The BoRIA Post

In a shocking turn of events, the historic Abraham Brown House, also known as the Lafayette House, was demolished on December 18, 2024, in Tiverton, Rhode Island. The demolition has sparked outrage among Tiverton and RI residents.

This almost 300-year-old farmhouse, located at 3118 Main Road, held significant historical value as it hosted the Marquis de Lafayette during the 1778 Rhode Island Campaign. The Rhode Island Historical Preservation Heritage Commission and Tiverton Historic Preservation Advisory Board suggests that it dates to 1735 and was expanded over the years.

Built by Abraham Brown, the house had somehow weathered every storm, war, and change for almost 300 years. Brown and his wife Abigail raised seven children in this home, which later housed countless generations. In early August 1778, Abraham, a private in the Rhode Island regiment, provided accommodation for France’s General Marquis de Lafayette in this very residence. The house was the site of General Lafayette’s camp in 1778 when about 10,000 Continental Army and militia troops massed in Tiverton before the Siege of Newport on Aquidneck Island. He also had his headquarters there as of September 1, 1778, after the successful evacuation of Aquidneck Island. (There is a letter from Lafayette to George Washington from “Tyverton”.)

Lafayette’s stateroom was on the second floor, in part of the building that may have been a “first period” house, meaning built in 1750 or earlier, probably by carpenter-shipwrights who cut trees for the structure from the nearby Weetamoo Woods. Some of those summer beams and enormous 10-inch framing elements, must have been saplings when the Pilgrims first arrived in Plymouth. In the attic, there were two rooms for farmhands or slaves, who anonymously worked the land.

The structure, situated on 35.6 acres, was demolished one week before Christmas, about two months after property owner David Rose from Kingston, Rhode Island received a permit to take it down. The owner had been attempting to sell the property for several years, listing it at $6,800,000. 

Rose denied the house’s historic status on the demolition permit application submitted in August, which was granted in late October. In his application, Rose wrote ’No’ to a form question asking if the house was historic or was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Register, or the Tiverton Register of Historic Places. Local historians contest his claim. Susan Anderson, a member of the Tiverton Historic Preservation Advisory Board, asserted that the house is indeed listed on the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Register and included in a 1983 compilation of ‘Tiverton Historic Structures’. 

A rapid effort began to save the building. An experienced preservationist was notified and the “newer” structure from 1810 was assessed as safe to dismantle. The older structure, having been uninhabited for almost forty years and open to the elements, was beyond repair. 

A plan was developed to move the 1810 house elsewhere in Tiverton near other old houses, as Doris Duke would have done. A crew was brought in to strip the plaster and lathe, exposing posts and beams and readying it for removal. An architect made drawings and a structural engineer determined that the frame would comply with building codes when re-erected. All of this was done out of pocket. Alas, it didn’t happen quickly enough. Although the salvage process was in motion, the owner abruptly decided to demolish the house. The demolition began around 9 a.m. and was completed by noon. By the following Monday, only the cellar hole remained, with two small barns still standing on the property.

Local preservationists complained that they were never informed that the house was threatened, and criticized Hoyle for failing to properly review Rose’s permit application or let members of the town’s Historic Preservation Advisory Board know of the permit. John M. Hoyle Jr. served as the Building Official, Code Enforcement Officer, and Zoning Official for the town of Tiverton and resigned in late December, about three weeks after he went on leave following Patrick Jones’ arrival as interim town administrator.

In response to the controversy, Interim Tiverton Town Administrator Jones issued an apology on January 15, 2025, for the town’s failure to prevent the destruction of the Lafayette House. The incident highlighted potential flaws in Tiverton’s preservation policies, as current ordinances do not require notifying preservationists when a historic property faces demolition. Further, it has reignited discussions about the need for stronger preservation measures and better communication between property owners, town officials, and historical societies.

This loss represents a significant setback for both the community and the state’s efforts to preserve its rich Revolutionary War-era heritage. As a result, many are calling for a reevaluation of policies to prevent similar losses of historic structures across Rhode Island in the future. Alan Hoffman, President of the American Friends of Lafayette, who has a summer cottage in Little Compton off West Main Road, commented on this tragic loss. “This is so sad. The community, the town and the owner ought to collaborate on an historic marker or informational panel on the spot where this great hero of the American Revolution had his headquarters. In that way, we can make something good out of this unfortunate occurrence. The American Friends of Lafayette stands ready to assist in such a project.”