The main facade is distinguished by tall, narrow windows capped with heavy moldings, and an impressive front entrance with fluted Doric pilasters and a broken-scroll pediment. Originally flush with the front of the house, the entrance was later extended to allow more room in the interior hall.
Here the emphasis is on the stair balustrade with its spirally-turned balusters in three alternating designs and the corkscrew turnings of the extraordinary newel post. The outline of the panelling in the stairwell repeats the graceful curves of the molded handrail.
House Museum
The Babcock Smith House
Since the middle of the eighteenth century the Babcock-Smith House has stood amid an ever-changing area atop Granite Street in Westerly, RI. One of Rhode Island’s important architectural and historical landmarks, the house as it now stands clearly reflects the modes of life of the several generations who continuously occupied the house until 1972.
The land originally extended from what is now Tower Street to Wells Street, then Eastward into a wedge-shaped mass for about 1 3/4 miles. Now the property is about 200 feet square. Its location was on the main road from Mastuxet (Mastuxet Brook on Watch Hill Road at the intersection of Winnapug Road) to Hopkinton.
The Babcock-Smith House is a two-and-a-half story, wooden-framed house of 18th-century Georgian design. The prominent gambrel roof slopes in the rear to cover a one-story addition; the six fireplaces feed into the large central chimney which dominates the roof line. The ell to the north is of later date and now serves as caretaker’s quarters.
To the right of the hall is the parlor with its fine woodwork and corner cupboard, one of the chief glories of the house. The tapered, fluted pilasters are capped with a series of three Doric capitals that lead into the scalloped outline of the shell top. The design of these pilasters is repeated an a larger scale on the panelled fireplace wall. The interior window shutters fold into the recesses of the surrounding frames above the window seats. The dark blue of the woodwork duplicates the original paint color found under many layers of later paint.
The dining room off the opposite end of the hall is, through a later renovation, the longest room in the house extending nearly its full depth. The room has the same fine woodwork as the parlor; a 1920’s wallpaper of 18th-century design covers the walls.
The old kitchen at the rear was extended sometime in the late 18th century, allowing for the addition of a “borning room” and another small bedroom. The eight-foot open fireplace with Dutch oven and fieldstone hearth is the focal point, and is fitted with an assortment of early cooking utensils.
In the two upstairs bedrooms, Delft tiles illustrating Biblical stories surround the fireplaces; although the woodwork in these rooms is plainer than that downstairs, it is nonetheless of consistent quality. In the south bedroom next to the chimney is a small closet where Dr. Babcock supposedly kept a skeleton for anatomical reference.
BedNowhere is the reflection of changing tastes more evident than in the wide variety of furnishings, mostly from the Smith family, that are to be found in the house. Fine examples of both primitive and sophisticated 18th-century furniture, including a Queen Anne daybed, a Connecticut highboy, a Federal sideboard, and several tall-case clocks, share space with 19th-century pieces. Furnishing on loan from local collections in addition to items generously donated add further interest to many of the rooms. Part of a large collection of textiles is also on display from time to time.
Joshua Babcock, MD
Born in 1707, Dr. Joshua Babcock was the son of Captain James Babcock, son of one of the
Orlando Smith
In 1846 Orlando Smith, a stonemason from Ledyard CT, found excellent granite on the premises and took an
Julia E. Smith
Julia E. Smith, daughter of Emeline & Orlando, lived in this house all her life and was probably
Joshua’s Store
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The shop is open during museum hours and special events.
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Immerse yourself in history, art, and culture as you explore our curated exhibits and engaging programs. Join us in discovering the stories that shape our past and inspire our future.
