Newport an American treasure

We salute the People who help make
Newport an American treasure
A Publication of The Preservation Society of Newport County
Spring 2014 • No. 175
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To Protect,
Preserve and
Present....
Ensuring that its historic properties are
preserved to the highest standards is
the Preservation Society's top priority.
Over the past ten years alone, the
Preservation Society has spent more
than $42 million maintaining the
properties and landscapes under its
stewardship.
Spring 2014 • No. 175
Contents
page
4 The Cutting Edge
5
A Lifetime of Advice & Counsel
6 A Local Artist’s Vision
1) Textile conservator Liz Shuster working on a
7
The Elms' New Neighbors
8
A Newport Communications Business
9
It Started as a Hobby
10
Viking Tours Helps Host the World
11
Thank You to Our Members
12
Cross-Country Love Affair
13
A Newporter's Passion
14
Making a Job a Career
15
Gatsby Helped Reinvent This Business
16
4th Grade to Graduate School
17
Calendar of Events
5) Chief Conservator Jeff Moore restoring one
18
Annual Fund Thank You
of the lacquer panels from The Elms dining
19
Read the Whole Report
19
Benchmarks for the Future
Marble House dining room chair.
2) Workers removing the entrance gate of The
Breakers in preparation for restoration.
3) Caretaker Harold Mathews changing one of
the nearly 1,000 lightbulbs at The Elms.
4) Gardener Mike Ratkiewicz planting flowers
in the parterre bed at The Breakers.
room.
page
6) Jeff Moore repairing damage on The Breakers
library ceiling.
7) Contractor installing new roof tiles on The
Breakers.
8) Conservators cleaning a bronze statue at The
Elms.
9) Worker removing damaged tiles from the
Marble House terrace.
10) Gardener Eugene Platt trimming the unicorn
at Green Animals.
11) Miranda Keagle, John Bartosh, Jeff Moore
and Jessica Urick packing up Hunter House
in preparation for a hurricane.
Photos by: Andrea Carneiro,
Caitlin Emery, Curt Genga
The Preservation Society is grateful to
Carol and Les Ballard for their support in
underwriting this issue of the Newport Gazette.
Our Mission
Great Houses connect people to a nation’s heritage and open windows to another
age. The Preservation Society of Newport County is a non-profit organization 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 living fabric of
Newport, Rhode Island. These sites exemplify three centuries of the finest achievements
in American architecture, decorative arts, and landscape design spanning the Colonial
era to the Gilded Age.
Through our historic
properties, educational
Between 2011 and 2012, when the
programs, and related activities we engage the public in
City of Newport experienced a decline
the story of America’s vibrant
in employment, the Preservation Society
cultural heritage. We seek
increased its full-time employment by
to inspire and promote an
appreciation of the value of
7.1%.
preservation to enrich the
lives of people everywhere.
Spring 2014
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The
Cutting Edge
Photo by corbettphotography.net
collectively spend nearly $76 million dollars in the city. After
taking more than 900,000 tours of the Newport Mansions
and patronizing hundreds of local businesses, our visitors
from all 50 contiguous states and more than 15 countries
go home telling their friends they had a great time in
Newport.
by Trudy Coxe, CEO & Executive Director
This edition of the Newport Gazette is dedicated to the
thousands of people who connect with The Preservation
Society of Newport County daily; people who earn their
living with us, do business with us, do business with our
employees and customers, and share their lives with us.
The story of Newport is fundamentally a story about
people. Newport is an American treasure created by hard
work, creativity, and passion; by the blood, sweat and tears
of centuries of tradesmen and farmers, soldiers and sailors,
merchants and entrepreneurs, artists, architects, horticulturists, and just "plain ole" people who have lived here since
its founding and continue to build upon Newport’s legacy
today. It is all of those lives woven together--past, present
and future--that create the fabric of our community.
How exactly do these lives weave together? A recently
completed report about The Preservation Society of Newport
County offers instructive insight. Each year, over $109
million flows into the Newport economy as a result of the
Preservation Society’s daily operations. This economic activity
supports the employment of more than 1,250 Newport
residents. Local restaurants, hotels, gas stations, boutiques,
and other attractions benefit from the nearly 640,000 people
who come to the Preservation Society every year and
4 Spring 2014
That is the key to sustaining the jobs and prosperity we as
a community enjoy. The fact is that many museums, especially
historic sites, are declining in attendance and facing severe
budget cuts. As a result, museums around the country are
supplying fewer and fewer jobs, being forced to sell their
historic properties, and even facing the prospect of closing
down. The precarious state of museums and historic sites is
a national trend, and New England museums are not
immune. So far, the Preservation Society has resisted this
trend and continues to be as strong as the region's leading
museums like the Museum of Science, the Museum of Fine
Arts and the New England Aquarium in Boston. But to
continue bucking the trend, we must continue to strengthen
our ability to compete.
In addition to contributing to the city's economic vitality,
the Preservation Society also enhances the community's
quality of life. It aids the maintenance and beautification
of city- and community-owned property; enhances the
learning of Newport students through partnerships with
local schools and non-profits; improves the cultural and social
life of residents of all ages through academic programs
like the Newport Symposium and special events like the
Newport Flower Show and Newport Mansions Wine & Food
Festival; and supports local organizations through partnerships and sponsorships. Most would agree that the Island
Moving Company's production of The Newport Nutcracker
at Rosecliff is unique because of its location, and that the
Newport Music Festival is made even more special because
many of its concerts are held in the spectacular setting of
our houses.
