Belton Court

Last updated
Belton Court
Belton Court Barrington RI 2012.jpg
Belton Court in 2012
USA Rhode Island location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Barrington, Rhode Island, United States
Built1905
Architect Martin & Hall; George Frederic Hall
Architectural styleMedieval inspired
NRHP reference No. 76000037 [1]
Added to NRHPJune 30, 1976

Belton Court (also known as Ferrin Hall, Barrington College, Gibson Memorial Building, and Peck Mansion) is a historic estate on Middle Highway in Barrington, Rhode Island. The mansion was built for Frederick Stanhope Peck, a businessman, socialite, and Rhode Island political figure. Later in the twentieth century, the mansion and surrounding property served as the campus for Barrington College and the Zion Bible Institute.

Contents

At its peak, Belton Court served as the mansion for the 800-acre Peck estate. Encompassing roughly 55,000 square feet, the mansion was constructed over the course of thirty years from 1905 to 1928. The initial 1905 segment (the current eastern wing) was designed by Martin & Hall, an esteemed Providence architectural firm. The expansive 1927–1928 north and west additions were designed by George Frederic Hall, that firm's successor. [2]

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. [3] Since 2011, Belton Court and the surrounding structures have been predominantly vacant.

History

Frederick Stanhope Peck EGWilliams&BroNYFrederickpeck.png
Frederick Stanhope Peck

Frederick Peck's first American ancestor was Joseph Peck who immigrated to Hingham, Massachusetts in 1636. With captain Myles Standish, Governor William Bradford and others, Joseph Peck purchased a tract of land located between Narragansett Bay and the Taunton River in 1641 from Massasoit (or Ousamequin Sachem). Nathaniel Peck, Joseph's son, settled on part of this land in Barrington which he called Ousamequin Farm. This property remained in the family homestead into the twentieth century. Before Ousamequin Farm descended to Frederick Peck on his father's death, he purchased an adjacent piece of land with the intention to erect a stone residence for which he would name Belton Court for the early home of the Pecks in England.

Architecture

Eastern side view of the 1928-built crenellated tower in 2021 Belton Court Water tower.jpg
Eastern side view of the 1928-built crenellated tower in 2021

The first wing of the building was put up between 1905 and 1906, with its main elevation facing east onto Middle Highway. Two-and-a-half stories in height, the house was built of rough masonry granite with segmental relieving arches over the windows and doors. With Peck's expanding interests and activities, a larger residence was constructed between 1927 and 1928 north and west of the original section, forming a U-shaped court facing south; this major addition was more medieval in appearance but maintains the basic massing, height, and materials of the 1905 unit. At the northeast corner, a four-story, crenellated tower, formerly containing a water tank, dominates the complex to this day. [3] As of 2022, the tower currently houses an AT&T transmitter that is powered by an external cable.

Art and collections

Belton Court's Black Walnut Library circa 1929-30 BC1927-28.jpg
Belton Court's Black Walnut Library circa 1929-30

Belton Court was as much of a museum as it was a private residence. Peck devoted as much energy to his avocation of book and manuscript collecting as to his business and political career; he was deeply interested in New England history. When sold at auction in 1944, his book collection numbered 8,000 volumes, expensively bound and in excellent condition. Representative high points were the first four folios of Shakespeare's plays and a first edition of Shakespeare's sonnets. [4]

Belton Courts Limestone Gallery looking towards Library & 1905-06 section Limestoneandmarblegalleryhall.png
Belton Courts Limestone Gallery looking towards Library & 1905-06 section

Peck's manuscript library was one of the finest private collections in the country at the time, it included multiple sets of signers of the Declaration of Independence, two complete sets of letters signed by presidents while in office, and a more unusual collection of letters by the wives of multiple presidents. His collection also notably included a collection of the letters and papers of George Washington and documents relating to Rhode Island, including letters of Roger Williams and an undated order from President Tyler to authorize the use of federal troops in the Dorr Rebellion. Other areas of collecting interest included Roman and Phoenician glass, Native American artifacts, and eighteenth-century English portraiture. [5]

