corner of the houses, there's a semi-octagonal (half eight-sided) section. This part shows where the front staircase is located.

A single-story porch with a sloped roof covers the front doorways. A very special part of the Fuller Houses is the two-story round porch on the southwest side. These porches almost look like they are separate from the main building. They have a cone-shaped roof and are decorated with fancy Queen Anne-style spindles.

The outside walls of the houses are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard. The tops of the gables have simple metal decorations called finials.

When the houses were considered for the National Register of Historic Places, only one apartment was looked at closely. This was the second-floor apartment at 341 Broadway. You get to this apartment by a spiral staircase. This staircase goes from the first floor all the way to the attic.

The second-floor landing has a short entrance area, or foyer. From there, you can enter two living rooms, called parlors. The front parlor used to have a water fountain, but it was removed. However, the pipes for it are still in the floor. The back parlor has a special Queen Anne-style fireplace mantel. It leads to the dining room, which has large china closets built into the wall.

On the east side of the apartment are the kitchen, pantry, and a back staircase. The north part of the apartment has two bedrooms and a bathroom. The changes made to this apartment were very small. It's thought that the first-floor apartment is also very similar to its original design.

The northern Fuller House, at 343-345 Broadway, has been changed more. It was divided into four separate apartments. In 2013, real estate information for 343 Broadway showed how many changes were made. It listed the property as having 20 rooms, with 8 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. According to Trulia, this house was sold in 2010 for $140,000. It was still set up as four apartments then. A three-car garage from the 1920s or 1930s is used by the residents of 339-341 Broadway.

Why the Fuller Houses are Important

The Fuller Houses are important because they are well-preserved examples of Queen Anne-style apartment buildings. They show off many beautiful details of this architectural style. The Queen Anne-style porches with their spindle-work are especially impressive. They are considered some of the best examples left in Pawtucket.

These two houses are a key part of Pawtucket's architectural history. They also add a lot to the city's visual look. The Fuller Houses were officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.