Type all entries - completeapplicablcsections

NAMECOMMON: .* . ,-. .. . . . . -

Alien Candace House :. H- . -

AND/OR HISTORIC --

STREET AND NUMBER: . *. . : . ... ,.,.

12 Benevolent Street .--r- 1 - .---.

.

. .

Providence r *‘- . ...

STATE:. CODE COUNTY: - :

. p . ... CODE

Rhbde Island, 02906 bLt- -Providence:LASSIFIcATI0P4

___________________________________ ______________ ____________

,.

*

CATEGORYChock One

. .

... . ,.. . ., .. . .. .4 .STATUS

. .

ACCESSIBLETa THE PUBLIC

:C District BuildingS

C Site *:- :Structure

Object .

- :- :--

C Pubhc - Public Acquisition: -

- .

. C In Process

C Both C Being Considered

- ..

.* ...:....

Occupied

C Unoccupied

CiPreservotion workinprogress

Yes:

C Restricted

C Unrestricted

No

. PRESENT USE Check One or More as Appropriate

*

:C Agricultural r .. C Government. ...,: C Park . . . C Transportation . C Comments

C Commercial C Industrial . Private Residence . C Other Specify

C Educational .. C Military.- 0 Religious...

Entertainment C Museum . C Scientific. . -

OWNERS NAME

William Slater. Allen.*

-.- .

._- . . ....,.,. :

. :,..

*-

-

.. STREET AND NUMBER:. -.

.12 Benevolent.Street. .

. I . .

::

.

..

.

. . .

.

CiTY OR TOWN: STATE: , CODE

., ProvidenceLOCATWN OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION

. , ., Rhode Island, 02906 bliCOURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS. ETC:.

- -. . -. ..

Providence City Hail:. .

STREET AND NUMBER:,-:

Dorrance Street. at. Washington-Street . ... ... .. .. -

[CREPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS. -

TI TLE OF SURVEY: . . -__‘_i

Historic American_Buildings SurveyDATEOFSURVEtY: 1955 ff.DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS:

-:- - -H

Library of Congress- -. - - . - .. -.

STREET AND NUMBER- . - . - - -

IndependenceAvenue and 1st Street,. S. . -

cIT-V OR--TOWN: -. .

-:-.- . -- --

Washington - / ..

er-- -

- Form O-3OOJuly 969

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY - NOMLNATLON FORM

STATE:

Rhode IslandCOUNTY:

ProvidenceFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

In

0

I-0-

r 4. OWER OF PROPERTY - . . - . -

CITY OR TOWN: - - -

- Providence - -

STATE - . - CODE

- RhodeIsiand, 02903 -,

i -

Federal C State C County

C,0Cz-l-C

STATE; - - - CODE

District of Co].uthbia ii

Local -

‘10

z-Utn

CV.

0zr-C

DESCRIPTION -

Chock One -

I [X Excollont C Good C Fair C Deteriorated C Ruins C UnexposedCONDITION I - - -

Check

One -- - - Check Om.

- Q Altered C Unaltered- C Moved Original Site

DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL If known PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

- The CandaceAllen house of 1818-1822 on College Hill is typicalof the Federal-style houseswhich John Holden Greenedesigned for pros-

- perous - citizens of Providence in the early XIX Century. Built- of -

light red brick over a tinber frame upon a granite basement, this rect-

-- angulaahds - two-and-a-half storeys high and is covered by a hip roofwhose panelled and windowedmonitor provides the half-storey. The main -

south façade-is five bays wide, and the main block of the house is -

- four bays deep; - on the west -is a not-large two-storey rectangular ell.The centred front door, which has a fanlight and sidelights, is con-

- tamed within an elaborate one-storey wooden norch supported on pairedCorinthian columns and having wrought-iron side and stair railings.Above this porch is a sécond-flooi’ window whose form echoes-that of the

- Hoorway. The other windows of the house, symmetrically placed, have-plain marble sills and lintels; the first-floor windows on the southfaçade are floor-length, with triple-hung sash, and each of these has

-- a wrought-iron balcony. The moulded *ooden eaves cornice has below it- modillions and a course of heading. Originally there ran above it a‘wooden parapet which was panelled above wall surfaces and had sections - -

of turned halusters above windows; there may also have have been rail- z- ings or balustrades on top of the entrance porch and on top of the

- :- monitor. Four tall chimneys serving the basic -Federal four-room,

central-hallplan are symmetrically placed inside the end walls.