These are just some of the important ways in which a
strong Preservation Society is critical to Newport’s own economic health and cultural vitality. I hope you'll enjoy reading
in these pages about some of the people who are part of the
fabric of the Preservation Society and of Newport, and who
with us, are helping to ensure that the city's legacy endures
well into the future.
A Lifetime of Advice and Counsel
by Alyssa Lozupone, Public Policy Fellow
Corcoran, Peckham, Hayes & Galvin, P.C., has been
practicing law in Newport for over 140 years. For almost
60 of those years, William W. Corcoran has been the
Preservation Society’s General Counsel.
Bill Corcoran was born and raised in Newport, and still
lives here. He grew up
with the Preservation
Society, his father
serving as its General
Counsel since its
founding. Upon passing
the Rhode Island bar
in 1958, Bill also
began working with
the organization.
The acquisition of The Elms, he says, was “really an important part of the development of the Preservation Society. In
a lot of respects, it saved Bellevue Avenue."
His work for the Preservation Society has been varied and
rewarding: from creating the city's first historic district, to
creating preservation
and conservation
easements, and drafting contracts for the
Newport Mansions
Collections licensee
program, among
many other projects.
Mr. Corcoran
reflects on the time
he’s spent working
He believes in
with the Preservation
the mission of the
Society fondly. “It was
Preservation Society
an exciting time, very
and its importance to
interesting work,” he
the community. "The
explains. He considers
Society means a great
the Society to have
deal to the economy
been “the catalyst to
and beauty of the city,”
the development of the
he explains. Over the
tourist industry,” and
years, the Society has
Chairman Donald O. Ross (left) presented Bill Corcoran
argues that it still is.
provided him with a
with the Antiquarian Award in 2011 in honor of his distinguished
Newport is a tourist
diverse array of legal
service and untiring devotion to the work of the Preservation Society.
Photo by corbettphotography.net
attraction "at least
projects.
70% for the fact that
it had the mansions to display,” he adds, and as a result the
Mr. Corcoran was involved in the acquisition of nearly all
Preservation Society “served as the foundation to build hotels,
of the Preservation Society’s historic properties. He was interestaurants, and other such business in the community.”
gral to the success of these transactions, often serving as the
initial point person when a historic propIn addition to serving as General
erty was threatened by sale to an unsymCounsel, Mr. Corcoran was also a
pathetic owner. One of his favorite
trustee for over ten years and has
memories is the acquisition of The Elms
In the last two
served on the Society’s finance
in 1962. He remembers vividly, and
decades the
committee for 30 years. He was,
with excitement, receiving a call from the
Preservation Society
and is, so heavily involved within the
Berwind family’s lawyer regarding the
organization because, as he explains,
potential sale of the property, and his
has donated over
the Preservation Society “did great
subsequent call to notify the Preservation
$1.3 million
work. And are still doing it.”
Society’s President, Katherine Warren.
to the City of
Newport.
Spring 2014
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A Local Artist’s Vision
by Alyssa Lozupone, Public Policy Fellow
Photographer Alexander “Sandy” Nesbitt owns and operates a studio and gallery in downtown Newport. He is
a Newport native and a second generation artist. Sandy
started out doing freelance work that ranged from photography and sculpture to the fabrication of signs and company
prototypes. In 1997, he began working full-time as a photographer and has gained local recognition in this role. It has
been a slow and steady process, he explains, but he has
always believed that if one is “real, authentic, love what they
do, and let it show” people will begin to notice.
Nesbitt relies heavily on tourism to sell his artwork.
Newport’s small population cannot support his business, he
explains. In order to thrive, “you need foot traffic, you need
bodies coming in the door... it’s a numbers game.” In a town
of 25,000 people, there might be three people coming in the door on a weekday and seven people
on a weekend. "You can’t make it go, it’d be
like opening a gallery in rural Vermont.” The
summer, however, is a completely different
story. "It's staggering," he says.
Sandy sells ten times more in
the summer months than in the
winter, and 90% of his sales are
to visitors.
Part of what Sandy enjoys
about living and working in
Newport is the city’s walkability.
“Its fundamental structure is like
an ancient European village,”
he explains, “which differentiates
us from anything in America.”
Sandy also admires Newport’s
authenticity, because “it’s organic, where most places are completely fabricated.” While he is
of the opinion that preservation
walks a thin line, having the
potential to detract from modern
design and hinder changes in
the built environment that foster
business vitality, he is appreciative of the role it has played
in maintaining the city’s layout.
6 Spring 2014
“The fact that the little wobbly street grid got preserved is
fantastic,” he explains, “people fall for it, are charmed by it,
love it.”
The Newport Mansions Stores sell Sandy's photo blocks
and book, Newport by Nesbitt. This partnership has been
“nothing but helpful,” he explains, because in order for his
business to thrive he needs visibility and "the Preservation
Society gets the people.” The Newport Mansions are “such
a massive draw, they are authentically what they are and
people are genuinely interested in them.” Having his
products in the Newport Mansions Stores allows him to
“participate in that economy,” he explains.
"Supporting local artists and artisans is a priority for us,"
says Cynthia O'Malley, Director of Educational
Sales for the Preservation Society. "We carry and
promote products produced in Newport and
Rhode Island, both to be good neighbors and
also to offer our customers an authentic taste
of the region."
