The Paine House Museum
Located at 7 Station St. Coventry, R.I. View map
Owned and operated by The Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society. A one time Colonial home and Inn, restored and furnished in the period-style.
The Paine house originally was built by Francis Brayton Sr. After his death
in 1783 the property passed to his son Francis Brayton Jr. In
1785 Francis Brayton Jr was granted a license to sell spiritous liquors and
the house became a house of entertainment, an inn or a tavern. In 1797 it
was sold to a Charles Holden and was known as the Holden tavern. Holden heirs
sold it to Thomas Whipple April 9, 1849.
On April 25, 1866 the Whipple family sold the property to Phebe Paine and
Mary Mathewson (Matteson). Mary sold her half to Phebe Paine Johnson. Through
inheritance the property came to be in the Paine family for the next 87 years.
Mr. Herbert F. Paine was the last of the family to live in the house and
in 1946 after his death it passed to his half-sister Mrs. Zilpha W. Foster.
The keys to the house were turned over to the President of the Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society on July 24, 1953 after being left by Mrs. Foster as a memorial
to her mother Phebe Paine Johnson and sister Orvilla Paine.
It is very easy to pass by this wonderful house without realizing the treasures
inside. I have been a resident of Coventry for many many years, passing it
every day. I would see the sign reading "Paine House 1688" on the building
but not paying much attention. There are many old homes in RI which have
plaques on them. It was quite by accident one day last summer that my husband
and I had the pleasure of meeting a woman in a cemetery who would later become
a source of great information. She had been placing flowers on graves and
I noticed she was at some of the Matteson's. I asked how she was related
and from there things just snowballed. We were invited by Luane to visit
the Paine House and take a tour. I have to be honest...I didn't really understand
exactly what this place was.img 
In September we made it to take a tour. I, for one, was totally amazed at
the amount of items in this place. It was so overwhelming to see books, diaries,
bibles, clothing, tools, everyday household items, quilts so carefully laid
out for all to see. There are rooms of every type imaginable in this huge
old house. There is a military room., a school room, a library with
an astounding variety. It was incredible just picking up a book and seeing
so many familiar family names! There is a children's room. That's where
I happened to spot the dress in the picture. So many family lines have donated
items over the years. The Mattesons (with various spellings), the Andrews,
the Tillinghast's, the Capwell's, the Greenes. Of course there are many items
from the Paine, Johnson and Foster families. The pictures that hang on the
walls of each room are a treasure in and of themselves. It would be impossible
for me to decribe this museum and the entire contents properly. This place
is well worth a visit and with each visit one always notices something they
hadn't seen before.
by Marge Matteson
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