- It would appear that most, if not an, of the present west wing C

- is a later addition--probably dating from the middle of the XIX Century.The porticoes secondaryentrance in the angle between the main block

- and the wing is stylisticafly close to dated examples in Providencp of - -

- c. 1850, though window shape,and lintel design in the wing’conform to- those of the older main block. Differences in actual brick colour as -

well’ as in foundation level and roof height tend to confirm this theory. Z

- vs

-: -- Benevolent Street slopes markedly down towards the west; soth&

-- level; grassedplatform upon which the Allen house sits is contained -

- within a granite retaining-wall, part of which carries a cast-ironfence. At the north-west corner of the property stands a square - - -.

-: carriage-house’contemporarywith the dwelling. It is of brick with a -

- -- cornice -of articulated bric1ork belo*.à hipped roof. -- Its east fronthas paired two-storey recessedblind arches: in the lower portion ofeach is a portal and in the upper part-a round-headedwindow. ---On the

-

- ground floor there still remains an old carriage turntable. An old- driveway combining flat paving and cobblestones leadsin to this build-

ing from Me gee Street, past the rear of tie main house and its service- - entrance. - - . - - - - .

- -- The front door lets directly into the central stair--hall which, -

- does not--as inmany earlier houses--havea rear exterior door, but- -

- terminates in front of a’ small cloakroom.- To the right are the two -. -

- - drhwing-rooms, which can be thrown £nto one by means of large slidingdoors. At -left front s. the dining.room and behind it, but not con- -

- - - - - - .

- See Continuation Sheet1.

Form 1O-300o UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTPYrovidence

- INVENTORY . NOMINATION FORM- - FOR NPS USE ONLY

- ENTRY NUMBER DATEContinuation Sheet-]. -

Number nil anti-lee

7.- Description. - -

- ;:necting, a library. It is likely that this library may have beenkitchen space before construction of the westernell, where domestic - -

- offices are now located. Door trim in the stair-hall is of symmetric-ally-moulded architraves with nanelied wrner-hlocks at the top; in -

other rooms the door and window architraves are simpler, with only an- outer moulding and no corner-blocks. Mantels on this floor are marble,

of one-storey type, and have entablatures supported by columns and containing panelled friezes. The open string of the staircase has twopanels at the end of each step, each panel containing a pointed archwith internal cusps typical of Greene’s habit of using Gothic motifs

-- for small adornmentsof othenjise classical houses. The staircase-

- takes a curve about two-thirds of the way up and returns towards thefront of the house. The layout of rooms on the second floor is like

-. that of the first floor. - - -

In the XIX Century--probably c. 1860-1870--some changesin interior-- trim were undertakento bring dScor "up to date" or in accord with

then-prevailing tastes. These include the placing,of stained glass in-

-. the fan- and sidelights of the front door, the laying of a mosaic floor- of encaustic tile in the lower hall and replacementof the original -

stair-rail by one with moulded hand-rail, turned balusters and heavy- - -polygonal newel all of dark wood. At the same time, the first floor was

given new, olaster cornices--those in the drawing-rooms being generously-projecting ones of many sharp mouldings, those in’ the hall and dining-

- room having heading,floral bosses, ccnsoles etc. New wall coverings- were also introduced -in some rooms, although the rear, or north, draw

ing-room retains its original early imported French papier peint. Ata later time, probably, some of the upstairs rooms were given wallpapers

-- whose patterns bring to mind the designs of William Morris. Not least

- of the upstairs "improvements" was the installation of a hathroom-cun--

- water-closet which still displays its original fixtures, encasedin-darkwood panelling, and regal in size and placement. -

- _ - After a period of closure and neglect, during which time the eavs -

parapet rotted and fell off it has not yet beenrenlaced, the house:was in the 1950’s taken over by Mr. and Mrs. William Slater Allen, wholive in-it and give it good máintenañce.

