SUMMER 2010 • NO. 167

1/8 B A Publication of The Preservation Society of Newport County

SUMMER 2010 • NO. 167 page 4 The Cutting Edge 6 Gothic Art Exhibit Opens 8 Couture Dressmaking 10 Aspects of Architecture 12 Creating a Flower Show Exhibit 13 Wine & Food Festival 14 New Department Created 14 Membership Goes Digital 14 Fireman’s Fund Insurance 15 Calendar of Events 16 Conservators Circle Anniversary 17 In Memoriam page

Front cover: Detail, stained glass window, Gothic Room The Preservation Society is grateful to corbettphotography.net Carol and Les Ballard for their support in Inside Cover: Southeast corner of Marble House Gothic Room underwriting this issue of the Newport Gazette. Ira Kerns Summer 2010 3 Cutting Edge By Trudy Coxe corbettphotography.net CEO and Executive Director

The high season in Newport is September, the Preservation Society’s On an operational level, this year upon us and The Preservation Society major fundraising event, a dinner also promises some smart business of Newport County is brimming with dance at Marble House, will occur innovations, led by the introduction new projects, premieres, and firsts; on August 14. of a digitized membership and each promises to be a positive step Education is one of our prime general admissions system. In July forward for the Preservation Society. missions, and in that regard our and August, new computerized ticket Several notables: continuing relationship with Bryant sales stations will be installed at all The Gothic Art in the Gilded Age University’s US-China Institute is of our houses. This will enhance exhibition at Marble House has opening doors for a major research both ticketed admissions and member already received national and project. After many conversations recognition, as well as simplifying international press with major reviews with leaders at Bryant, we will be membership renewals. The user- in a variety of publications including hosting a Chinese art expert here in friendliness of our online services The New York Times, Apollo, The Newport to undertake a wide-ranging will improve with the addition of Magazine Antiques, and Antiques evaluation of our collection of Chinese “print at home” temporary and Fine Art. objects, and to eventually publish memberships and tickets. A major share of the cost for the new digital A new family audio tour of The findings from that work that will help add rich new content to our tours. system is funded by a grant from Breakers premieres on June 26 with the federal Institute for Museum a whole new point of view for our One of the initiatives that we have and Library Services (IMLS). younger visitors. The tour builds wanted to do for a long time is the on the success of audio establishment of an International I hope these initiatives convey to tour that garnered so much support Council of nationally- and interna- you that in this time of continued last year. tionally-recognized leaders in the economic uncertainty, not only are we weathering the storms but we are Restoration of Chateau-sur-Mer fields of the arts, culture and historic preservation. We are extremely actively working to make this a will be finished mid-summer, after a stronger and more vibrant organiza- number of years of painstaking work. grateful to Rusty Powell, Director of the National Gallery, and to Armin tion. As a member, there’s plenty And, our exhibition of haute cou- Allen, former President of the for you to do and enjoy at the ture dress titled Newport Undressed: Preservation Society, for agreeing to Preservation Society