Plaque Program

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If you are a homeowner of an historic property, you should know we regard you as a very important steward of our town’s history.

Since 1965 the Society has awarded over 174 historic plaques to homes that have retained their architectural integrity and are at least 100 years in age.

Applying for a Plaque

Owners of Barrington buildings built at least 100 years ago, which preserve their original stylistic integrity, may apply for a plaque. Once the age of the house is documented and the necessary research is complete, a plaque commemorating the original owner(s) and date of construction is presented to the owners in our annual plaque program event.

A Plaque Application and Plaque Program Guidelines (including current plaque fees, both new and replacement) are available here to download:

•  Plaque Program Guidelines (Updated March 2024)

•  Plaque Application (Updated March 2024) (fillable PDF form)

For more information, please contact the BPS plaque committee by e-mail at plaques@barringtonpreservation.org.

Join us in preserving and celebrating Barrington’s splendid architectural resources!

Owning a Plaqued House

BPS maintains files on every property which has been plaqued by us since 1965. Every plaqued house is part of a century-long story which is still being written. We encourage homeowners to visit or contact us if you are curious about your house’s past, and to let us know if you have more to tell us about your house’s past, present, or future.

Older plaques issued by Barrington Preservation Society were painted on cream-colored plastic. In many cases, the plastic has deteriorated or cracked.  Plaques are currently issued in attractive and durable painted wood. Owners of older plasic plaques are encouraged to apply for a replacement: in most cases, it is an opportunity for the homeowner and for the Preservation Society volunteers to learn and document more about the house’s history.

Current or prospective owners of plaqued properties in Barrington, and real estate agents, often ask BPS about both obligations and benefits conferred by BPS plaques. Unlike several other Rhode Island towns, Barrington has no town-level Historic District Commission (HDC) or similar municipal governmental agency. Our town recognizes no restrictions on plaqued properties within Barrington other than what applies to every property covered by statute in the town’s property code. Similarly, while a plaque confers the recognition that excellent and well-preserved properties deserve, BPS plaques do not confer any protections or financial benefits to property owners either at the town or state level.