8. Significance. -

- - later ones1 there are extant the Benoni Cooke house, 1825; William Wood-ward and Williajn Smith houses, c. 1825; Arnold-Palmer house, 1826;Truman Beckw-ithhouse, 1827-1828; and if certain of these are not documented as from Greene’s hands, they pay him the compliment of closecoving. However, the Allen house, perhaps becauseof its very fortunate-

See Continuation Sheet 2.

-- GPO 921.724

‘ Form lO-300o- :- July 969

N

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

INVENTORY. NOMINATION FORM

Continuation Sheet2 -

STATE

Rhode IslandCOUN TV

ProvidenceFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRV NUMBER DATE

in

Number all entries

8-$ignificance.N

propOrtions.and its particularly handsomeporch, seemsthe most elegant-‘ - of them. The proportions would be due to an innate sensitivity on the

part of the architect; the crisp and classically correct exterior andinterior trim; economically used and wisely placed, is most likely dueto Greene’s known use of the design books published by Asher Benjaminthe first part of the XIX Century. This well-preserved house is animportant example of the sophisticated carpenter-,architect style aspractised in urban centres-in the-l800-l830 period.--

Remaining from the 1620’s to to-day in the ownership and use ofone family, it is also a revealing document of changing tastes and socialrequirements insofar as it was exnandedand partially redecoratedsome

- thirty or forty years after the original construction, and nartially re- -

- -decorated arain twenty-five or thirty-years later. The trend away from- symmetrical, fonial planning towards a more complex inter-relationshipof spacesand services and more elaborate forms of ornament is clearlyevident, while the decision to retain the character of the originalblocic is indicative of some sincere interest in and appreciation of anearlier architectural styleand heritage--feelings frequently absent inrenovations engenderedby the changeabletastes of the mid-XIX Century.

GPO 921.7 24

vslcNIFlcANcE-:.: -

PERICO Chock O,,o or More as Approprlnto

- 00

Pre.Columbianl - 0. 16th Century - D 38th Century 0 20th Century -

35th Century Q 7th Century - - LZ 19th Century

SPEOtFIC DATEISI If Applicable and Known 1818-1822- - - - - -- - - - --

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE Check One or More as Appropristej - - -- - - -- -

Abor

gina D Education - -- -‘0 PolItical. :-:, - 0 Urban Planning -

-- 0 Prehistoric r .. - -D Engineering- 0 Religion/Phi. - -

-- Other Specify-

H;iIrc 0Indut-ty - --:I - - - -

-

- 0 Agriculture- Invention :- Sience :- .‘‘ -

- - - -

Architecture 0 Landscape- 0 Sculpture - - -

-

0 Art - Architecture -- 0 Social/Human. - - - - - - - - -

0 Commerce- - 0 Literature- itorian - -

0 Communications- 0 Military

- 0 Theater - - - --

0 Conservation o Music -- 0 Transportation

________________________

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE - - - - - - -

-

- CandaceAllen, for whom this house was built, was daughter- in a -

Rhode Island family which, through the textile manufacturing and other - -

commercial interests developed in the XVIII Century by ZachariahAllen, possessed-both wealth and-a prominent position in state andlocal civic, business and social affairs. CandaceAllen had a fiancé -

who was killed in the War of 1812,-depriving her of the prospect of ahusband who would build a house for her. Consequentlyher family, in -

the way of compensationand consolation, built the house on Benevolent-:Street for her. An architect was chosenwho was much in fashion andin favour locally and whom the Ailens would employ also to work on

- designs for the Allendale Mill of 1822--also a National Register nonii-nation--in Centredale. Since it-was designed for a spinster, the

- - house under our notice is, however handsomeor-; elegant in design, not Yreally large in accommodation. - - - - -

Upon the death of -CandaceAllen around -1860 -her home.-was in;..- herited by a nephew, Crawford Allen, who made some of the internal

changesdescribed. In 1887- the house was acquired by Anne C. Alleb,-

- who made a few changesof her own in decoration, and in this century- it was the property of Philip Allen, late -father of the present -owner.Across Megee Street, and overlooking the CandaceAllen house, stands

- the square Italianate residence of the l850t5 now the Brawn Univer-- sity Faculty Club built by a second ZachariahAllen. - -