Nesbitt adds that
partnerships such as this
foster “granularity within
the economy,” that helps
preserve the local businesses and small shops
that define Newport.
He believes that selling
the products of local
artists and businesses,
such as his, “helps
to diversify the economic footprint of the
Preservation Society.”
The Elms Has New Pennsylvania Neighbors
by Alyssa Lozupone, Public Policy Fellow
Lew and Trudy Keen moved
to Newport from Pennsylvania
five years ago. After retiring
as public school teachers, the
couple wanted to move to a
community that was walkable
and where they could immerse
themselves in arts and culture.
The couple chose the Lenthal School on Perry Street,
adaptively reused as a condominium, for their home.
“It’s in the perfect location,” Trudy says. They are proud
to be neighbors of The Elms – the great house built by
Pennsylvania industrialist Edward Berwind.
“The Preservation Society has been a wonderful
neighbor to our condominium building,” Lew explains.
“Before installing a new fence a few years ago, [Gardens
& Ground Director] Jeff Curtis and [Properties Director]
Curt Genga were very responsive to our concern about
a tree near the property line.”
Lew and Trudy enjoy their access to both Newport’s
colonial downtown and Bellevue Avenue. They can often
be seen walking their dog around the city, from the Point
neighborhood to the Cliff Walk.
Even after being members of the Preservation Society for
nearly a decade, the couple still enjoys visiting the houses.
“There is always something different to see,” says Lew.
They also attend many events, from academic lectures to
Coaching Weekend, explaining that the events make
history come to life for them. Reflecting on attending a
Photo by Andrea Carneiro
The couple's passion for
historic architecture led them
to take many trips to New
England, during which they
would always tour the Newport
Mansions. They routinely
purchased a Preservation
Society membership so that
they could visit the mansions at
their leisure. “We would do all
of the mansions in a weekend,
or even a day,” says Lew.
ball at The
Breakers, for
example, Lew
says that "it’s
nice to be in
the house,
doing what it
was built for.”
In 2013 the Preservation Society's
daily operations, including visitor
spending, payroll and purchasing,
generated over $109.4 million
in economic activity in the City
of Newport.
"The Keens
are a wonderful
addition to the community, the kind of involved and
knowledgeable residents who are so supportive of the city's
cultural institutions," says Trudy Coxe, CEO & Executive
Director of the Preservation Society.
The Keens feel strongly that Newport's historic landscape
and cultural institutions add to their quality of life. The
Preservation Society, they emphasize, is critical to
Newport's community and sense of place.
Spring 2014
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A Newport
Communications
Business with
New Hampshire
Roots
by Andrea Carneiro, Communications Manager
She put herself through the University of New Hampshire
working in restaurants. A chance encounter led to an internship at the state house, followed by the offer of a TV sales
job. After initially balking at the idea of sales, the reality
of college loans to pay off overcame her reluctance.
"And I never looked back, because it married all of my
strengths. If I was passionate about something, and I felt like
I could help a local business utilizing broadcast television,
and a knack for the message and the marketing, then I felt
like I was creating a solution, versus being a salesperson."
In 1998, Jenn and her husband Patrick moved to Rhode
Island for jobs at WPRI-TV in Providence, he as a sportscaster, she in the sales department, where she continued developing her skills as a marketer. "The landscape of media is
changing so quickly
and I was pulled
toward social media
Jenn Little Media is among
and digital marketing
the businesses that benefit
strategies."
from the economic activity
generated in Rhode Island by
the Preservation Society’s
operations, which last year
exceeded $136 million.
Jenn became the
Preservation Society's
account executive at
WPRI, working with
Museum Experience
Director John Rodman
for the next six
years before feeling
the need for a change. "I really wanted to spend quality
time with my clients, so I began kicking around the idea of
becoming an independent representative."
8 Spring 2014
Photo by Craig Spaner
Growing up in New Hampshire, Jennifer Graney Little
never dreamed that someday she would own her own
business as a media consultant in Newport, Rhode Island.
Her first job, at 15, was tapping maple trees. "That taught
me a lot about hard work, and working with a team."
Says Rodman, "I encouraged her because I recognized
that she had the knowledge and the skills to be successful.
And, selfishly, because I knew the Preservation Society could
benefit tremendously from having her as part of our team on
a much broader scale."
She founded Jenn Little Media in 2012, opening an
office on Bellevue Avenue. Jenn chose Newport as her
home base, " because of the lifestyle; it's quaint and
charming, there's a special quality here. On top of that,
the Preservation Society was willing to give me a shot and
would become my first client. I wanted to be accessible but
also saw the opportunity here on the island. I really feel like
I can thrive and grow here.""
"The Preservation Society does things right, and as a
woman-run business being associated with the PS has been
an amazing opportunity. It just opens doors. I've been able
to talk to other organizations in Newport and grow those
relationships. There's a credibility when I talk about working
for the Preservation Society."
Jenn recently hired her first employee. "I'm very optimistic. I see great things in the future. And because of the
Preservation Society I am able to utilize my skill sets right
here in Newport, and launch my business to the next level."
Sardella's Restaurant is just one of the
many local restaurants, stores, attractions
and other businesses in Newport to
benefit from $76 million in spending
by Newport Mansions visitors last year.
It Started as a Hobby...
by John Rodman, Director of Museum Experience
Richard Sardella counts himself fortunate to be in some elite
company. The restaurateurs who own the five oldest continuously operated proprietorships in Newport are Biggie Korn,
David Ray, Tom Cullen and the Crowley family, he says.