The following list is of notable artists whose original and attributed artwork once hung within the halls of Belton Court; a majority of these paintings were hung in the limestone and marble gallery corridors connecting the 1905-06 section to the 1927-28 section while other paintings were hung in the ballroom, reception hall, and foyer: [4]

Footmen posing for photo outside service area of Belton Court Footmenatbeltoncourt.png
Footmen posing for photo outside service area of Belton Court

Grounds and staffing

The 800-acre estate of Belton Court featured several other structures that serviced daily life at the mansion. A fully functioning farm was located on-site, complete with cows, oxen, horses, and pigs. Not much is known about the farming aspect towards the end of the estates life; however, a large 20,000 square-foot stable complex was formerly located at the end of Primrose Road near the bank of the Hundred Acre Cove. Belton Court's greenhouse complex consisted of a central 130-foot greenhouse with three 70-foot greenhouses branching off, dedicated to orchids, chrysanthemums, and succulents. The outdoor flower beds from the cutting garden had rows of roses and gladiolus.

Over the years Frederick Peck had two superintendents to manage the estate, including one by the name of John S. Doig. Close to fifteen full-time staff lived on the third floor of the mansion while three maids and one cook lived on the second floor above the kitchen. A mechanic by the name of Axel Paulson was one of Belton Court's full time mechanics that serviced farming equipment and Frederick Peck's automobiles.

Intimate garden party at Belton Court, 1933 Beltoncourtgardenparty1933.png
Intimate garden party at Belton Court, 1933

Life at Belton Court

Large and small intimate parties were held on a regular basis at Belton Court from its construction in 1905-06 through the early 1940s. The formal dining room table could be set for thirty guests; formal china and silver services were custom made bearing the Peck family crest (a cubit arm grasping three roses). Notable guests were Charles Curtis (Vice President of the United States), Corinne Roosevelt Robinson (sister of Theodore Roosevelt), Robert Livingston Beeckman (RI Governor and close acquaintance of the Peck family), Mrs. Edward E. Gann (sister of Vice President Charles Curtis ), William Henry Vanderbilt III (Governor of Rhode Island), Aram J. Pothier (Governor of Rhode Island), and Henry F. Lippitt (Governor of Rhode Island) Nicholas Longworth, (38th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives). Most notably, it is rumored that Calvin Coolidge (president of the United States) stayed at Belton Court in the late 1920s.

Institutional use

In 1944, Frederick Peck arranged to leave Belton Court to the Providence Homeopathic Hospital (now known as the Roger Williams Medical Center), of which he served as president for many years. Peck would die in Providence on January 20, 1947. [6] The Belton Court property had been given to the Providence Homeopathic Hospital in 1944; however, the structures was considered unusable for hospital purposes and was sold to a developer. During the mid to late twentieth century, large portions of the former estate grounds that surrounded Belton Court were sold off for the development of single-family housing. The mansion complex was first used by the Edgewood School and then acquired by the Providence Bible Institute in 1950. [7]

Barrington College

The Providence Bible Institute operated both Providence and Barrington campuses during the 1950s. In 1960, the Providence campus was sold and integrated with the Barrington campus to form Barrington College. Student housing and academic buildings were constructed on the surrounding property; the mansion was used for administrative offices and the library. [3] Due to financial and enrollment issues, Barrington College merged with Gordon College of Wenham, Massachusetts; the campus was subsequently put up for sale in 1985.

Zion Bible Institute

The Zion Bible Institute, a Pentecostal ministry college, bought the campus for $5 million in 1985. The Zion Bible Institute would occupy the campus until moving to Bradford, Massachusetts in 2008; Zion would be the last tenant to occupy Belton Court. [8] In 2007, the former campus was listed for sale at $13 million. [9]

Abandonment and future uncertainty

Entrance view of the 1928-built north addition in 2021; notice the overgrowth and boarded windows Northwing1925.jpg
Entrance view of the 1928-built north addition in 2021; notice the overgrowth and boarded windows

In 2011 a Massachusetts-based investor, ShineHarmony Holdings LLC, won a bid for Belton Court at auction for about $3.5 million and proposed to preserve the property as adaptive reuse for elderly housing, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care. [10] Despite this, development on the project was never initialized, with ShineHarmony officially abandoning the plan in 2017 and listing the property for sale. [11] During this time, Belton Court and the campus structures had since been vacated.

