W. U. Bennett, builder
This handsome end-gable Colonial Revival was built for noted journalist and historian Robert Grieve and his wife Estelle in 1899. Grieve immigrated to the U.S. from Scotland in 1866 and was best known for his historical pieces pertaining to the textile history in Rhode Island, as well as tourism pamphlets showcasing the state’s historical and cultural assets. The ownership of the house was placed with Estelle Grieve, as was done by some families to ensure security in an unstable economy, while any businesses owned were left with the husband.
The Grieve House breaks with other Colonial Revivals along Princeton in some noteworthy respects:
- The façade is asymmetrical, with the entrance porch flush to the left side of the façade.
- An upper-story bay window is also flush to one side of the façade.
- This arrangement hints at the interior layout, with a double parlor running alongside an entrance hall with stairs — rather than the traditional center-hall, four-room plans seen elsewhere on tour.
- A large Palladian window shines light onto the oversized staircase.
Converted to a two-family home some time ago, the Grieve House has undergone few recent changes other than a complete rebuild of the front porch by the current owners, who moved in late in 2013.
— Festival of Historic Houses Guidebook, 2017
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