Rhode Island Homes in 1636: From Wattle-and-Daub to the Stone-Ender

The earliest English homes in the Rhode Island Colony (Providence, 1636; Portsmouth/Newport, 1638) were **rudimentary, impermanent structures** built for immediate shelter in a wilderness setting—not the "stone-enders" that became the region's signature later.

First-Generation Structures (1636–1650s)

• Form: **One-room, one-story** (c. 16x20 ft), timber-framed or log.
• Walls: **Wattle-and-daub** (woven sticks + clay/mud/straw plaster) over oak studs, or **horizontal logs** (Swedish/Finnish style brought by New Sweden settlers via Delaware). Clapboards rare initially (no sawmills).
• Roof: **Thatch** (salt marsh hay, rye straw, reeds) — steep pitch (45°+) to shed rain/snow. Wood shingles appeared once sawmills operated (1640s+).
• Chimney/Fireplace: **Central, massive stone or brick** (if brick clay found) — the only heat, light, cooking. Often the only stonework.
• Loft: **Sleeping/storage** accessed by ladder. Low headroom.
• Windows: **Tiny, few.** Covered with **oiled paper, horn panes, or wooden shutters**. Glass was imported luxury.
• Floor: **Dirt** (tamped) or rough planks (pit-sawn).

Evolution: The "Stone-Ender" (Late 1600s–Early 1700s)

As the colony stabilized, a distinct **Rhode Island vernacular** emerged:

• Massive stone end chimney (entire gable end) — using abundant local fieldstone (Narragansett Basin).
• Two-story, two-room plan (hall + parlor) with central chimney or paired stone-end chimneys.
• Timber frame (oak, chestnut) with **clapboard** or **shingle** siding.
• Casement windows** (lead glass) → later double-hung sash.
• Plank frame** (vertical planks) variant in South County.