Moonstone Beach Waterfront
June 2026
Rinaldi Brothers - Roofing Division completed this historic restoration of one of the three Browning Cottages that are left standing (of the original five). Often referred to as the "Five Sisters" or "Five Ladies", set between the Atlantic Ocean and Cards Pond, the historic Browning's Beach cottages are among the last surviving remnants of Rhode Island's storied seaside summer properties. Developed between 1895 and 1905, the cottages were established by prominent Rhode Island families including the Noyes, Knight, Webster, Harris, and Bontecou families, who created a unique beachfront community centered around family.. Connected by a shared boardwalk, the cottages functioned as an integrated summer enclave unlike any other along the Rhode Island shoreline. The Harris family and the Bontecou family's cottages became local fixtures of Browning's Beach, passing through generations while preserving the traditions and character of the community. Following the devastating Hurricane of 1938, Frederick Bontecou acquired several of the remaining cottages and helped ensure their survival for future generations. Designated as the Browning's Beach Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the cottages are recognized for both their architectural significance and their role in Rhode Island's coastal history. Their shingled facades, porches, and distinctive beachfront setting reflect unique coastal, Victorian architecture. Over more than a century, hurricanes, coastal erosion, and Hurricane Sandy have threatened the existence of the structures, with several cottages ultimately being lost to the sea. Today, the remaining cottages stand not only as historic homes, but as symbols of the families, traditions, and resilience that have shaped Narragansett and South Kingstown's (Matunuck) waterfront communities for generations. Rhode Island families, and multiple historical accounts specifically list the Chafee family among the summer colony's longtime owners (per Rhode Island Monthly). In 1985, Jordan's King Hussein and Queen Noor made a visit to the homes, one day before being a guest at the White House of President Ronald Reagan. Feel free to browse a few of the many articles below that highlights the history of the homes: https://www.providencejournal.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2015/01/23/after-sandy-the-ladies-of/741703007/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning%27s_Beach_Historic_District https://www.bostonmagazine.com/property/2020/04/27/rhode-island-beach-house-browning-cottage/ https://www.ricentral.com/sandy-will-claim-two-of-the-five-cottages-on-brownings-beach/article_10fd89a7-2cf3-5646-9336-a60e7793537b.html
F Wave, Copper Valleys, Oceanfront/Estates, Residential, Waterfront
Moonstone Beach Waterfront
Rinaldi Brothers - Roofing Division completed this historic restoration of one of the three Browning Cottages that are left standing (of the original five). Often referred to as the "Five Sisters" or "Five Ladies", set between the Atlantic Ocean and Cards Pond, the historic Browning's Beach cottages are among the last surviving remnants of Rhode Island's storied seaside summer properties. Developed between 1895 and 1905, the cottages were established by prominent Rhode Island families including the Noyes, Knight, Webster, Harris, and Bontecou families, who created a unique beachfront community centered around family.. Connected by a shared boardwalk, the cottages functioned as an integrated summer enclave unlike any other along the Rhode Island shoreline. The Harris family and the Bontecou family's cottages became local fixtures of Browning's Beach, passing through generations while preserving the traditions and character of the community. Following the devastating Hurricane of 1938, Frederick Bontecou acquired several of the remaining cottages and helped ensure their survival for future generations. Designated as the Browning's Beach Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the cottages are recognized for both their architectural significance and their role in Rhode Island's coastal history. Their shingled facades, porches, and distinctive beachfront setting reflect unique coastal, Victorian architecture. Over more than a century, hurricanes, coastal erosion, and Hurricane Sandy have threatened the existence of the structures, with several cottages ultimately being lost to the sea. Today, the remaining cottages stand not only as historic homes, but as symbols of the families, traditions, and resilience that have shaped Narragansett and South Kingstown's (Matunuck) waterfront communities for generations. Rhode Island families, and multiple historical accounts specifically list the Chafee family among the summer colony's longtime owners (per Rhode Island Monthly). In 1985, Jordan's King Hussein and Queen Noor made a visit to the homes, one day before being a guest at the White House of President Ronald Reagan. Feel free to browse a few of the many articles below that highlights the history of the homes: https://www.providencejournal.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2015/01/23/after-sandy-the-ladies-of/741703007/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning%27s_Beach_Historic_District https://www.bostonmagazine.com/property/2020/04/27/rhode-island-beach-house-browning-cottage/ https://www.ricentral.com/sandy-will-claim-two-of-the-five-cottages-on-brownings-beach/article_10fd89a7-2cf3-5646-9336-a60e7793537b.html