“You might hear some debate about who is one and two
and who is three and four, but I’m sure I’m number five,”
he says with his usual laugh. “At least I’m pretty sure I am.”
“We started out 34 years ago wanting to open a bar, we
called it Barclay's,” says Sardella. “But licensing in Newport
being what it was you had to serve food, so we decided
we should serve the best food we can.” He still does. It was
three partners then, but he gradually bought them out and
the restaurant we know today as Sardella’s was born.
restaurant business,” he says. “Neither would most of the rest
of us.” Education matters a lot as well, he says. He credits
both Salve Regina University and the Preservation Society. “It
is hard to explain to people who aren’t in the business community, but the social and cultural benefits and the economic
benefits are all vital to Newport.”
“It is all about teamwork,” he repeats.
The irony is, the business that gave Richard Sardella the
time and resources to become a community leader and
mayor started out as a kind of hobby. From 1970 until
1991 his title was Associate Director of Athletics at Brown
University. There were some great years there. “In 1976
the soccer and hockey teams each made the NCAA
final four,” he says. “The same season Brown football
was co-champion of the Ivy League.”
“Team sports teach you a lot,” says the
former mayor. First elected to the city council
in1995, he was elected mayor in 2000 and
served five years, making him third behind
Harp Donnelley and Bob McKenna in
tenure. Teamwork produced his proudest moments on the council, he says.
“The North End redevelopment is first:
tearing down Tonomy Hill and putting
up Newport Heights. And winning
approval of the bond and rebuilding
Thompson Middle School."
“The North End project should win
a national award,” Joe Riley, then the
Mayor of Charleston, S.C., told him
during a visit to Newport.
Sardella is also proud of the way tourism
continued to mature while he was mayor.
“Without tourism you wouldn’t be interviewing me today, because I wouldn’t be in the
Photo courtesy of Sardella's
Spring 2014
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Viking Tours Helps Newport Host the World
by John Rodman, Director of Museum Affairs
Karen Oakley will proudly tell you that Viking Tours is now
a third generation family business that is thriving in Newport.
From her parents' idea back in 1962 until now, Viking Tours
has been about celebrating Newport, creating jobs
in Newport and hosting the world in Newport.
“My father (known as Red) started the business in 1962
with a 1945 bus,” says Karen. “My mother Ann jumped
right in with him. She left her full time job a few years after
the company started, doing a lot of the planning and
marketing and guiding tours herself as we started the
step-on guide/receptive division." Karen says Red stayed
with the fire department, even as the company grew,
retiring as Deputy Chief.
It wasn’t all easy going, recalls Karen. “Newport’s tourism
was barely beginning – the city had one major hotel, the
Hotel Viking (no connection) and only The Breakers was
open to the public. Many local folks thought my father’s
venture and vision were foolish.” But what started as one bus
and two tours a day on weekends
grew through the 60s and 70s.
As more and more mansions
opened as museums, Viking
10 Spring 2014
added more tours for its customers. In 1969 the company
went afloat with the 50 passenger Viking Princess, later
adding the 150 passenger Viking Queen.
Karen remembers, however, “In 1973, Newport lost its
large naval base through realignment, and tourism was
suddenly the way to go for the local economy.” The next jolt
was the loss of the America’s Cup. Yet tourism continued
to grow. Viking Tours refocused on its core business ashore
and left harbor tours to others. She and her brother George
sustained the company’s growth into the 21st century under
her mother’s watchful eye. Her nephew Matthew joined the
company full time in 2005.
Today Viking Tours employs over 50 people – many
of them Newporters. One Viking alum is now Tourism
Marketing Manager for the Preservation Society. Barbara
Shea says "The Oakleys were visionaries; they recognized
before most that Newport's future was in tourism, and they
have been a linchpin in Newport's tourism economy."
Having lost two major economic assets in the last 40 years,
Karen thinks Newport needs to be careful with its tourism
A Special Thank You
To Our Members
We are proud to share the news that the Preservation
Society now has members in every one of the 50 states,
as well as 17 countries around the world. As members
of The Preservation Society of Newport County you are
helping to sustain our mission to protect, preserve, and
present an exceptional collection of house museums,
landscapes, decorative arts and social history.
Here's what some of our loyal and generous
members are saying about their membership:
Above: A young George Oakley in 1962 with his father
"Red" and Viking Tours' first bus. Photo courtesy of Viking Tours
At left: George and Karen Oakley today in front of one of
their company's trolleys. Photo by Andrea Carneiro
assets. “The touchstone for Newport? You have those
mansions. All over the world, when you travel, if you
mention Newport people know what you are talking
about.” She says she wishes the colonial history were
equally popular.
Karen says the growth in the shoulder seasons is a very
big part of Newport’s tourism hope for the future. This was
a vision her father had. “When we started it was just July
and August, now it is April to October and growing through
Christmas,” says Karen. She says she is also encouraged
by Viking’s modest mid-winter success in recent years as
the Preservation Society has gambled with opening houses
all year round. “It is beginning to pay for itself.”
If Karen
Oakley is
encouraged,
that is good
news for
Newport’s
tourism future.
Viking Tours provides services to
many of the guests who make the
Preservation Society a primary
driver of off-season travel in the city
and state; for the last five years the
Newport Mansions have been the
#1 most visited museum in New
England during the months of
September and/or October.