Amenities were cut off to the mansion and campus structures; vandalism and neglect further damaged the buildings. With no active development on the site, many locals viewed the former campus site as a safety hazard, while preservationists called for the town of Barrington to hold the property owners accountable for the mansion's dilapidation. In 2020, many town officials expressed interest in rezoning the property for academic purposes or corporate offices. [12]

In the Spring of 2021, demolition of a porch attached to the 1905 section took place alongside the demolition of several heavily deteriorated campus structures. [13] ShineHarmony reinstated their development plan for the property, albeit highly altered from the initial 2011 plan. [14] In 2022, it was estimated that restoring Belton Court would cost over $10 million. The 2021 master plan approval for the Belton Court property expired in July 2022. [9]

In September 2022, ShineHarmony indicated plans to pursue the demolition of Belton Court; many town officials and locals expressed major concern for the future preservation of the mansion. [15] While Belton Court is a listed structure, it does not have protections against demolition by private owners; it does not reside in a historic district. In accordance with permit filings, ShineHarmony had intended to commence demolition by late September or early October. [16] In early October, town officials announced that the mansion would not be demolished; rather, extensive stakeholder engagement and negotiations with the owners would occur over the coming months in regard to the mansion's future preservation. [17]

In January 2023, ShineHarmony released an updated plan that called for a large scale residential development be constructed on the 36.9-acre parcel. The plan calls for the demolition of 85% of the mansion and the construction of over 350 housing units on the property. The development- referred to as “Belton Court Village"- would also contain pocket parks, civic buildings, and small commercial spaces. The plan received overwhelming backlash from Barrington residents and town officials; preservation advocates blasted the plan for its proposed demolition of Belton Court. [18]

In March 2023, the town of Barrington unanimously approved a proposition to sell town property at the former Carmelite Monastery and use the proceeds to offset the acquisition of the former Barrington College property. As proposed, the grounds surrounding Belton Court would be converted into new athletic fields and a recreation center; however, this would not be pursued.

On January 19, 2024, Belton Court has been abated and is being prepared for demolition; demolition would commence once the proper permits are approved by the town of Barrington. On March 5, 2024, Shine Harmony Holdings presented a revised master plan that reiterated prior proposals; this plan was once again criticized by town officials and residents. Approval of a master plan is a requisite before any demolition can take place.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrington, Rhode Island</span> Town in Rhode Island, United States

Barrington is a suburban, residential town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States, approximately 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Providence. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 17,153.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhode Island College</span> Public college in Providence and North Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.

Rhode Island College (RIC) is a public college in Rhode Island, United States, with much of the land in Providence, and other parts in North Providence. The college was established in 1854 as the Rhode Island State Normal School, making it the second-oldest institution of higher education in Rhode Island after Brown University. Located on a 180-acre (73 ha) campus, the college has a student body of 9,000: 7,518 undergraduates and 1,482 graduate students. RIC is a member of the NCAA and has 17 Division III teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhode Island Route 37</span> State highway in Rhode Island, US

Route 37 is a state highway running 3.47 miles (5.58 km) in Providence County and Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. A freeway for its entire length, it serves the cities of Cranston and Warwick and is also a major east–west freeway in the Providence metropolitan area, linking T. F. Green Airport with Interstate 295. The western terminus of Route 37 is an at-grade intersection with Natick Avenue in Cranston. The freeway has numbered interchanges with I-295, Rhode Island Route 2, Pontiac Avenue, and I-95 before terminating at a trumpet interchange with U.S. Route 1 in Warwick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Bridge (Providence, Rhode Island)</span> Bridge in Between Providence and East Providence, Rhode Island