and, from our Crafting the Gilded Age Wardrobe tells co-chair the Council. Already, an perspective, it’s important to convey a great story about textile conservation impressive group of leaders has agreed a sense of momentum that comes as and fashion in the late 19th century. to serve, and the Council will hold a result of your support. You are the secret to all our successes and Other important activities will fill its inaugural meeting in Newport I extend to you my heartfelt thanks. our calendars as well. Along with the in September of this year. 15th annual Newport Flower Show in June and the 5th annual Newport Statue of Saint Catherine of Alexandria ca. 1510-20 Mansions Wine & Food Festival in Gothic Art in the Gilded Age, Marble House Loan of the Ringling Museum of Art 4 Newport Gazette Gothic Art Gilded Age Opens Acclaim Photo above: Gene Roberts, one of the exhibit’s supporters, with Marshall Rousseau, interim director of the Ringling Museum of Art, and Lee Hinkele, By Andrea Carneiro, Communications Manager Florida State University Vice President for University Relations and Advancement. corbettphotography.net Two tractor-trailer trucks pulled up in front of Three weeks later, guests at the opening night recep- Photo above: Reviewing historic photos of the Gothic Room are Heidi Taylor, Assistant Registrar at the Ringling Museum of Art, Preservation Society Marble House early in the morning on April 19, and tion, including representatives of the Board of Trustees Associate Curator Charles Burns, Curator Paul Miller and Maintenance began unloading their cargo: 51 specially-designed packing and staff of the Ringling, offered “oohs” and “aahs” as Supervisor Tom Pickens. Andrea Carneiro crates carrying more than 300 art objects back to their they entered the Gothic Room and saw the collection for original American home. Gothic Art in the Gilded Age had the first time. Each piece had been carefully replaced in arrived from the Ringling Museum of Art, and the process its original location, exactly where it had been after Alva The loan exhibition and accompanying catalogue have of re-installing the paintings, sculpture, metalwork, Vanderbilt purchased the collection in Paris and brought been made possible by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, the Angela and Gary Moore furniture, ceramics, timepieces, carved gems and wax it to Newport. She later sold the collection to John Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust, Mr. David B. Ford, miniatures in the room that was designed and built for Ringling for his museum in Sarasota, Florida, where the Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Bowie Roberts and the Fellowship them at the end of the 19th century began. pieces were scattered throughout the various galleries and Program at the Center for the History of Collecting in Pierre Irving and Armin Allen Ringling’s waterfront mansion. America at the Frick Collection, New York. corbettphotography.net Preservation Society CEO and Executive Director Gothic Art in the Gilded Age: Medieval and Renaissance Trudy Coxe and Marshall Rousseau, interim director of Treasures in the Gavet-Vanderbilt-Ringling Collection, will the Ringling, each praised the remarkable collaboration be on display at Marble House through October 31, 2010. between the two institutions that reunited the collection and allowed it to travel back to Newport for exhibition. Mike Urette, Karen Urette, Patrick Hennigan, Michele Redwine and Kathy Irving and Betsy Ray Marshall Rousseau of the Ringling Museum

