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Brown House LbNA #8383

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:May 10, 2004
Location:
City:Portsmouth
County:Newport
State:Rhode Island
Boxes:1
Planted by:Mary Lou
Found by: Law Dog
Last found:Apr 1, 2012
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFaa
Last edited:May 10, 2004
Glen Farm, in the town of Portsmouth, RI is a 100 acre park like area which is home to the Gardner Seveney Sports Complex, the Glen Farm Equestrian Center, Babe Ruth Baseball, the Newport Polo Club, Portsmouth Youth Soccer, Lacrosse and it is the site of many special events. Right at the heart of this amazing space is the Leonard Brown House.

You approach this historic farm house by turning in off Route 138/East Main Rd through a "tunnel" of Linden Trees. It is said that there were once 116 Linden Trees planted on this property. The stone walls on either side of this street called Linden Lane are original and were no doubt built from rocks taken from the fields as they prepared them for farming.

The Leonard Brown house is the large yellow house at the curve in this road. If you curve around to the left as if you were leaving again you can park along the stone walled area to the left of this road. Then get out and enjoy of walk around the area. The house is closed at present while work is ongoing. Please take care as there are often construction materials around.

The back yard is a large space with a wonderful view of the Polo fields where you can often see horses running and riders practicing. The yard is enclosed by the historic stone walls built in the 1800's. It's a magnificent place to throw down a blanket and have a picnic and you are free to do so. Please remember to take any trash with you or deposit it in the barrels nearby.

To find the letterbox, go to the front door of the house. Feel free to take a brochure there to learn more about this historic property and the renovation project. Now turn left as you face the house and walk to the end of the porch. Under the porch, behind a rock, close to the house is where the letterbox is hidden. Stamp in, then replace the box so that it is not easily seen by passersby.

History:
Leonard Brown built this house around 1850. He worked as a wheelwright and blacksmith until he acquired his father in law?s farm. By 1888 Mr. Brown was known as one of the best farmers in Portsmouth. In 1902, Henry A.C. Taylor purchased the farm and used this house as a support residence for Glen Farm until the early 1950?s when the Taylor family began renting it out as income property. The home remained a rental property until 1988. The Town of Portsmouth bought the property in 1989.

As the years passed the property became quite run down. It was a haven for vandals and several fires further ruined the structure. After other solutions as to what to do with this property failed, the Friends of the Brown House formed as a grass roots, community organization. The "Friends" leased the property from the town in January of 2000, and took on the job of renovating the house and yard. The project hopes to culminate in the full renovation of the house into a multi-use, community and cultural center.

For full map and directions go to
http://www.OnAquidneck.com/brownhouse/map.htm

For more information visit these web sites
The Friends of the Brown House
The Glen Farm Stables
The Glen Manor House
The Newport Polo Club