Lazy Lawn, 528 Third Beach Road, Middletown, Newport County, RI

Significance: Lazy Lawn was built as the first summer home in Rhode Island, in the early 1700's. It was built by Joseph Angell of Providence. The house was purchased by Samuel Green Arnold in 1843. This piece of property has remained in the family ever since. The State Historical Commission calls it "A 1-1 1/2 story Federal structure with Greek Revival alterations notably a temple-form facade (an unknown feature in Rhode Island Greek Revival houses, even the most elaborate)." On November 1, 1844 Arnold set out to landscape his house and on that day alone planted over 100 trees. Arnold enlarged the house and renovated to the Greek Revival style in the early 1850s. He also moved a building behind the main house for use as a kitchen. In 1911 the gardener's cottage near the north gate was moved to its present location from a site several hundred feet behind the main house. The name was coined (or carved) by a guest who carved it into an old swing.
Survey number: HABS RI-392
Building/structure dates: 17t1 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: after 1850 Subsequent Work