First in War, Last to Be Recognized?
Published on Wednesday, October 08, 2025
Rare stone-ender in Newport finally listed in the National Register of Historic Places
(Newport) The John Bliss House (built ca. 1680-1715), one of Rhode Island’s oldest remaining buildings, has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural and historical significance. The Bliss House is Newport’s only surviving example of an early building type known as the “stone-ender.” The house and farm served as British Field Headquarters during the Revolutionary War, and the property is also significant for its role in the early historic preservation movement in Newport.
The Bliss House is located on Wilbur Avenue, along Newport’s northeastern border with Middletown. John Bliss, an affluent landowner and militia leader, and his wife Damaris Arnold, the daughter of Governor Benedict Arnold, relocated their family from downtown Newport to what was then a 150-acre farm on the outskirts of the colonial settlement. They built a family home there sometime between ca. 1680 and John Bliss’ death in 1716.
The property was commandeered for use as British Field Headquarters and garrison during the Siege of Newport in 1778. Although British troops burned down many farmhouses outside of Newport to remove any potential shelter or cover for American forces, the Bliss House’s strategic location atop one of the highest points in Newport allowed it to escape that fate. The Bliss family was forcibly ejected from their farm when occupying British forces claimed the property, but were able to return in the years following the American Revolution. The Bliss family occupied the home for over 100 years before selling to Anthony Wilbur in 1807.
Surviving examples of stone-enders in Rhode Island are rare – rarer still for a 17th-century building to resemble its original appearance. Preserve Rhode Island has documented that 14 stone-enders remain statewide. The stone-ender style was common among the earliest English structures in colonial Rhode Island, but it was not widely adopted by other colonies. The stone-ender’s defining characteristic is a side elevation made of stone, containing a massive fireplace and chimney that typically warmed two or four small rooms. While definitively dating buildings from this early period is challenging, physical evidence and historical context strongly suggest the Bliss House was constructed before 1700, and therefore is one of the oldest houses still standing in Newport.
The Bliss House is also important to the story of the historic preservation movement in Rhode Island. By the mid-20th Century, attention had turned to Newport’s ample colonial building stock, which was ripe for redevelopment. The Preservation Society of Newport County (PSNC) formed in 1945 in response to this growing interest and the accompanying threat of urban renewal. PSNC leadership acquired the Bliss House in 1947 – only the second property purchased for restoration by the city’s nascent historic preservation organization.
The PSNC established a new for-profit subcorporation called Restorations Inc. to manage the restoration of the Bliss House and other historic properties using a new buy-restore-sell funding model. Restorations Inc. undertook a four-year restoration project at the Bliss House, preserving its early architectural character, much of which is evident in the home today.
Although the corporation never realized its goals of restoring five to ten houses per year, Restorations, Inc. was one of the nation’s earliest examples of a historic preservation “revolving fund” (also referred to as “acquisition fund”) and set a model for later preservation efforts in the city and elsewhere.
So how did this remarkable property go unrecognized at the national level for so long? It isn’t entirely clear. Many of Newport’s other early buildings and architectural treasures were nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s and ‘80s, but Bliss House was not among them for reasons lost to history. Inclusion on the Register is largely an honorary designation, and listing elevates the profile of historic places worth saving in every state across the country.
In 2020, a new chapter began at the Bliss House. Historic home devotees Ryan and Monika Miller purchased the property and immediately started on preservation work and a National Register nomination for Bliss House. “When moving into one of Newport’s oldest homes, we were surprised that it wasn’t already listed on the National Register. We want to do everything we can to be good stewards and preserve this home for future generations,” said homeowner Ryan Miller.
Five years later, the Millers’ dreams are coming to fruition. One of their happiest discoveries along the way was uncovering a 23-pound Revolutionary War-era cannonball in the backyard. After a thorough inspection from the Rhode Island Bomb Squad, the cannonball now enjoys pride of place in the Millers’ home: “We plan on being here a long time, and it’s a piece of history to go with the house,” said Miller.
The National Register nomination for the Bliss House was prepared by Kathryn J. Cavanaugh, an independent historic preservation consultant, along with the Rhode Island State Historic Preservation Office. Other known surviving 17th-century homes in Newport are the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House (ca. 1697 et seq), the Reverend Daniel Wightman House (ca. 1694), the Governor Peleg Sanford House (pre-1700, ca. 1845, 1976), the Bull-Mawdsley House (1680, 1748), and the White Horse Tavern (pre-1673; ca. 1750 et seq). All have been altered over time and reflect modifications made after 1800. Other extant 17th-century non-residential structures are the Stone Mill in Touro Park (1673-1677) and the Great Friends Meeting House (1699, 1705, 1729, 1807).
Although primarily a private residence, the homeowners invite scholars, history buffs, and schools to experience Bliss House by appointment. Visit @JohnBlissHouse1860 or email hphc.info@preservation.ri.gov if you’re interested.
About the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC / RI State Preservation Office)
The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission identifies and advocates for historic buildings, districts, structures, landscapes, and archaeological sites with state and national significance. As the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the agency is responsible for submitting Rhode Island nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s official list of sites worthy of preservation. The Commission also develops and carries out programs to document and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Rhode Islanders, past and present. For more information, visit PRESERVATION.RI.GOV.
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