Trudy Coxe and Virgina Brilliant Photo above: The newly-reinstalled art collection in the Gothic Room captured the attention of guests at the opening reception. corbettphotography.net Gothic Art in the Gilded Age David and Linda Gordon with Detail west wall Lynn Roberts Photos by NewportSeen.com unless otherwise noted Photo left: Chief Conservator Jeff Moore lifts a sculpture from its wrapping. Now through October 31, 2010 Photo above: Arranging a collection of miniature wax portraits in their case. Andrea Carneiro

6 Newport Gazette Summer 2010 7 employment in the textile trade. This mutually beneficial relationship provided silk mercers with valuable patronage while ensuring couturiers access to an Couture expansive variety of fabrics straight from the source. The sheer variety of colors and patterns available to the couture cus- tomer increased the appeal of shopping for custom-made clothing. Gilded Age Each fashion house was backed by an immense staff trained to efficiently fill hundreds of orders per week. Staff members ranged from the By Jessica Urick, Textile Conservator couturier himself to assistant designers, saleswomen, cutters, seamstresses, and To be a fashionable lady of the Gilded Age in Newport required a fitters. Of all the couture house’s skilled grand wardrobe, a large budget, travel to Paris, and the poise, grace, employees, seamstresses were the most and confidence to wear the clothes well. This stylish façade also important to ensuring an expertly-craft- depended on a complex haute couture business model that reached ed product. The quality of their stitching its apex in the late 20th century, supported by scores of seamstresses lent credence to the custom dressmaking Aquamarine silk damask evening gown by Worth, Beaded silk opera cloak by Worth, Paris, c.1890s Paris, c. 1870 and hundreds of hours of skilled labor. industry, providing customers with confidence that they possessed a unique The well-to-do Gilded Age woman had several options when garment handcrafted just for them. purchasing clothing. She could commission garments from private seamstresses or purchase ready-to-wear items from department stores Although major structural seams were sewn by machine, custom-made garments were produced at immense speed and boutiques. However, the pinnacle of high-end shopping was the the rest of the work, including details and finishing, was without sacrificing quality. The wealth of surviving gar- Parisian haute couture house, and it was within the world of couture entirely stitched by hand. A simple couture day dress ments from this period in museums around the world – that fashion became as costly and expertly-crafted as fine art. required over 100 hours of manual labor, generally divided including many examples from the Preservation Society’s Ivory damask gown between several seamstresses. More elaborate gowns, such costume collection – stands as a testament to their unparal- Designer Charles Frederick Worth is credited as the founding by Worth, Paris, c. 1880 as those involving beading or embroidery, consumed thou- leled materials and construction. father of the couture industry. Upon opening his Parisian dressmaking sands of hours. Depending on their level of Newport Undressed: Crafting the Gilded Age Wardrobe, business in 1858, he established himself as an outspoken arbiter of embellishment, garments could on display at through November 19, explores taste – rather than adhering to a customer’s preferences, he range in cost from $100 to $500 – all aspects of the dressmaking process. Highlights of the designed dresses based on his own personal vision. Worth became approximately $3,000 to $13,000 exhibition include gowns worn by Ella King of a trendsetter, and the role of dressmaker shifted from mere in modern currency. seamstress to creative visionary. As other fashion-minded and Ellen French, the first wife of Alfred Vanderbilt of The businessmen followed suit, the couture industry was born, and Charles Worth once claimed Breakers. A circa 1880 gown by designer Charles Frederick women flocked from around the world to purchase their designs. that “ladies have ordered a dress Worth is displayed completely inside-out, allowing visitors a in the morning and danced in it that rare opportunity to view its internal construction. The foundation of couture dressmaking was fine fabric sourced night.” Indeed, the Gilded Age couture from the best manufacturers in the world. Charles Worth spearheaded industry remains a landmark in the history an affiliation between couture houses and the silk industry, owing to his prior of clothing production, where unique

OBJECT ANALYSIS withstand several months of exhibition. In rare cases where original fabric is COLLECTIONS CARE Exhibitions are enabled by our AND TREATMENT After the assessment, many objects damaged beyond repair, careful reproduc- AND STORAGE mission, which is to protect, preserve Caring for Each garment is assessed prior require conservation treatment tions may be made to replace it. The Preservation Society’s and present our properties and their to display to determine to repair damage or provide 9,000 piece textile collection includes contents. Preservation initiatives the Gilded its condition. A additional stability prior to approximately 5,000 costumes and include proper storage, environmental Age Lady’s combination of exhibition. Preservation accessories from the 18th century to the controls, and pest management to visual examination treatments protect fragile present day. Its holdings represent a ensure the long-term survival of our and technical areas of a textile to cross-section of major designers collections. Wardrobe analysis illumi- ensure that no damage By Jessica Urick, and period styles, with an emphasis on Staff and interns have begun to nates the nature will occur while on dis- high fashion reflecting Newport’s histo- construct specialized storage mounts Textile Conservator of damaged or play. Stabilization treat- ry as a luxury resort. for period accessories. This ongoing fragile areas on ments repair damages and Cotton fiber Sequin from a project is both labor and time-intensive. at 100x magnification the object, and c.1901 dress at provide additional strength determines whether it can 50x magnification to deteriorating textiles. Divided trays separate beaded handbags. 8 Newport Gazette Summer 2010 9 Aspects

Roundel with Moorish Architecture Shell-motif-typical inspired latice of 18th centry Design Newport furniture Classical moldings

