Saunderstown, Rhode Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saunderstown Historic District
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House in the historic district
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| Location | Narragansett and North Kingstown, Rhode Island |
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| Area | 79 acres (32 ha) |
| Built | 1856 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| MPS | North Kingstown MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001647 |
| Added to NRHP | July 19, 1985 |
Saunderstown is a small village in Rhode Island, United States. It is located in two different towns: Narragansett and North Kingstown. Saunderstown is part of Washington County. It was named after a person called John Aldrich Saunders. The village has its own post office. About 6,245 people live here.
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Discover Saunderstown
Saunderstown is famous for being the birthplace of a well-known artist. This artist was Gilbert Stuart. He is most famous for painting a portrait of George Washington. You can see this portrait on the one-dollar bill.
Gilbert Stuart's Home
The Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum is in Saunderstown. This museum includes the house where Stuart was born. It also has a nature trail. There is even a working gristmill (a mill that grinds grain). You can visit this museum to learn more.
Casey Farm
Another important place in Saunderstown is Casey Farm. This farm dates back to the 1700s. It used to be a large plantation. Today, Casey Farm is still a working family farm. They grow organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers. They have a special program where people can buy fresh produce directly from the farm. Historic New England helps to run Casey Farm.
Life in Saunderstown
Saunderstown is mostly a rural area. This means it has a lot of open land and fewer big buildings. Around 6,245 people live in the village. Most of the people living here are white.
Saunderstown's Historic Area
The Saunderstown Historic District is a special part of the village. This area grew into a place for building boats. It also became a popular summer vacation spot in the late 1800s.
What You'll Find
The historic district is mainly around Ferry Road, Willett Road, and Waterway. These roads are between Boston Neck Road and Narragansett Bay. Many shipyards were located here. Some of these shipyards were owned by members of the Saunders family.
Famous Visitors
This area also attracted many people for summer holidays. Famous guests included Benoni Lockwood and Frances Willing Wharton. She was a cousin of the writer Edith Wharton. The architect and artist Christopher Grant LaFarge also visited. He was the son of the artist John La Farge.
Buildings in the District
Most of the buildings in this area are homes. They are usually one or two stories tall. They are made of wood. There are also some other interesting buildings. These include a country store and a recreation center. The recreation center used to be a fire station. The Saunderstown Post Office is also in this district. It was built in 1902 and was once a Baptist church.