Even were its architectural provenancenot known, the CandaceAllen house would -in any case have importance as -an outstanding build-ing among those in the College Hill Historic District of Providence

- and as a survivor in that part of the District where Brown-Universityhas in recent decadesdemolished most of the neighboring and contemporary houses. However, its provenanceis known, and it is significantalso in other ways. - - - - -

Designed by John Holden Greene1777-1850, a Rhode Island -native and self-educated architect whose active careerwas containedchiefly within the Federal period; the Allen house of 1818-1822 re- -presents the firstexample of a successful and urbane city-houseformula-_oblong block, classical porch, hip roof, monitor--which hewas to employ on a number of later dwellings in Providence. 0f these

- See-Continuation Sheetl. -

I-

0

I-- - -‘

---Ui

-w

- -

-

7- -

- Downing, Antoinette F.: Early Homes of Rhode Island Richmond, Virginia,

1937, p. LB. - - -

Withey, Henry F., and Withey, Elsie R: Biographical Dictionan of Amen-can Architects ... Los Angeles, California, 1970, p. 250.

Neu, Deborah, ed.: Jchn Holden Greene, CarpenterArchitect of Providence -

Providence, Rhode Island, 1972, pp. 30-31.Cady, John Hutchins: The Civic and Architectural Development of Provi- dence, 1636-1950 Providence, Rhode Island, l97, p.99. -

CORNER - LATITUDE - - LONGITUDE

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES -

DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTYOF LESS THAN TEN ACRES

LATITUDE - - LONGITUDE

APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: Less than one acre - - - -: --

LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES -. -

STATE: -- -: -‘ CODE COUNTY - - CODE

STATE: : - - CODE COUNTY: r c- :-:::r ‘ * -, - CODE

STATE: - - - - - CODE -COUNTY: - - I - CODE

STATE: - - - - - CODE COUNTY: - - - - - - - - CODE

NAME AND TITLE: -

Anthony E. Kurneta, Richard-B. -Harrington,- Consultants . - - -- -

CITY OR TOWN: * . -. - -- STATE - - - - - CODE

Providence - --. - --

--

.STA:tE*LIA!SON r° F_F.!.C ER::CER-T

- As the designatedStaje Liaison Officer for the Na- -

- tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Public 1aw

89-665 thereby nominate this property for inclusio -

in tn National Register and certify that It has been

evaluatethaccordiog to the criteria and procedires set

forth by the National Park Service. The recommended

level of significance of this nomination

National 0 - State *., - Local 0 -

1- - - -- -

-- *: - - - - - - - - -:- -- - -

Name - - :: - .7 -

--. - -

-

Title - . - -- --;,P ----

- - :.t: -

- -: -

- Date - - - -

Rhode Island,-02906 --

oN-AlJ-:gEoi$.pEp:ypIpp4t-.

- - - - -- :- -

- I hereby certify-that thisproperty is included in the

- NatinlRegtht?er;h’ . -‘:-:: -?-,:e? -

I

-<-, -: -

- -

-- - - . - - -

Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation

- - - - - - - - -: - -

-.--r,--: r I : I - - - -- -

- Date --- - .. - ... :.:, - - - - -- -

-- ---.

- p

ATTEST: - - - - -

- -: ‘ - - 1: -

Keeper of The Natial Register

- Date - - - - -

-DATE

- : -

Sept.-- 30, 1972

Ri

rn

‘I,

-l

LATITUDE AND LONIjITUDE COORDINATES

DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY

NW

NE-

SE

- SW

0R

Degrees Minutes Seconds0

0

0

0

Degrees Minules Secondsa

0

-

0

Degrees Minutes Seconds1110 li9’28.61N

Degrees

71°Minutes Seconds

- 2L’l7.h2W

FORM PREPARED BY - - - - - p -

ORGANIZATION

Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission -

STREET AND NUMOER:

- -John Brown House, 52 Power Street

--

--I

GP o 90 1.087 - - -

* UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUNTY

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FORNPS USE ONLY

4I Typeall entries - attach to or enclosewith photographENTRY NUMBER DATE

Z.. . .::.::. :. *:.

o COMMON: Allen Candace House- AND/OR NISTORIC:

- E1ocArJoNU ITREET AND NUMBER:

12 Benevolent StreetCITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE: CODE COUNTY: - CODE

Rhode

IslandLit Providence Mt

z QTOREFERE- IPHOTO CREDIT: B. Christopher l3ene

jDATE OF PHOTO: January, 1Q72LU EGATIVEFILEDAT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, R’orn 201,U.’ I 26. Melrose Street Providence, Rhode Island, 02907

E: ENW1CATIODESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

Exterior showing entrance front froi the south-west,as seento-day, with roof l-’alustrades missing.

