Wanton–Lyman–Hazard House facts for kids
|
Wanton–Lyman–Hazard House
|
|
|
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
|
Front elevation and side profile of house, 2008
|
|
 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 17 Broadway, Newport, Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Built | c. 1697 |
| Architect | Stephen Mumford |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Georgian |
| Part of | Newport Historic District (ID68000001) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000016 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960 |
| Designated NHLDCP | November 24, 1968 |
The Wanton–Lyman–Hazard House is the oldest house in Newport, Rhode Island. It was built around 1697, making it one of the oldest homes in the entire state. You can find it in the downtown area of Newport, within the historic district. This house has a cool history, including being damaged during protests in 1765.
Over the years, many different families have owned this house. The Wanton, Lyman, and Hazard families, who the house is named after, owned it for a long time, from before the American Revolution until 1911. Since the 1920s, the Newport Historical Society has owned it. They turned it into a museum so people can visit and learn about its past. In 1960, it became one of the first National Historic Landmarks in the United States. This means it's a very important historical place!
Contents
What the House Looks Like
Today, the Wanton–Lyman–Hazard House is a wooden building with a special type of siding called clapboard. It has a tall, pointy roof that slopes down in the back. The house is painted a dark red color, which was common a long time ago. It has a white front door with decorative columns and a small triangular shape above it.
.gif)
A Look at Its History
The house was built in the late 1600s by a merchant named Stephen Mumford. It started as a simple two-story building with a large chimney in the middle.
Early Owners and Changes
Stephen Mumford's son later sold the house to Richard Ward. He was a lawyer and even became the governor of Rhode Island! Before 1725, a kitchen was added to the side of the house.
Later, a lawyer named Martin Howard Jr. owned the house. He was known as a Loyalist, meaning he supported the British King during the time of the American Revolution. He made the house look fancier inside with special wood designs. In 1765, there were big protests called the Stamp Act Riots. People were very angry about new taxes from Britain. Martin Howard Jr. was involved with collecting these taxes, so an angry crowd damaged his house. He had to leave town in 1766.
Family Ownership and Growth
After Martin Howard Jr. left, a Quaker merchant named John Wanton bought the house. His son-in-law, Daniel Lyman, inherited it in 1782. Daniel Lyman had a growing family, so he added a new section to the back of the house in 1785.
The house then passed to Benjamin Hazard, who married another of John Wanton's daughters. The Hazard family owned the house until 1911. After Benjamin's daughter Mary passed away, the house was sold and became empty and run-down.
Becoming a Museum
In 1927, the Newport Historical Society bought the house. They wanted to save it and turn it into a historical museum. With the help of an expert named Norman Isham, they carefully fixed it up. They decided to restore the house to show what it looked like during different periods of its history. This meant removing the newer back section and making an upstairs bedroom look like it did originally.
The house was officially named a National Historic Landmark in 1960.
Recent Discoveries and Restoration
In 1995, a special report was made about the house's structure. This helped the historical society get money to do more repairs and make the house stronger. This big project took four years and was finished in 2001. During this time, the Newport Historical Society also worked with the Newport Garden Club to bring back the original gardens around the house.
Scientists also studied the property. They looked at the paint on the house, both inside and out, to figure out its original colors. They even used a method called dendrochronology, which studies tree rings, to confirm that the house was built in 1696. This helped them learn even more about this amazing old house!
Gallery
-
View from Northwest in 1937
-
North and West elevations
See also
