Thomas F. Hoppin House

The Thomas F. Hoppin House is a historic house at 383 Benefit Street in the College Hill neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island. The house was built c. 1853 to a design by Alpheus C. Morse, and is an elaborate local example of an Italianate palazzo-style residence. The Library of Congress called the property "one of the largest and most elegant houses built in Providence in the mid-nineteenth century."[2]

Thomas F. Hoppin House
Thomas F. Hoppin House is located in Rhode Island
Thomas F. Hoppin House
Thomas F. Hoppin House is located in the United States
Thomas F. Hoppin House
Location383 Benefit Street
Providence, Rhode Island
Coordinates41°49′17″N 71°24′11″W / 41.82139°N 71.40306°W / 41.82139; -71.40306
Built1853
ArchitectMorse, Alpheus C.
Architectural styleRenaissance
Part ofCollege Hill Historic District (ID70000019)
NRHP reference No.73000072 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPFebruary 6, 1973
Designated NHLDCPNovember 10, 1970

History edit

 
Thomas Frederick Hoppin (1816-1872) by George Peter Alexander Healy

The previous house on the property was the Clark House, built by John I. Clark, which was destroyed by a fire in 1849.[2]

The current mansion was built for Thomas Frederick Hoppin (1816-1872), son of Thomas Coles Hoppin and Harriet Dunn Hoppin, a prominent local family of diplomats, physicians, artists, and architects which included his brother, illustrator Augustus Hoppin.[3] Thomas Frederick was a painter, sculptor and engraver.

At one time, the front lawn was home to "The Sentinel," a bronze statue of a dog, which was designed by Hoppin and cast by the Gorham Company; the statue was later moved to Roger Williams Park.[2]

The Hoppins were well known for the social gatherings, and their house became known as the "house of a thousand candles".[4]

The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[1]

Until 2019 the mansion was home to the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. In 2021, Brown sold the property for $2 million.[5] The new owner intends to implement a "first class renovation" and convert the property to a luxury apartment building with about a half dozen units.[5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c "Brown Selling Mansion for $2.5M — Links to Moses Brown, Richest Woman in America and Bravest Dog". GoLocal Providence. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Auton House". Quahog.org. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  4. ^ "NRHP nomination for Thomas F. Hoppin House" (PDF). Rhode Island Preservation. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
  5. ^ a b Kubzansky, Will (22 October 2021). "U. sells Hoppin House on Benefit Street for $2 million". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 24 October 2021.

External links edit

  Media related to Thomas F. Hoppin House at Wikimedia Commons