Smithfield Exchange Bank
| Company type | Bank (historical) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking |
| Founded | 1822 |
| Founder | Daniel Winsor, Asa Winsor, Stephen Steere, Elisha Steere, Richard Smith, Silas Smith, Nathan B. Sprague, Joseph Mathewson, Dexter Irons, John S. Appleby, Reuben Mowry |
| Fate | Moved to larger building in 1856; original building repurposed and later preserved as historic site |
| Headquarters | Smithfield (Greenville section) , United States |
Area served | Northwestern Rhode Island |
Key people | Daniel Winsor (president), William Winsor (cashier from 1845) |
| Products | Banking services for farmers and small businesses |
The Smithfield Exchange Bank, also referred to as the Resolved Waterman Tavern or Greenville Tavern, was constructed in 1822 and is situated along Putnam Pike within the Greenville section of Smithfield, Rhode Island.
History
The origins trace back to 1733 when Resolved Waterman Jr., a descendant of Roger Williams, opened a tavern catering to travelers on this important turnpike. In 1822, the Smithfield Exchange Bank was established by new proprietors as an ell attached to the existing tavern structure. Subsequently, a second ell was appended, linked via a cobblestone courtyard. Among the bank’s founding members were Daniel Winsor (serving as president), Asa Winsor, Stephen Steere, Elisha Steere, Richard Smith, Silas Smith, Nathan B. Sprague, Joseph Mathewson, Dexter Irons, John S. Appleby, and Reuben Mowry. The institution primarily supported farmers and local small enterprises throughout northwestern Rhode Island. William Winsor assumed the role of cashier in 1845.
By 1856, the Exchange Bank moved into a larger brick edifice adjacent to the original site. The tavern itself was transformed into a private home in 1902. In 1936, the main tavern building was demolished to make way for U.S. Route 44, leaving only the two ell structures standing independently. The ell that formerly housed the bank continued as a residence until 1969 under Mrs. Bessie Fish’s occupancy. Subsequent ownership transitioned among the Evans, Mowry, Whipple, and McLaughlin families before acquisition by Cumberland Farms. Cumberland Farms sold the property to the town of Smithfield in 2000, which later transferred it to the Smithfield Preservation Society in 2006. That same year, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Restoration
Starting in 2009, the Smithfield Preservation Society initiated fundraising efforts aimed at restoring the tavern after concerns about its deteriorating condition prompted town officials to consider condemnation.
See also
External links
- Commercial buildings completed in 1822
- Buildings and structures in Smithfield, Rhode Island
- Taverns in Rhode Island
- Drinking establishments on the National Register of Historic Places in Rhode Island
- Bank buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Rhode Island
- Commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Rhode Island
- National Register of Historic Places in Providence County, Rhode Island
- 1822 establishments in Rhode Island