We have stayed in airbnbs all around the world. This is by far the BEST one. Cole farm is charming, comfortable, historic and spacious. On top of all of the charm and comfort at the house is a host that would be hard to top. Ronnie is kind, genuine, thoughtful and generous. The Home is extremely well appointed with many amenities, including most important to us a very comfortable bed as well as high end appliances and beautiful furnishings. Our whole family enjoyed everything about it, including the chickens and fresh eggs he gave us every day. He left us cold drinks, a welcoming local wine, other treats at check in and on check out day he surprised us with baked goods. We would highly recommend this to anyone or any family . We hope to return. Thank you for everything Ronnie!
Meet the painter of George Washington’s famous portrait
Gilbert Stuart Museum (Photography by #USA1731)
Gilbert Stuart , one of America’s master portrait artists is best known for his portraits of George Washington. His birthplace is Saunderstown, RI and the snuff mill of the Stuart family has been authentically restored and open to visitors — see visit information at the museum’s website: https://gilbertstuartmuseum.org/ (note: while the website indicates that Guided Tours are given on a regular basis, they depend on volunteer availability).
AMERICANREVOLUTION.ORG reveals the story behind the third and most famous painting of Washington: When Mrs. Washington wanted a picture of the President for herself, she persuaded her unwilling husband to submit a third time to Stuart’s brush and company. In the stone barn in Germantown he used as a studio, the painter waited anxiously for Washington to ride out for the first sitting… Washington entered the barn with cold courtesy, sat down in the chair Stuart had provided, and clamped his face into the rigid expression he saved for portrait-painters. Stuart plunged into his fund of anecdote, but the face did not relax… Stuart commented on a local horse race; Washington made an animated answer and his face came alive. Then Stuart ransacked his mind for all he knew about horses, and soon the two men were actually talking. Stuart’s brush flew merrily in rhythm with his tongue. The conversation moved on to farming, a subject it had never occurred to Stuart to discuss with the Commander-in-Chief, and again Washington was interested.
President Washington’s passion to horses and to farming probably explains his historic visit to Cole Farm in Providence, RI (see: http://sites.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/articles/170.html“The Cole home has been preserved in as nearly as possible the form in which it was when early members of the Cole family entertained Washington and Lafayette, and contains among other relics of that day the chair in which the commander-in-chief sat.
Cole Farm was famous for its high-grade cows and for horse breeding. Read our blog post about one of the best Thoroughbred racehorses of the late 18th century : Hambletonian
This poster was shared by the Cole Family that owned the Cole Farm — thank you 🙏
Hambletonian – top
The Cole family has been identified with the history of Rhode Island since the early years of the struggling colony. The family which was founded in Rhode Island by James Cole is a branch of one of the most ancient and honorable English houses.
“Washington L. Cole did much to make “Cole’s Farm” well known. Possessing hundreds of acres, he produced big crops, had a large dairy and went extensively into the breeding of racehorses. One of his mares, Messenger Girl,” after defeating all competitors in New England, was sold at Narragansett Park after some races, to Kentucky breeders, who paid $1000 for her. Many noted horses of present times trace their ancestry back through this mare.” (Source: Cow Paths on City StreetsTHE PROVIDENCE SUNDAY JOURNAL MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 24, 1929)
Hambletonian, was one of the best Thoroughbred racehorses of the late 18th century, having won all of his race starts, except one, and was later a good sire (source: Wikipedia)
The historic Cole Farmhouse 
You must be logged in to post a comment.