JIJ.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RhodeIsland

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUN

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photographENTRY NUMBER DATE

o COMMON: Allen Càndace House- AND/OR HISTORIC:

U STREET AND NUMBER:

12 Benevolont StreetCITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

__

Rhode Isianc Providence JUl

IOY EREMCE- ‘HOTOCREDIT:13. Christopher Bene

DATE OF PNOTO: January, 1Q72LU IEGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical PreservationCommission, Roor 201,

265 I1elrose Street, Providence Rhode Island, 02907

DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION. ETC.

Detail of ham stairway.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph

STATE

Roe IslandCOUNTY

Providonce

FOR NPS USE ONLYENTRY NUMBER DATE

N.AME.;’ll: ... .. ::... .. :........ .* . .;..:‘: .. ... .. . **

COMMON: Allen Candace house .

.**..*.*Y*.*

.

AND/OR HISTORIC:

EI..OCATUNSTREET AND NUMBER:

12 Benevolent StreetCITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceCODESTATE: CODE COUNTY:

Rhode Island Providence 007PHOTO REFERENCE

HOTO CREDIT: B. Christopher BeneATE OF PHOTO: January, 1972 .--

IEGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical PreservationCorission, Room26 Meirose Stet, Providence, Rhode Islaod, 02907

*T1FITIQN

201,

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

Part of south dra-.ring-room, showing orginal mantel and window ‘

treatment,

V.’

z0

IU

IV.’

z

LU

U.’

V.’

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE hode I6land

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUNTY

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

Z I’:

T alle s-attach to or enclose

o OMMON: Allen Candace House- AND/OR HISTORIC:

I-STREET AND NUMBER:U 12 Benevolent Street

CITY OR TWN:Providence

I STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODERhode IslandLW. Providence 007

z 40t0RENE- HOTOCREDIT: Christorher Bene

[DATE OF PHOTO: January, 1Q72LU 4EGATIVE FILED AT: Rhode Island Historical Preservation ComnmissiqI, Room 201.LU 265 Neirose Street Providence Thod Islp P?°7.

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

Dining-room, looking south-west and showing original mantel andwindow treatment, later cornice elaboration.

IJNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RhodeIsland

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUNTY

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

Typeall entries - attach to or enclosewith photographENTRY NUMBER DATE

Z*............ *::.;*:.. ...

o COMMON: Allen Candace House- AND/OR HISTORIC:

I- LOCAT1ONITREET AND NUMBER:U 12 Benevolent StreetCITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island.

* Providence Uu7

- IHOTO CREDIT: 13. Chrstonher Bene

bATE OF pHOTO: January, 1972LU 4EGATIVE FILED AT:RhOde Island Historical Preservation Cormission, Room 201,LU I 26S Holrose Street, Proridenc Rhode Island, 02907

DT1FIcATIOtDESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

Stair-hall, looking north.

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Latitude: 41° 49’ 28.61" N/° °4’ 17 42" W

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GERAPHICAL COORDINATES

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

July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ithode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY

ProvidencePROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATEI Typeall entries - attach to or enclosewith map

z i.!4LA.M.E

o COMMON: Allen Candape’ House- AND/OR HISTORIC:

i- L .

STREET AND NUM BER:U 12 Benevolent Street

CITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE: CODE COUNTYI CODE

Rhode Island Wi Providence 007

zMAPREFERNC

SOURCE:- U. S. Geological Survey

CALE: 1: 2I,OOO

wDATE: l97

. ....

i/H?.ITO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Property broUndarios whore required.

2. North arrow.

3. Latitude and longitude reference.