"There are a great many important and varied
aspects to preservation; understanding what
part the PSNC plays in furthering preservation
in the community has been a wonderful learning
experience for me. I always look forward to the
great variety and high quality of events and
programming offered throughout the year.
Having a PSNC membership keeps me informed
of all that is happening, while also offering
the opportunity to be involved. -Kim Darden,
Chairman's Circle Member
"As a Rhode Island business leader and former
real estate developer, I remember when the great
homes of Newport were falling into disrepair,
being converted into condos and sold off. I want
to do my part as a Preservation Society member
in preserving these treasures and the great cultural
legacy of Newport and the State of Rhode Island
for future generations to come." --John Picerne,
Chairman's Circle Member
"My husband and I appreciate the Preservation
Society in so many ways. As preservationists
ourselves, we never cease to find inspiration from
PSNC projects, members and events. We are so
lucky to have The Preservation Society of Newport
County." --Deborah Royce, Heritage Circle Member
To become a member, visit www.NewportMansions.org,
or call (401) 847-1000 ext. 111.
Spring 2014
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A Cross Country Love Affair
by Andrea Carneiro, Communications Manager
been back to Newport nine times, sometimes with
their two children, Helena and Sebastian, as well.
They purchased a family membership in 2005.
Photo courtesy of Gregory Muse
During these nearly annual visits, the Muse family
doesn't just visit each of the mansions multiple times–
last November they toured The Breakers, The Elms and
Marble House 15 times each over six days–but also
takes in many other activities and amenities Newport
and the surrounding area have to offer.
"We've stayed at many different places over the years,
from the Yankee Peddler Inn to
the Wellington. We've enjoyed
great food from places like
the Brick Alley Pub, the Rhino
Bar, the Coddington Brewing
Company in Middletown and
even the Ash Mart at Thames and
Carroll (they make the best subs in
town)." They have also visited Rough
Point, Astor's Beechwood, Belcourt
Castle and Blithewold, walked the Cliff
Walk, enjoyed the beach and much more.
Newport
Southern
California
Gregory Muse will tell you he is obsessed
with the Newport Mansions. "I don't think I
could give you a total number of times I have seen
each mansion," says Greg, "but if I had to guess it would be
somewhere around 50 –100 times. I always learn and see
something new with each visit."
Greg made his first visit to Newport as a 12- year old
boy in 1976. His family flew from their home in Southern
California to visit relatives in Connecticut, who took them to
Boston, New York City, and Newport. It was all great, but
Newport was special. "This trip had a very profound effect
on me that has stayed with me for almost 40 years,"
says Greg.
California’s Greg and Sandra
Muse, like 91.7% of visitors,
identify the Newport Mansions
as an important factor in their
decision to vacation in Newport.
12 Spring 2014
Fast forward
to 2003, when
he and his
wife Sandra
recreated that
childhood trip.
That's when his
obsession was
born. Since
then, Greg and
Sandra have
"I kept asking the staff, 'who is this Gregory Muse'
because he was so active on Facebook, constantly
commenting and writing glowing comments about our
work," said Preservation Society CEO & Executive Director
Trudy Coxe. "We finally met last November, and it was
so rewarding to meet people who are so profoundly and
personally affected by the work that we do."
While he has lived his entire life in Southern California,
where he works as a land surveyor, Greg says his dream
is to relocate to Newport and work for the Preservation
Society.
"I do have a very personal attachment to all of the
mansions and to the City of Newport.I love the architecture, the grounds, the gardens, the art work and all of the
furnishings. I love to imagine what it must have been like to
live during that time. I am looking forward to the day when
I can call Newport home and giving my first guided tour of
one of the mansions."
A Newporter’s Passion
Photo by Andrea Carneiro
by Alyssa Lozupone,
Public Policy Fellow
Nearly all of the Preservation Society’s 11 properties have
a caretaker who is responsible for the upkeep of the structure
and its collections. Since 1991, the caretaker at Kingscote
has been Christine Pickens.
Chrissy was born and raised in Newport. She also
grew up with the Newport Mansions; her mother worked
at Rosecliff for 13 years and Chrissy vividly remembers
going to work with her as a young adult. Working at the
Preservation Society continues to be a family affair; Chrissy’s
sister, husband, son, and brother-in-law all work here.
Chrissy’s job as caretaker goes far beyond cleaning.
While Kingscote is one of the Preservation Society's smaller
properties, it has one of the most densely furnished interiors.
The mansion is brimming with artifacts, most of them original
to the house, and all individually cared for by Chrissy to
maintain their integrity and keep them presentable to the
public. For example, there are about 1,500 silver objects in
the house. Pulling on her white gloves and handling each
piece carefully, Chrissy hand polishes every object once a
year and buffs everything on a regular basis. In addition
to regular maintenance of the building, including daily cleaning before the visitors arrive, Chrissy is also responsible for
monitoring and protecting the extensive collection, is actively
involved in customer service at the site, and works closely
with the tour guides.
Chrissy Pickens is one of 400
Preservation Society employees.
The Preservation Society was the
7th largest employer in Newport
last year, paying $7.8 million
in wages.
The Pickens' are not the only multi-generational family to
work for the Preservation Society, and their longevity is not
unusual among employees. Chrissy says once people start
working here, they tend to stay. “You just come to love it,”
she explains. One of the many reasons she loves it is "the
wonderful people I meet,” whether the tourists from Scotland
with whom she stays in touch or her colleagues at the
organization. She also enjoys the variety of tasks she gets
to perform as an employee. “We have the opportunity to
do everything,”
"Chrissy Pickens is dedicated, diligent, and truly passionate
about her job," says Preservation Society Properties Director
Curt Genga. "The Preservation Society is lucky to have her
caring for Kingscote."
