A house with a history and a story

 This will take a minute, but it's a great story.

I was in Jamestown on a day off, enjoying the breeze and photographing the Conanicut Yacht Club. Ready to move on, I randomly chose a nearby pin on my Historic Properties map, and drove there.

The house seemed fairly ordinary at first glance. The most intriguing thing was the arched window and tower. 

I took the photo to add to the map, and got into the car. That's when I read the RIHPHC's description.

Tap tap tap.

A woman had crossed the street from the house to knock on my car window. 

"Do you want to see inside?"

Did I?!

I scurried out of the car to follow her into...

The Movable Chapel.

Julie, the homeowner, led me into the recessed doorway that led to what had once been the front of the building. 

Former stained glass windows were now stained glass Dutch doors - I love Dutch doors!

The sanctuary now houses her living area. Julie is an interior designer by trade, and it shows in the fun and thoughtful way she's decorated the space.

That angel is perfection, and the chandelier is original.

From the State Survey of Historic Properties for Jamestown (RIHPHC): "1898-99. 1933: A 1-1/2-story, cross-gabled residence. with several triangular stained glass windows; a small brick exterior chimney; a 1-story bay window in front; and several additions at the rear. Today a residence on a small landscaped lot, the structure was built as a movable church on wheels. The idea for a movable chapel was conceived by the Reverend Charles E. Preston of Jamestown’s St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church as a means of providing religious services for summer residents at the northern end of the island; then the chapel could migrate south, to be near the year-round population in winter. Newport architect Charles Bevins drew up the plans and the Archibald Wheel Works of Lawrence, Massachusetts, made the wheels. The 27-by-15-foot chapel, which could accommodate 100 people, was launched April 17, 1899. It was pulled northward by ten pair of oxen, but traveled only three miles north of the village, to Stork’s Hill, where the chapel came to rest on land donated by Thomas G. Carr. After the Reverend Preston left the island, the new rector refused to take over the chapel. Before 1915 it was moved to North Road, still in service as a chapel. In 1933 it was moved to its present site, enlarged, and converted to residential use."

Julie must be used to lookie-loos, because she had a folder of historical photos and information about the chapel, including these fantastic shots of it in motion.

She has one of the original interior, dated 1889 (note the chandelier)

and the man himself, Rev. Preston.

The chapel has been expanded with a small living space (kitchen/bath/sitting area with an overhead loft) in the front

and a round room in the back that houses Julie's studio, where she does her designs and also makes art.

When they cleared out the back yard, they uncovered this stone wall that now separates their garden from the yard.

Living space has been added to the former front of the chapel as well (the left of the first picture). That's their private space, and I didn't go in.

It was such a thrill to see inside the Movable Chapel, and to know that it's well-kept in loving hands.