School Street

School Street. . , School Street runs through land designated by colonial Governor Walter Clarke as "school land," and hence its name. It was gradually filled in with houses during the 19th century. When it was originally built, the Channing House at #24 stood on a much larger lot and commanded a view of the harbor., 10 School Street , Dr. Turner House and Office , Circa 1832 , Architectural style: Second Empire additions to an earlier house. , Look for: Alternating modillions (large, curved blocks) and dentils (smaller, more regular blocks) under the eaves. , . The Turners were a family of doctors. Henry Turner was President of the Newport Historical Society, the organization that created The Museum of Newport History and this walking tour. , Dr. James V. Turner came to Newport from Portsmouth, RI in 1832 and built this office with his brother, Dr. William Turner. James Turner's son, Dr. Henry Edward Turner, joined his practice about 1850. Dr. Henry Turner was a well known and respected physician. He was President of the Newport Historical Society and a director of the Redwood Library for 40 years. His brother was William Green Turner, the sculptor. Henry Turner died in 1897, but the house continued to be the residence of his wife Anna Eliza Turner, for several years. In 1920, the house was purchased by Nathan and Alice Jackson. Nathan was a cook at the Army Navy YMCA at 50 Washington Square, and Alice was a dressmaker., 20 School Street , Benjamin Marsh House , 1845 , Architectural style: Gothic Revival , Look for: Elaborate decorations using Gothic motifs throughout and especially in the barge boards decorating the eaves, cross gable plan, and ship-lap siding. , . This house is one of the finest examples of a true Gothic Revival cottage in Newport. , Benjamin Marsh, a dealer in shoes and boots with a shop on Thames Street, purchased this land in 1829. The house was built by Marsh in 1845 in the Gothic Revival style. It was probably designed after drawings in the widely read and influential book, Cottage Residences, published in 1842 by author, architect, and landscape designer Andrew Jackson Downing. Downing popularized the Gothic Revival, the Italianate, and other Exotic Revival styles in that book and its sequel, The Architecture of Country Houses (1850)., The Marsh house has many dormers, trellises, and eave carvings to vary its silhouette. The Gothic Revival was one of the many picturesque styles that competed with the Greek Revival for popularity during this period. These styles sought to enhance the surrounding landscape rather than stand removed from it, as did so many Greek Revival buildings. Downing and others stressed their suitability as rural styles and they are not often found in urban settings. At the time the Marsh house was built, Newport was still seen as rural, rustic retreat from the burgeoning cities of the East Coast., 24 School StreetArchitectural style: Georgian with modifications , Look for: Additions to accommodate Child and Family Services offices and day-care center. , . The home of William Ellery Channing, one of the founders of Unitarianism, this building's history also tells a fascinating story of Newport's African-American history. , William Ellery Channing was born in this house on April 7, 1780. To learn more about Channing, see the Channing Memorial Church entry on the Touro Park station of this walking tour. The house was also the home of Charity "Duchess" Quamino, a slave of the Channing family for at least twenty years., Born in Africa in 1739, Duchess Quamino was the daughter of an African king. Her husband, John Quamino, was also born in Africa. His father sent him to Rhode Island to be educated, but he was sold into slavery by the captain of the ship that brought him here. In 1773, John Quamino won a lottery and purchased his freedom. With the sponsorship of the Rev. Ezra Stiles of the Second Congregational Church, Quamino and another freed slave studied at Princeton before the Revolution cut short their plans to become missionaries to Africa. Quamino joined a privateer's crew, hoping to earn money to buy his wife's freedom, but was killed in action before he could realize his dream. Duchess Quamino later obtained her own freedom, and earned her living as a pastry cook. On her gravestone Channing described her as "A free black of distinguished excellence, intelligent, industrious, affectionate, honest, and of exemplary piety.", In 1867, this building was given by Christopher Townsend to the "Home for Friendless Children." It provided children with a home, food, clothing, and schooling. From that early beginning, the agency evolved into Child and Family Services of Newport County, a center that provides a broad array of programs and services for thousands each year., 25 School Street , Trinity Church School/Shiloh Baptist Church , 1799 , Architectural style: Late 18th century vernacular , Look for: Paired windows, a cupola which may have served as a bell tower, and the simple overall design. , . Originally a Trinity Church school for boys, the building became an African-American Baptist church in 1868. , This building was constructed on land designated by Walter Clarke, governor of Rhode Island, as "school land." Nathaniel Kay, collector of customs in Newport, died in 1734, bequeathing his entire estate to Trinity Church to found a school to teach "ten poor boys their grammar and mathematics gratis." The first Trinity School was built on Clarke's land in 1741 and was replaced by the present building in 1799. In 1884, the annex structure was built on the south side. It contained a parish hall and living quarters., Sometime prior to 1869, the building had been in use as a school by the African Benevolent Society. In 1864, several members of the Union Congregational Church, which had been formed by that Society, separated from the Congregationalists to become Baptists and organized Shiloh Baptist Church. Shiloh Baptist Church used this building until it consolidated with other churches to form the Community Baptist Church, now located on Marcus Wheatland Boulevard., The first pastor of Shiloh Baptist was Rev. W. J. Barnett, a native African. Other pastors include the Rev. Henry Jeter who was called to the church in 1875 and served for more than 40 years. President William McKinley invited Rev. Jeter to the White House in 1897.