But for Chrissy, “it’s not a job, it's fun.”
Spring 2014
13
Making a Job a Career
Debbie Kammerer came
to the Preservation Society
for a job 14 years ago,
and has never looked
back.
here, and the mansions
are so beautiful. My dad
always says 'you know,
when you love what you
do, you don't work a
day in your life.' That's
the way I feel. I love
what I do, being able
to work with the public.
When I get to see 1,000
people and even get to use
the same joke over and over
again, and people think it's funny,
I've had a good day."
Just two weeks after
graduating from West
Warwick (RI) High School
in 2000, Debbie got a summer job as a tour guide at the
Newport Mansions. Her plan
was to take night classes at the
Community College of Rhode Island,
probably in education. But shortly
after she started, she was promoted
to staff manager, so decided to take
management courses instead.
It took a few years to get her Associate's degree in business management because she was working part-time and
going to school part-time. But once she had her degree,
she needed a full-time job. "It was heart-breaking for me
to start looking outside the Preservation Society. I had been
here for six years, and I didn't really want to leave."
Debbie played an integral role
in upgrading the Preservation
Society's ticketing operations, helping to
design and manage a new digital ticketing system,
creating the first-ever training guide for cashiers, and
promoting customer service training for her staff. Her
office today – located in The Breakers – is the same
office where she was interviewed for her first job at
the Preservation Society 14 years ago.
Says Museum Experience Director John Rodman,
That's when fate stepped in. The morning after she
"Right from the start, Debbie exhibited the tenacity,
updated her resume to begin her search, a full-time
problem-solving ability and creativity to handle herself in
position for Sales Supervisor was posted. She got the
this fast-paced customer service environment. She likes
job and began working in the ticket tent at The Breakers,
people, and she makes their happiness while they are
supervising the cashiers. Eventually she
visiting our houses her priority."
was promoted to her current position as
Admissions Sales Supervisor, managing
"I see this as being my career,"
the entire ticketing operation. She's
says Debbie. "It's funny when I run
Debbie Kammerer
never looked back.
into people I haven't seen in years,
and her team are the
and they ask what I'm doing and
first to greet nearly
"It's a place that you come to work and
they're amazed that I'm still at the
640,000
you can't help but take pride in. Every
Preservation Society. Yes, I'm still at
day you see these people from all over
the Preservation Society – and I'm
people who make
the world, and they're so happy to be
very, very happy here."
over 900,000
14 Spring 2014
visits annually.
Photos by Andrea Carneiro
by Andrea Carneiro,
Communications Manager
Gatsby Helped Reinvent This Family Business
by Alyssa Lozupone, Public Policy Fellow
company is now one of the largest tent suppliers in
New England, and perhaps even on the
East Coast, working with customers
from New Haven to San Diego,
and even the Bahamas.
The Preservation Society remains one of
Newport Tent’s largest customers. The company
supplies tents for the Society’s various events
such as the Wine and Food Festival and
the Newport Flower Show. They also
work with the Special Events department
on private events such as weddings.
Newport Tent Company is a family owned and operated
business that has provided special events services throughout
New England for 40 years. Bill Corcoran, Jr. is the third generation to work closely with the Preservation Society, following his grandfather and father, both of Corcoran, Peckham,
Hayes & Galvin, P.C.
"We love the Preservation Society,” says Bill, “because
they gave us our start.” Newport Tent Company was
founded by Bill’s uncle Mike, who started his tent business as
an estate auctioneer when many of Newport’s Gilded Age
“summer cottages” were being sold. Through word of mouth,
Mike was commissioned as the tent supplier for the filming of
The Great Gatsby. Bill distinctly remembers helping his uncle
set-up tents on the movie set at Rosecliff and even throwing
a football around with “some guy named Rob” -- the young
Robert Redford.
The popularity of the film translated into local wedding
and party décor; everyone wanted to host their event under
a “Great Gatsby tent,” Bill explains, and as a result the
Newport Tent Company’s business “really took off.” The
Director of Special Events Phil Pelletier says Newport Tent
is crucial to the success of the Preservation Society's event
business, a major source of income for the organization. "It's
such a pleasure to be able to work with a local company
that understands our needs, and Bill is knowledgeable about
all facets of the events business."
Newport Tent employs nearly 70 people in the summer,
the vast majority of them Newport or Aquidneck Island
residents. Bill views the Society as the “heart and soul of
Newport” and is enthusiastic about his on-going relationship
with the organization.
Many of Bill Corcoran's 70 employees at
Newport Tent Company are among the
nearly1,300 Newport residents employed
in jobs supported by the daily operations
of the Preservation Society.
Spring 2014
15
From 4th Grade to Graduate School
by Alyssa Lozupone, Public Policy Fellow
A national research Fellows program, grade school tours for Newport
Public School students, and summer programs for specialized learning are all
components of a Preservation Society educational agenda which, while not
quite cradle to grave, is aimed at reaching all ages with structured educational
and research opportunities.
"We are promoting lifelong learning," says Museum Affairs Director Laurie
Ossman, noting that research shows adults who visited museums as children
or teens are more likely to take their own children.
