The Edward Searle House is an historic stone ender

Stone ender

The Stone-ender is a unique style of Rhode Island architecture that developed in the 17th century where one wall in a house is made up of a large stone chimney.-History:...

 in Cranston

Cranston, Rhode Island

Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...

, Rhode Island

Rhode Island

The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...

 in the village of Oaklawn

Oaklawn, Rhode Island

Oak Lawn is a historical village in south west Cranston, Rhode Island. Prior to being named "Oak Lawn" in 1872 the area was known as "Searle's Corner". The Edward Searle House, built in 1677, and one of the oldest standing structures in Rhode Island, is located in Oak Lawn. The village is also...

. The house is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the state.

The house was built in 1677 on the site of the original 1671 house which was burned by Native Americans

Native Americans in the United States

Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...

 during King Philip's War

King Philip's War

King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...

, and was remodeled around 1720. The one-and-a-half story gable-roofed stone-ender remains a part of the newer house. Edward Searle was a son-in-law of Thomas Ralph who was one of the original purchasers of the land from the Indians. The owner of the house has placed a large chalkboard on the front porch often containing messages for passers-by.