The Washington Bridge is a series of three bridges carrying Interstate 195, US Route 6, US Route 44, and U.S. Route 1A over the Seekonk River connecting India Point in Providence to Watchemoket Square in East Providence, Rhode Island. The historic portion of the bridge dating to 1930 serves as the pedestrian crossing, and bike link to the East Bay Bike Path. The pedestrian span is also a part of the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail. As of December 11, 2023, the westbound bridge is closed to all but emergency vehicles due to critical safety issues. On March 14, 2024, Governor Dan McKee announced that the westbound bridge cannot be repaired and will have to be replaced, requiring at least two years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrington High School (Rhode Island)</span> Public high school in Barrington, Rhode Island, United States

Barrington High School is a public high school located in Barrington, a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island. Barrington High School is the only high school of the Barrington Public Schools district, enrolling 1028 students in grades 9-12. Barrington High School's school colors are blue and gold, and its mascot is the Eagle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrington College</span> American Christian college

Barrington College was a four-year Christian liberal arts college located in Barrington, Rhode Island. It is no longer in operation.

Northpoint Bible College and Seminary is a private Pentecostal Bible college and seminary in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The college's sole purpose is to teach and train students for Pentecostal ministry for the spread of the Christian gospel. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biblical Studies and Practical Theology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aldrich Mansion</span> United States historic place

Aldrich Mansion is a late 19th-century property owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence since 1939. It is located by the scenic Narragansett Bay at 836 Warwick Neck Avenue in Warwick, Rhode Island, south of Providence, Rhode Island. Originally called Indian Oaks, and once the Senator Nelson W. Aldrich Estate. The extensive estate was developed in 1899 by Nelson W. Aldrich (1841–1915), a Republican Party politician who dominated state politics of the period. The main estate house is a sprawling stone French Renaissance structure with lavish interior decoration. The estate's surviving outbuildings include a boathouse and a caretaker's house, the latter located across Warwick Neck Avenue from the main estate. Aldrich's heirs sold the property to the Roman Catholic church in 1939, and it was adapted for use as a seminary. The property now known as "The Aldrich Mansion" still belongs to the Diocese of Providence, and is now available as a site for weddings, formal occasions, business conferences, etc. It is also occasionally used for film and television productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrington Civic Center Historic District</span> Historic district in Rhode Island, United States

Barrington Civic Center Historic District is a historic district in Barrington, Rhode Island on County Road. The district, which consists of the Barrington Town Hall, Leander R. Peck School and Prince's Hill Cemetery, is located on Prince's Hill near the center of Barrington. In 1728, Prince's Hill Cemetery was purchased and later expanded to its present size by 1898. The 1+1⁄2-story Barrington Town Hall was completed in 1888 and originally served as the seat of the town's government, library and high school. With the completion of the Leander R. Peck School in 1917, the high school moved into the adjacent building and the library used its space. The two-story Elizabethan Revival style Peck School is designed with a T-shaped plan and features a stairway to access the main entrance on the second story. The Peck School was later used by the fifth and sixth-grade elementary students before becoming the public library. Also located within the district is Wood's Pond. The Barrington Civic Center Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and serves as a historically significant example of civic and natural environment planning of the late nineteenth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas F. Hoppin House</span> Historic house in Rhode Island, United States

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."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred E. Field</span> American architect

Frederick E. Field was an American architect who practiced in Providence, Rhode Island, and Orlando, Florida, in the period between 1883 and 1927.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salve Regina University</span> University in Newport, Rhode Island, US

Salve Regina University is a private coeducational Roman Catholic university in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. It was founded in 1934 by the Sisters of Mercy and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The university enrolls more than 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gina Raimondo</span> American politician and venture capitalist (born 1971)

Gina Marie Raimondo is an American businesswoman, lawyer, politician, and venture capitalist who has served since 2021 as the 40th United States secretary of commerce. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as the 75th governor of Rhode Island from 2015 to 2021, and was the first woman to serve in the role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin & Hall</span>

Martin & Hall was the architectural partnership of Frank W. Martin and George F. Hall (1866–1928). It was based in Providence, Rhode Island.

