By ETHAN SHOREY
NORTH SMITHFIELD – A home dating back hundreds of years at 309 Eddie Dowling Highway is up for a historic designation following a recommendation from the Planning Board.
At the July 9 meeting, Planning Director Mark Carruolo and Jeff Harris, chairperson of the Historic District Commission, explained the application from the owner of what’s known as the J.H. Bradford House for historic overlay protection.
Ownership of the home has been the same since 1995, according to the town’s tax records.
Harris shared that the HDC was recommending the home as part of the historic district based on the belief that it’s an important architectural and cultural resource and a great representation of 19th century development.
Harris said they found the home’s age potentially dating back to around 1845, and said it was difficult to find more information beyond that. Some sources say the roots of the home date back to near the founding of the country, he said, emphasizing that the structure displays some great details.
Carruolo said the home certainly qualifies for the designation, and the applicant for the historic designation protection is the owner. The board then made a positive recommendation to the council to make the designation on the zoning map.