The Kingscote Dining Room By Caitlin M. Emery, Museum Education Fellow

At the time of its completion in 1881, the Kingscote dining room was unlike anything previously built in Newport. It characterizes the eclectic aesthetic that defined the early work of its designer, Stanford White. Trained as a painter, White brought an artistic eye to his work with the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White. His innate talent is evident in the careful blending of materials and the use of light, texture and color. White fused design motifs extracted Chippendale style hardware from English, Classical, Moorish, Japanese, and Colonial Revival sources. He selected such diverse materials as unfinished cork tiles, yellow Siena marble, inlaid cherry parquet, mahogany paneling, and opalescent Tiffany glass. Combining traditional and modern materials, together with exotic ornament, and historical references, each component of the space is a part of the overall aesthetic; no single item or detail overwhelms the others. Departing from earlier stylistic traditions, the creation of the dining room identified Mr. and Mrs. David King, Jr., who commissioned it, as fashionable, wealthy patrons of the arts. Kingscote Dining Room (bottom) corbettphotography.net Dining Room sideboard (right) Richard Cheek

Ceiling lined with unfinished cork tiles Ball-and-claw feet Brass sconces with Glass mosaics by Tiffany Pressed glass tiles purchased stylized flower motif & Co. with flower motif from Tiffany & Co. Wood paneling influenced by medieval English houses

Cait Emery is a Winterthur Fellow who wrote her Master’s thesis on the Kingscote dining room, with Preservation Society Architectural Historian John Tschirch and Brock Jobe, Professor of American Decorative Arts at Winterthur, as her thesis advisors. In addition, she presented her work on the Kingscote dining room at the Newport Symposium in April, and is spending a year with the Preservation Society as a Museum Education Fellow.

Detail, Tiffany glass tiles Ira Kerns Brass sconce with stylized flower motif

10 Newport Gazette Summer 2010 11 SEPTEMBER 24-26, 2010 Flower Wine & Food Festival Show By Andrea Carneiro, Communications Manager

The Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival continues to grow, having become the most anticipated event on the East Coast in just its 5th year. The A lion and a giraffe peek out from the foliage in the Preservation Society’s exhibit at the Boston addition of Food & Wine magazine as Presenting Sponsor, returning for its Flower Show. Donna Lane By Jim Donahue, Horticulturist second year, has provided exciting new marketing opportunities and helped to attract other national sponsors, exhibitors and chefs. Earlier this year, the Preservation Society created a spring more plants were started than were eventually used, since not The 5th annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food flower show exhibit for the newly re-invented Boston Flower every plant variety can be predictably forced. We enjoyed Festival is scheduled for September 24-26, 2010. The and Garden Show. To promote our own 2010 Newport particular success in growing the summer bedding plants two-day Grand Tasting will take place at Marble Flower Show, Safari Flora & Fauna, the exhibit combined a donated by Proven Winners. These African daisies, dibasic, House, with more than 100 wineries and dozens of variety of native African plants with topiary safari animals. nemesis and strawflowers provided color and authenticity food and lifestyle exhibitors. Celebrity chefs will The display was awarded the “Horticulture Counts” Award and like the rest of the plants grown, will find outdoor, provide free cooking demonstrations throughout from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. summer homes on the grounds of the Newport Mansions. the weekend. These special guests include Nick Stellino, Rachel Allen and Christina Pirello of Every exhibit starts with a design concept, and for this The stars of the show were our African safari animal American Public Television, Chris Cosentino of African theme, an upscale safari camp was being invaded topiaries: a lion, giraffe, zebra and crocodile, composed San Francisco’s Incanto restaurant, Ray Isle of by topiary animals. One of the tricks of completely out of African plants and flowers. Food & Wine, Annie Copps of Yankee, and Roseann putting together a flower show display On the internet we discovered life-sized, Tully of Intermezzo. Also joining us will be noted is to pre-construct modular staging, steel-wire topiary frames, which formed the viniculture artist Thomas Arvid. providing all of the planting beds, paths basis of these creations. Since there are no and structures, which can be quickly manuals on how to create a zebra out of Our Friday night gala will return to Rosecliff, assembled at the show site. All of the palm fronds, or a giraffe out of strawflowers, with a “Meet the Chefs” theme. Meet our celebrity construction was expertly handled by the process took some time to decipher. In chefs, and taste some of their signature dishes, along the Preservation Society’s maintenance the end, the team at Green Animals, where with special vintages. crew, headed by Tom Pickens. the topiaries were “born,” covered each Also returning this year will be a series of wine seminars. Creating an indoor exhibit presents animal-shaped frame in a custom, burlap Among the speakers will be Leslie Sbrocco, host of the PBS series a number of unique and “unnatural” suit and then spent hundreds of hours “Check Please!” for which she has won both the coveted James challenges, foremost among them how applying dried leaves and flowers using Beard award and three Emmy awards, and author of several books. hot glue. It was a tedious process that to get the plant material in leaf and The Festival will also continue to offer a Sunday jazz brunch produced many burnt fingertips, but well bloom in the dead of winter. This is on the terrace of Marble House, silent auctions, and a live auction worth the incredible reactions of the crowds. where Director of Gardens and during the Grand Tasting on Saturday. Grounds Jeff Curtis’ expertise in plant Perhaps the greatest challenge was the Additional sponsors include Alaska Seafood, American Public forcing came into play. The plants were short on-site construction timeline, from The topiaries were later displayed at the Television, Clarke Luxury Showrooms, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. sourced from several specialty nurseries Saturday afternoon to the following Tuesday Chestnut Hill Mall to promote the Newport of Southern New England/Dasani Waters, Cotes du in the late fall of 2009, and growing morning. While that might seem sufficient to Flower Show. Charissa Rogers Rhone Wines, Create TV, Dave’s Fresh Marketplace, began in earnest right after Christmas. fill our allotted 700 square feet of space, in fact Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, The Hotel Tricking African plants into believing the exhibit was completed with only minutes Viking, Hyatt Regency Newport, Intermezzo they are on the sunny, warm savannah, and not in The to spare! Little does the casual flower show visitor know how Magazine, Loire Valley Wines, Travelocity, Breakers greenhouses during the coldest, shortest days of much planning, time, occasional stress and at times, chaos, Thirsty Girl and Yankee Magazine. the winter, involved providing lots of heat and goes into creating such a pleasant flower show experience. hundreds of hours of supplemental fluorescent light. Many For more information and tickets, visit www.NewportMansionsWineAndFood.org.

