Lippitt-Guild House

also known as Peter Green House, Brown University History Department

This 300-ton house was rotated and moved 450 feet up Olive Street in one piece over the course of three days

About this Property

Redevelopment

The Peter Green House at Brown University was moved approximately 450 feet in one piece, from 142 Angell Street to 79 Brown Street, during a three-day moving process that began on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 and ended on August 2, 2007. The 300-ton house was one of the largest undertakings of the University’s 26 home-move projects. The relocation of the Peter Green House creates one of the open green spaces of The Walk, a series of linked open spaces and walking paths between the Pembroke Campus and Lincoln Field.

The house move preparations included removal of existing basement mechanical equipment as well as structural modifications to free the structure from the existing foundations. Construction crews supported the existing structures on wood cribbing and steel beams. The house mover placed hydraulic jacks under the beams and raised the house off of its existing foundations and transferred the loads to wheeled dollys. The house was pulled from the existing foundations, into Olive Street, rotated 90 degrees, and dragged up Olive Street to its new location. The structure was lowered onto its new foundation and restoration and renovation work continued until spring 2008.

Of course, all of this couldn’t have been done without a team. Lerner | Ladds + Bartels Architects and H.V. Collins Company General Contractors designed, repaired and reconstructed original exterior elements while the Providence Revolving Fund consulted on the historically appropriate color scheme. Special attention was paid to the stained glass light that is an integral piece of the building’s impressive staircase. The restored exterior of the Peter Green House is a positive contribution to the Brown University campus. The attention dedicated to carefully restoring the exterior elements and materials of this wonderful building is indicative of the University’s ability to execute thoughtful historic preservation projects on its historic campus.

Current Events

Since the move in 2007, the Sharpe house has been moved to become its neighbor to the north on Olive Street and the new performing center for the arts is under construction.

History

The last major renovation of this house took place in 1999, funded by a donation from Brown alumnus Peter Green in honor of his late wife, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green, which resulted in the renaming of the structure.


From the College Hill Historic District nomination form, Edward F. Sanderson & Keith N. Morgan, January 1976

142 Angell Street Lippitt-Guild House, now Brown University History Department, 1868. Second Empire; 2-1/2 stories; mansard; clapboard; cubical mass with symmetrical 3-bay facade; central arcaded entrance porch supports a polygonal bay window topped by a mansard projection containing a triple arched window; window caps on brackets; paired-bracket cornice trim; rectangular and polygonal bay windows on west side; arcaded porch on east side supports 2nd-story projecting bay and connects to a 1-story rear library pavilion covered by an elaborate ogee-profile roof with scalloped vergeboard trim and massive cap detailed as a classical cornice. Built by Francis P. Lippitt and first leased then sold to Nathaniel G. Guild, a cotton broker and manufacturer.

In the News

On the Move: Historic House Relocates to Make Way for The Walk

by Deborah Baum
Brown University News | July 24, 2007 (abridged)

The Peter Green House at Brown University will be moved approximately 450 feet in one piece, from 142 Angell Street to 79 Brown Street, during a three-day moving process beginning on Tuesday, July 31, 2007. The relocation marks the University’s first step in the construction of The Walk, a series of linked green spaces that will provide a connection between Brown’s main Campus and the Pembroke Campus.

Construction crews have been working during the last few months to prepare the new site, as well as the estimated 300-ton house, for the anticipated three- or four-day move. Between 8 and 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 31, crews will begin to pull the house off of its existing foundations, and carry it into Olive Street. Simultaneously, crews will start the 90-degree rotation, which will correctly orient it for placement on its new foundations. For Tuesday only, a viewing area will be set up for pedestrians on the south side of Angell Street. On Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 1-2, the house will begin its journey approximately 450 feet west along Olive Street to its new location at the corner of Brown and Angell streets. Weather and schedule permitting, by Friday, Aug. 3, the structure will be lowered onto its new foundation and the second phase of renovations and restoration will begin.

“Brown is committed to historic preservation, improvement of the campus and beautification of our community on College Hill,” said Richard Spies, Brown’s executive vice president for planning. “This is yet another step toward completion of The Walk, which will unite Brown’s main campus and the Pembroke Campus. We believe that The Walk will contribute greatly to the look and feel of the campus and will serve as yet one more place where the University community and the larger East Side neighborhood will meet and interact, and we are very excited about finally getting this project under way.”

The Peter Green House was originally constructed in 1868. Brown University purchased the building in 1966 under its previous name, the Lippit-Guild House. The building is currently occupied by the Department of History. The last major renovation took place in 1999, funded by a donation from Brown alumnus Peter Green in honor of his late wife, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green, which resulted in the renaming of the structure.

As Brown University has grown over the years, new construction projects have often necessitated the removal or relocation of older structures. In its nearly 250-year history, Brown has relocated 26 buildings. Hallworth House is recorded as having been moved in 1840 from 234 Benefit Street to the front green, west of Manning Hall, where it became the first president’s house. Later, in 1910, two homes were moved to make way for Arnold Laboratory. In more recent decades, houses have been relocated to facilitate the construction of Wriston Quadrangle (1949-50), List Art Center (1959), Vartan-Gregorian Quadrangle (1982) and the Watson Institute (1999).

“The Walk” project was conceived by R.M. Kliment & Frances Halsband Architects, in consultation with The Walk Advisory Committee, Campus Planning Advisory Board, and the Facilities and Design Committee of the Corporation, and endorsed by the Corporation of Brown University in 2003.

Captured 03 September 2023 from https://news.brown.edu/articles/2007/07/historic-house-relocates