This charming bit of modest rural architecture on Benefit Street found its way here from the grounds of Roger Williams Hospital, across town on Chalkstone Avenue, in 1982, thanks to the intervention of Angela Brown Fischer, who grew up across the street at number 357. Its early history is obscure, but it was owned by Smith in the late 18th century; during its restoration by George Waterman 25 years ago, fragments of a 1776 edition of the Newport Mercury were found in its walls.

As originally configured, the house was originally the southernmost 5 bays, symmetrically arranged around the principal entrance on the façade. The interior’s center-chimney, 5-room format, seen elsewhere on this tour at 18 George Street, is typical for small, rural, gambrel-roof farmhouses like this. The interior finishes here, however, date to the 1980s renovation of the house; modeled on Newport woodwork of the mid-18th century, they are far more elaborate than what was typically found in houses of this kind.

The siting of this house was deliberate. Originally a farmhouse on the west side of town, it was sited back from the street behind a picket fence to evoke its rural provenance.

— 2006 Festival of Historic Houses Guidebook

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Late 18th century. Colonial; 1-1/2 stories; flank gambrel; clapboard; 7 bay gambrel house with chimney and entrance in 3rd; transomed door and molded window caps; moved to site from Chalkstone Avenue c. 1983.

— College Hill National Historic District; 1976