Joseph Smith House

The Joseph Smith House is a wood-frame structure with two and a half stories and six bays, featuring a saltbox shape with a rear shed addition. The building combines stone and wood work, showing typical features of colonial Rhode Island construction.

The house dates to around 1705 and contains a large chimney whose lower sections predate King Philip's War, which destroyed an earlier structure on the site. The rebuilding after this conflict shows how the community recovered and established itself.

The house shows how people in early Rhode Island built their homes with sturdy stone foundations and wood frames. Families like the Smiths adapted their living spaces over generations, keeping the main structure while adding rooms as needed.

The house is located on Smithfield Road and appears on the National Register of Historic Places, indicating its protected status. Visitors can observe colonial construction methods and materials on the exterior and through the house's overall design.

Judge Daniel Jenckes made substantial changes in 1762, expanding the house for his son while keeping its original architectural style intact. This renovation shows how owners adapted the old structure to fit their growing family needs.

Location: Rhode Island

Architectural style: colonial architecture

GPS coordinates: 41.85610,-71.45000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:44