Sweenor Builders earned a 2015 Rhody Award for its rehabilitation and restoration of Arnold Lumber’s Wakefield Branch Company storefront located on Main Street in Wakefield, Rhode Island.
Rhody Awards are presented by Preserve Rhode Island (PRI) and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC) to honor individuals, organizations, and projects for their contributions to the preservation of Rhode Island’s historic places.
“It’s an honor for Sweenor Builders to receive this recognition,” said Jeff Sweenor, President. “We were grateful for the opportunity to restore a local landmark, and this project was especially meaningful to us as members of the building community.”
For generations, “The Branch” served as a social center for local farmers, builders, and neighbors. It opened in 1874, when William C. Caswell established a lumber and coal business on Wakefield’s Main Street adjacent to the Narragansett Pier Railroad. In time, the complex expanded to include sheds, yards, and a two-story building with crisply corbelled brickwork, an inviting recessed entrance, and a handsome parapet atop the roof.
When Arnold Lumber purchased the property in 1990, the old storefront had been modernized beyond recognition. The distinctive parapet had been removed to install a wood-shake mansard, while the rest of the storefront was hidden behind aluminum panels, vertical board siding, and a relocated aluminum-and-glass entryway. The Arnold family asked Architect Frank Karpowicz to draw up plans for refurbishing the Main Street storefront, but the project was put on hold. rget=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>click here.
In 2013, Sweenor Builders began the restoration. The team removed the 1960s storefront. Under the wood siding, they discovered the old brickwork—largely intact but covered with canary yellow paint. Guided by historic photographs, the contractors removed the paint, repointed the bricks, and replicated missing elements. Aluminum doors were replaced with a custom-made mahogany entryway set back in the original location. Wood sash were installed on the second floor to match the original windows. As a crowning touch, Sweenor Builders painstakingly recreated the parapet, installing antique lettering designed by the Sign Guild as well as Arnold Lumber’s logos.
Today, the restored storefront not only enhances the historic village streetscape, but also showcases Arnold Lumber’s products and the work of local tradespeople.