12 Newport Gazette Summer 2010 13 Fireman’s Fund Insurance New Museum Affairs Calendar of Events Department Created Company Renews Its Commitment Advance reservations required for most events unless otherwise noted. The Preservation Society has created Visit www.NewportMansions.org for more information, tickets and to Historic Preservation a new Department of Museum Affairs, reservations, or call (401) 847-1000. Schedule is subject to change. combining the previously separate curatorial, conservation and academic By John Rodman, Director of Museum Experience programs departments and unifying the Preservation Society’s core mission Once again, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company has become the Preservation activities: collections, conservation, Society’s largest corporate underwriter, providing an annual contribution of at interpretation and research. least $100,000 to support many of our activities. It is the fourth year in a row “The synergy and collaboration that the company has signed on as a Partner in Preservation, an incredible generated by the new department’s show of corporate citizenship in a difficult economic climate. day-to-day activities will inspire new WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30 FRIDAY, JULY 23 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 levels of creativity and scholarship, Several years ago, Fireman’s Lecture: Frederick Law Olmsted and facilitate our important work in Lecture: What You Need to Lecture: Giving Through Fund recognized the need to treat and Sons-Masters of American Know About Planning Your Collections, Trusts and historic buildings differently the areas of preservation and education,” Landscape Architecture Financial Legacy Gift Annuities said CEO and Executive Director when it comes to insurance, John Tschirch, Architectural Debra Ashton, Debra Ashton, tailoring its coverage to protect Trudy Coxe. Historian, The Preservation Society Planned Giving Expert Planned Giving Expert their unique attributes. Architectural Historian John Tschirch 424 Bellevue Avenue, 10 am 424 Bellevue Avenue, 10 am 424 Bellevue Avenue, 2 pm They specialize in understanding is now the Director of Museum Affairs, historic structures, valuable art overseeing the combined activities of the WEDNESDAY, JULY 7 MONDAY, AUGUST 2 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 – collections and personal or new department. Within the department, Lecture: The Breakers Cutting Winslow Lecture: The World in SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 business insurance needs. Paul Miller continues as Curator, and Garden-Caring for the Gilded Age Vogue-People, Parties, Places Newport Mansions That’s one of the reasons Jeff Moore as Chief Conservator. Landscape Hamish Bowles, Wine & Food Festival the Preservation Society turned John Tschirch, Architectural European Editor at Large, Vogue Rosecliff and Marble House to Fireman’s Fund Insurance Historian, The Preservation Society Rosecliff, 8 pm Company a few years ago 424 Bellevue Avenue, 10 am THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18 – when it was seeking a new SATURDAY, AUGUST 14 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21 insurance partner. WEDNESDAY, JULY 14 Dinner Dance Members’ Sale Newport Mansions Stores “It’s good to have a stable Lecture: The Elms-A Classical Revival Marble House, 7 pm partner like Fireman’s Fund Garden that understands the nature of John Tschirch, Architectural FRIDAY, AUGUST 20 – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20 – SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 2011 what we do every day,” said Preservation Society CEO and Executive Director Historian, The Preservation Society SATURDAY, AUGUST 21 Trudy Coxe. “They have been in business since 1863 and have some historic Membership Joins 424 Bellevue Avenue, 10 am Warehouse Sale Christmas at the Newport Mansions value of their own.” the Digital Age Newport Mansions Stores The Breakers, The Elms and WEDNESDAY, JULY 14 Third Street Warehouse Marble House Fireman’s Fund supports the Preservation Society and its work as an extension of its commitment to restore buildings to their former grandeur in Members will notice a new, more Children’s Party Green Animals Topiary Garden MONDAY, AUGUST 23 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10 – the event of a loss or damage. Historic buildings often require highly skilled efficient and streamlined admission SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11 process beginning in late July. The 4 pm - 8 pm craftsmen, such as decorative artists, muralists, and stonemasons, to recreate Golf Outing Warehouse Sale Preservation Society will introduce a Newport National Golf Club features such as hand-carved moldings and stylized plaster work. The extra Newport Mansions Stores time needed to reconstruct or rebuild due to the historic nature of the building fully digitized membership recognition WEDNESDAY, JULY 21 Third Street Warehouse can add to the cost. system at the houses as part of a grant Lecture: Green Animals-An American THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 – from the Institute of Museum and Original MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 For more information about Fireman’s Fund and its support of the SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 Library Services. John Tschirch, Architectural Members’ Sale Preservation Society, visit www.NewportMansions.org. Holiday Dinner Dance Historian, The Preservation Society Newport Mansions Stores The new system will simplify The Breakers renewing memberships – on-line and 424 Bellevue Avenue, 10 am in person - and if you arrive without WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 your card, it will speed up your Lecture: Peabody and Stearns- Schedule is subject to change admission. An Architect’s Sketchbook Details at www.NewportMansions.org Annie Robinson, author Rosecliff, 11am 14 Newport Gazette Summer 2010 15 In Memoriam

