The late Federal style Truman Beckwith House in Providence, Rhode Island.
This large brick house built in 1827-1828, is an outstanding example of the work of the architect John Holden Greene. In 1794, at the age of 17, he apprenticed himself to housewright Caleb Ormsbee. He completed his apprenticeship and remained in Ormsbee’s employ until 1807. Greene then began to work under his own name. By 1824, he was listed in the Providence directory as an architect, rather than as carpenter or housewright, a relatively early example of the emergence of architecture as a separate profession from building in the United States.
Since 1925, the house has been home to the Handicraft Club, founded in 1904 by ten women who were interested in crafts. Their mission was to promote interest in all kinds of handicrafts and to provide a place where such work could be done. Classes were offered in bookbinding, silver and metal work, woodcarving, enameling, pottery, basketry, jewelry making, weaving and photography. The Club was incorporated in 1921 and with a membership of 250 was able to purchase the Truman Beckwith House in 1925. By taking up a challenge to save the house, the Club assumed an obligation for preservation that has come to equal its commitment to handicrafts.
Federal is one of 25 styles described and illustrated with multiple examples in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
The classic volume on identifying historic house styles, “A Field Guide to American Houses” by Virginia McAlester, is available in our shop, along with select restoration titles by other authors.
© Scott T. Hanson 2024.
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