Caryne Eskridge
Photo by Andrea Carneiro
The expanding Fellows program has hosted post-graduate researchers from
UPenn, Columbia and other major schools. “My year as a fellow has allowed
me a unique opportunity to immerse myself in the collections, buildings, and
stories that give access to Newport’s rich history,” says Caryne Eskridge,
2013-14 Curatorial Fellow. “My experience curating the reinterpretation of
Hunter House will follow me as I build my career.” As a result of that experience,
in just a few weeks Caryne will begin a new full-time job at the Classical
Institute of the South, in New Orleans. In July, the Preservation Society will
welcome two new fellows, whose research will focus on the historic
connection between Newport and the South.
The Preservation Society also partners with Roger Williams University to present a
semester-long heritage stewardship course, which introduces students to the entire
spectrum of issues facing historic sites, from collections management to marketing,
conservation to landscaping and more.
"Visits to the Newport Mansions are a magical experience for our students," says
Alan Bernstein, Supervisor of the Arts in the Newport Public Schools. Mr. Bernstein has
worked in the school system for 26 years and speaks volumes about his collaborations
with the Preservation Society. The Art Department, he explains, aims to incorporate
a museum experience within the curriculum of each grade. Fourth grade classes, for
example, attend a performance by the Island Moving Company at Rosecliff; every
fifth grade student visits Marble House as part of a classroom study of mythology;
and all sixth-graders tour The Breakers to learn about the site’s history.
These public school programs represent just part of the Preservation Society’s
dedication to education. The Society also partners with the Newport Child
Opportunity Zone and East Bay Community Action Program, hosts summer school
programming, and provides internships for students from Rogers High School and
the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, as well as local universities.
The Preservation Society also contributes to the Rhode Island Mentorship Partnership;
Newport Art Museum’s museum studies program; and statewide summer reading
initiatives.
16 Spring 2014
Alan Bernstein (center)
Photo courtesy of Alan Bernstein
The Preservation Society's
operations generate
over $648,000
annually for the city's
coffers; this includes
donations, taxes
and fees.
Photo by Roskelly.com
2014 Calendar of Events & Operating Schedule
Visit www.NewportMansions.org for details, ticket information, and additional events, or call (401) 847-1000.
SATURDAY, MAY 10 FRIDAY, JUNE 27
The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, The Elms,
Marble House, Rosecliff, Green Animals
Topiary Garden & Kingscote open daily
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4
Lecture: Adirondack Architecture:
Great Camps and the Rustic Tradition
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28
Lecture: No Object is an Island: Tracking
Hunter House's People, Places & Things
THURSDAY, JUNE 19
Annual Meeting
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 SUNDAY, JUNE 29
The Newport Flower Show
SATURDAY, JUNE 28 MONDAY, OCTOBER 13
The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, The Elms,
Marble House, Rosecliff, Green Animals
Topiary Garden, Hunter House,
Isaac Bell House & Chepstow
open daily
MONDAY, JULY 14
Green Animals Children's Party
THURSDAY, JULY 17
Angela Moore Fashion Show &
Champagne Brunch
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
Architects' Circles Dinner
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21
The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, The Elms,
Marble House & Rosecliff open daily
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1 SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
Newport Mansions Stores Warehouse Sale
TUESDAY, AUGUST 5
John G. Winslow Lecture:
Great Houses of Havana
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9
Summer Dinner Dance
MONDAY, AUGUST 18
Annual Golf Outing
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21
Annual Members' Party
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27
Lecture: Newport, a Fabled Destination
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Newport Mansions Stores Members' Sale
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23
Newport Mansions Stores Members' Sale
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22 SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2015
Christmas at the Newport Mansions
The Breakers, The Elms & Marble House
open daily
SATURDAYS, NOVEMBER 29,
DECEMBER 6, 13 & 27
Holiday Evenings at The Breakers
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
Newport Mansions Stores Warehouse Sale
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20
Holiday Evening Duet at The Elms &
Marble House
Holiday Dinner Dance
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16
Lecture: Resort Fashion
Schedule is subject to change.
Spring 2014
17
OFFICERS
Chairman
Donald O. Ross
Vice Chair
Angela Brown Fischer
Vice Presidents
Carol C. Ballard
David P. Leys
Mary Van Pelt
William N. Wood Prince
Treasurer
Monty Burnham
Assistant Treasurer
Peter S. Damon
Secretary
Arthur W. Murphy, Esq.
Assistant Treasurer
William N. Wood Prince
TRUSTEES
Mortimer Berkowitz III
Duncan A. Chapman
Nancy W. Cushing Evans
Kim Darden
William P. Egan II
David B. Ford
Sarah M. Gewirz
Ala Isham
Elizabeth W. Leatherman
David E.P. Lindh
William F. Lucey
Ronald K. Machtley
Angela L. Moore
Andrew K. Reilly
Eugene B. Roberts, Jr.
Janet L. Robinson
Alice D. Ross
Merrill W. Sherman
Archbold D. van Beuren
Mark E. Watson III
William F. Wilson
OVERSEERS
Marion O. Charles
Jerome R. Kirby
Richard N. Sayer, Esq.
John J. Slocum, Jr.