THE CONSERVATORS CIRCLE In Memoriam

Gilbert S. Kahn 2010 is the 10th Anniversary One of the Preservation Society’s most valued friends and patrons, Gilbert S. Kahn, of Newport, New York City and of the Conservators Circle Palm Beach, passed away on February 22, 2010. Mr. Kahn By James Roehm, Gift Planner The types of charitable planned gifts was a Life Member of the Preservation Society and served on that have been reported are: its Board of Trustees from 2003-2006. A passionate volunteer Throughout the sixty-five year history of The Preservation Society of for historic preservation, he served on numerous committees, Insurance including serving as chairman of the Collections Committee. Newport County, planned gifts have affirmed the great affection people or IRAs Mr. Kahn was also a valued donor to the Preservation Society have for the magnificent properties under Society stewardship. The Bequests 16% over the years, and a regular participant in many of our Conservators Circle was created in 2000 to recognize the current donors in a Will 71% who have made legacy gift provisions for the future advancement of the activities. He was also actively involved in support of the 13% Newport Art Museum and Newport Hospital, and was a programs and services of the Society. The foresight of these thoughtful Life income principal benefactor of the Smithsonian Institution’s leaders will assure that future generations will continue to gain inspiration trusts or National Museum of Natural History. His philanthropy from those properties, collections, and landscapes that are the essence of Gift annuity also extended to the Metropolitan Opera, the University of Newport and of Newport’s storied place in the American saga. agreements Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine and the American Kennel Club.

The Preservation Society of Newport Conservators Circle members Mr. Jay C. Grutman come from ten different states. County has been named as among the Mr. Joseph W. Hammer These individuals have consented beneficiaries of these estates or trusts since Ms. Joya Granbery Hoyt to having their names listed. 2008: Mrs. Martha Hunnewell Names in bold responded The estate of Miss Elizabeth A. during the Conservators Mr. & Mrs. Pierre duPont Irving A planned gift – “Betty”also known Burton as a “legacy gift” – is a charitable gift Mr. Nicolas L. S. Kirkbride of any amount, for any purpose, to be made at any time, of any Circle Challenge. * A trust of Mrs. Eleanor Wood Prince William W. “Jay” Humphrey, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Armin B Allen Mr. & Mrs. Louis J. Lettiero, Jr. asset, where the assistanceThe estate ofof anand advisor a trust and of the donors’ signature on a document are necessary to complete the gift. An advisor can be an On March 9, 2010, the Preservation Society and Mrs. Ruth Hale Buchanan Mr. Walter W. “Bud” Patten, Jr. Mr. Harold B. Werner attorney, a banker, an accountant, a fiduciary agent or stockbroker, an other local organizations lost another valuable Mr. Dayton T. Carr Mr. Peter A. & Mrs. Becky M. Robichaud insurance agent, or the charitable giving officer of a favored organiza- advocate with the passing of Jay Humphrey after Mr. Edward Lee Cave The Preservation Society will host two Mr. James A. Roehm tion. The gift canfree be information made at a future seminars date (such on as charitable a bequest in a Will) a long illness. The President of Humphrey Building Mrs. Alexander C. Cushing Mr. & Mrs. Donald O. Ross or it can be madegiving at the this present summer, time (such presented as a charitable by author gift annuity Supply Center in Tiverton, he was a sitting member Mr. & Mrs. Peter S. Damon of the Preservation Society’s Board of Trustees, and Dr. Charles A. Ryerson III agreement). Legacyand planned giving enables giving a personexpert – Debra once family Ashton. and loved Mr. M. David Dial, Jr. & its Finance Committee. He also sat on the boards of Ms. Sandra E. Smith ones have beenSee provided the calendar for -- to on advance page 15charitable for more causes whose Ms. Linda Brotkin information, or call Jim Roehm, Gift the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, Potter Mr. Dennis E. Stark values are in accord with that individual . Ms. Linda A. Eppich Planner, at 401-847-1000 ext. 142, or League for Animals, Newport County Fund of The Mrs. A. Theodore Stautberg, Jr. Mrs. Angela Brown Fischer email [email protected] Rhode Island Foundation, Child & Family Services, Mr. Ronald Lee Fleming Mr. Peter M. Walter for reservations. and other charitable organizations. He was a positive force in all of his endeavors. Mr. Robert M. & *The Conservators Circle Challenge seeks Mrs. Jane Rovensky Grace to double the number of known planned gift commitments. As of March 31, 2010, the Challenge had reached 80% of its goal.