Timeline of Newport, Rhode Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson, Robertson & Adams</span> American architectural firm based in Rhode Island, USA

Jackson, Robertson & Adams was an architectural firm out of Providence, Rhode Island. Established in 1912, it was originally made up of architects F. Ellis Jackson (1879–1950), Wayland T. Robertson (1873–1935), and J. Howard Adams (1876–1924).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seth Magaziner</span> American politician (born 1983)

Seth Michael Magaziner is an American investment professional and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 31st General Treasurer of Rhode Island from 2015 until 2023. Magaziner won the November 2022 election to succeed retiring representative James Langevin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Rhode Island</span>

The COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. state of Rhode Island is part of an ongoing worldwide viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019, a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. As of August 18, 2022, there has been 414,931 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island, 89 of which are currently hospitalized, and 3,636 reported deaths. Rhode Island's COVID-19 case rate and death rate per capita are the highest and twentieth highest, respectively, of the fifty states since the start of the pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Knight (politician)</span> American politician

Jason Knight is an American politician, currently serving in the Rhode Island General Assembly. He serves as Democratic member for the 67th district of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing the towns of Warren and Barrington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick S. Peck</span> Rhode Island businessman and politician

Frederick Stanhope Peck was an American businessman and political figure during the early twentieth century. After growing his father's business, Peck expanded his interests and became a prominent figure within Republican politics in the state of Rhode Island. Throughout his political tenure, Peck would serve as a Republican National Committeeman, a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, and the State Commissioner of Finance.

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ↑ Domestic Engineering 23 July 1927: Chicago.
  3. 1 2 3 National Register of Historic Places Inventory: Nomination Form, Belton Court, Middle Highway, Barrington, (Bristol County: RI), 1976
  4. 1 2 Frederick S. Peck, Furniture, rugs and art property: contained in Belton Court, Barrington, R.I., the residence of the late Frederick Stanhope Peck, (Philadelphia, PA: Samuel T. Freeman & Co, 1947)
  5. ↑ The National Cyclopædia of American Biography v.35, (New York: James T White and Company, 1949), 68
  6. ↑ "Frederick S. Peck Dead, Former R.I. Finance Chief". Pawtucket Times. January 20, 1947. p. 1.
  7. ↑ "History of Barrington College - Gordon College". Gordon College. Gordon College. Archived from the original on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "Bible college said to be set to leave town," Providence Journal, September 19, 2007
  9. 1 2 "Price skyrockets for Belton Court renovation: Historic building has been vacant for more than a decade". EastBayRI.com. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  10. ↑ "Retirement Community Planned in Barrington", The Providence Journal , April 9, 2014
  11. ↑ Dunn, Christine (October 6, 2017). "Return to limbo". The Providence Journal.
  12. ↑ "Future uncertain for former site of Zion Bible College in Barrington". WPRI.com. 2020-01-20. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  13. ↑ "What's next for the Zion property in Barrington?: Property owners show progress with recent demolition, 24-hour security". EastBayRI.com. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  14. ↑ Nagle, Kate. "Demolition Set to Take Place at Historic Barrington Estate Raises Concerns". GoLocalProv. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  15. ↑ "Property owner plans to demolish Belton Court mansion: Town manager concerned: 'it's a major architectural landmark'". EastBayRI.com. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  16. ↑ "Town 'very concerned' as owner plans to demolish Belton Court mansion". WPRI.com. 2022-09-24. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  17. ↑ "Plans to demolish historic Belton Court mansion put on hold". WPRI.com. 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  18. ↑ "350-unit 'Village' planned for vacant Barrington property: Zion property owners present 'Belton Court Village' plan". EastBayRI.com. Retrieved 2023-01-15.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Belton Court at Wikimedia Commons

41°45′43.19″N71°19′59.98″W / 41.7619972°N 71.3333278°W / 41.7619972; -71.3333278

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.