George H. Warren
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER/EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
Trudy Coxe
18 Spring 2014
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL
Armin B. Allen, Co-Chair
Earl A. Powell III, Co-Chair
John Winthrop Aldrich
Princess Minnie de Beauvau-Craon
Theresa Elmore Behrendt
Candace K. Beinecke
Frederick W. Beinecke
James D. Berwind
Bonnie Burnham
Dr. Johan Cederlund
Maureen K. Chilton
Alec Cobbe
Claudio Del Vecchio
Debra Del Vecchio
Nancy Dubuc
Peter Eltz
Baron Roland de l'Espée
Henrietta Holsman Fore
Morrison H. Heckscher
Robin Herbert, CBE
Count Denis de Kergorlay
Brooks Lobkowicz
Robert B. MacKay
Pauline C. Metcalf
Richard Moe
Mary S. Phipps
Louis G. Piancone
Anne L. Poulet
Dame Fiona Reynolds, DBE
Sir Hugh Roberts, GCVO
Charles M. Royce
Deborah G. Royce
Tracie Rozhon
El Marqués de Santa Cruz
Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, BIID, FIIDA
Vladimir I. Tolstoy
Diane B. Wilsey
Richard Guy Wilson
PRESERVATION SOCIETY
PROPERTIES
Arnold Burying Ground (1675)
Hunter House (circa 1748)
Kingscote (1839-1841)
Chateau-sur-Mer (1851-1852)
Green Animals Topiary Garden
(circa 1860)
Chepstow (1860-1861)
Isaac Bell House (1881-1883)
Osgood-Pell House (1887-1888)
Marble House (1888-1892)
The Breakers (1893-1895)
The Breakers Stable &
Carriage House (1895)
The Elms (1899-1901)
Rosecliff (1899-1902)
Rovensky Park (1959)
Thank You to
our Annual Fund
Supporters
With the help of 876 generous donors,
we raised $788,990 for the Preservation
Society’s 2014 Annual Fund, far exceeding
our $700,000 goal. This is the second
largest amount raised for the Annual Fund
in the Preservation Society’s history. We
offer a special thank you to our Annual
Fund Chairs – Angela Brown Fischer,
Alice D. Ross and Mary Van Pelt – for their
tireless efforts and boundless enthusiasm.
Because of your generosity:
• we are able to care for more than
1,300 trees on our 88 acres of property,
• we rebuilt 120 feet of the north wall
at The Elms
• we grew more than 2,000 poinsettias
from seedlings for the holidays,
• we heat our historic houses over winter,
using over 1,000 gallons of oil weekly
• we launched new children’s
programming for local students.
To become a member, visit
www.NewportMansions .org,
or call (401) 847-1000 ext. 111.
The Newport Gazette
A Publication of The Preservation
Society of Newport County
Editor: Andrea Carneiro
Design: Roskelly.com
Printing: Meridian Printing
©2014 The Preservation Society
of Newport County
424 Bellevue Avenue, Newport RI 02840
(401) 847-1000
See the Newport Gazette in
full color online at
www.NewportMansions.org
Thank you to our Donors
for their charitable contributions to the
Preservation Society’s mission
Become a Facebook friend of
The Preservation Society of Newport County
wwwfacebook.com/NewportMansions
Read the Whole Report
The facts contained in this issue of the Newport
Gazette are drawn from an extensive community
impact report developed by Alyssa Lozupone under
the guidance of Rhode Island’s foremost tourism
economics expert, Dr. Timothy Tyrell, formerly of
the University of Rhode Island and recently retired
from the University of Arizona.
The report utilizes industry standard calculations
and methodologies. It synthesizes findings from
local, state, and national tourism and economic
reports, a decade of Preservation Society visitor
surveys, and conversations with a number of
tourism and economic experts. For example, the
study employs the most recent census data to
identify how many businesses and jobs are
supported by the Preservation Society’s operations
and visitors to the Newport Mansions. It also
investigates tax revenues, wages paid, and a
host of other economic impacts.
An investment of over two million dollars a year
is required to attract nearly 640,000 visitors to
the Newport community, and to provide their
over 950,000 visitor experiences at the Newport
Mansions. This investment is shouldered entirely
by the Preservation Society in order to generate
the revenue needed to maintain the organization’s
11 historic properties. That investment, as the
report documents, also generates over $109 million
for Newport’s economy at no expense to the City
or its business community.
To read the whole report, visit:
www.PSNCCommunityImpact .org.
Or, pick up a copy at our headquarters:
Preservation Society
424 Bellevue Avenue
Benchmarks for the Future
Moving forward, the Preservation Society
will continue to use its assets to help grow
the local economy.
The creation of the Preservation Society’s
community impact report has been a process
of discovery. While the Preservation Society’s
impact is great, as evidenced in the stories
contained in this issue of the Newport Gazette,
there is always room for growth.
To achieve this objective, the Preservation
Society has defined three initial goals:
1. Increase off-season tourism to Newport County.
The Preservation Society will expand the
operation of three museum houses to year-round
beginning in January of 2016, including a
major new initiative with Rosecliff. This will
increase off-season visitation to Newport and
in turn increase spending at local businesses.
2. Enable other Newport County museums and
attractions to increase their visitation by using
the Preservation Society’s far-reaching paid
and earned media to promote the incentives
that they may provide for Preservation Society
visitors.
3. Shift Preservation Society spending on goods
and services to increase the number of
Newport County vendors engaged. When
feasible, we will give priority to local businesses.
This will increase and diversify the impact of
the Preservation Society's operations on
Newport County's economy.
The Preservation Society of Newport County
424 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840
Tel 401–847–1000 Fax 401–847–1361
Rosecliff
July 17
For more
information visit
www.NewportMansions.org
Non–Profit Org
U.S. Postage
P A I D
The Preservation
Society of
Newport County