Make a difference in the lives that follow

16 Newport Gazette Summer 2010 17 OFFICERS Chairman Emeritus John G. Winslow Enjoy a Relaxing Lunch Chairman Pierre duPont Irving

Our Mission Vice Presidents Carol C. Ballard Great Houses connect people to a nation’s heritage and open windows to another Angela Brown Fischer age. The Preservation Society of Newport County is a non-profit organization David P. Leys whose mission is to protect, preserve, and present an exceptional collection of house museums and landscapes in one of the most historically intact cities in America. We hold in public trust the Newport Mansions which are an integral part of the Treasurer living fabric of Newport, Rhode Island. These sites exemplify three centuries of Donald O. Ross the finest achievements in American architecture, decorative arts, and landscape design spanning the Colonial era to the Gilded Age. Through our historic Assistant Treasurer Peter S. Damon properties, educational programs, and related activities we engage the public in the story of America’s vibrant cultural heritage. We seek to inspire and promote an 11 am to 5 pm appreciation of the value of preservation to enrich the lives of people everywhere. Secretary The Chinese Teahouse at Marble House Susan S. Stautberg Assistant Secretary Monty Burnham Editor: Andrea Carneiro PRESERVATION Design: Roskelly Inc. SOCIETY PROPERTIES TRUSTEES Printing: Meridian Printing Nancy W. Cushing Arnold Burying Ground (1675) Ronald Lee Fleming David B. Ford Hunter House (circa 1748) ©2010 The Preservation Society Joseph W. Hammer of Newport County Kingscote (1839-1841) William W. Humphrey, Jr. & Leila Jenkins 424 Bellevue Avenue Chateau-sur-Mer (1851-1852) Eaddo Hayes Kiernan Newport RI 02840 David E. P. Lindh Green Animals Topiary Garden (401) 847-1000 Richard C. Loebs, Jr. (circa 1860) Angela L. Moore (1860-1861) John D. Muggeridge See the Newport Gazette in Arthur W. Murphy, Esq. full color online at (1881-1883) Frank N. Ray, Esq. 11 am to 4 pm www.NewportMansions.org Andrew K. Reilly The Elms Carriage House Café 424 Bellevue Avenue (1887-1888) Patricia Stensrud Marble House (1888-1892) Mary Van Pelt William F. Wilson Preservation Society members and ticket holders The Breakers (1893-1895) are invited to enjoy lunch and snacks. Back Cover: An alcove in the converted basement The Breakers Stable & Carriage House OVERSEERS Home-made chilled soups, salads, and sandwiches storage room at The Breakers has been configured (1895) Marion O. Charles are all made fresh daily, along with a variety of to accommodate boxes of historic shoes. The Elms (1899-1901) Hope Drury Goddard desserts, cold drinks, coffee and tea. Jerome R. Kirby In addition, specialty plates are available at the Rosecliff (1899-1902) Richard N. Sayer, Esq. John J. Slocum, Jr. Chinese Tea House, including classic antipasto, Rovensky Park (1959) George H. Warren assorted cheese and crackers, and John G. Winslow Become a Facebook friend of poached salmon with orzo. The Preservation Society of Newport County Menu changes weekly CHIEF EXECUTIVE HANK YOU TO OUR ONORS T D OFFICER/EXECUTIVE New! High Tea at the Tea House FOR THEIR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY’S MISSION DIRECTOR Harney & Sons tea served with a variety Trudy Coxe of tea sandwiches and sweets daily.

18 Newport Gazette The Non Profit Org U.S. Postage Preservation Society PAID of Newport County The Preservation Society of 424 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840 Newport County 401–847–1000 401–847–1361

Historic shoes, collections storage, The Breakers