The 2016 Neighborhoods of Newport House Tour, on Sunday, April 24, is your opportunity to tour some of Newport’s most exclusive and architecturally significant private homes.
This year’s homes include meticulously renovated houses on breathtaking properties in the Ocean Avenue area of Newport: a restored home in nautical style on a one-acre property in the famed Hammersmith Farm area of Newport; and an early 1900s boathouse renovated as a stylish haven along a private cove.
In addition, the recently restored Breakers Stable & Carriage House owned by The Preservation Society of Newport County will be featured during the House Tour, providing a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the Gilded Age era. There will also be a book signing during the House Tour by Newport-based author Bettie Bearden Pardee, at Sulthorne.
Here are the 2016 houses:
Passage Rocks: A secluded modern retreat overlooking the East Passage of Narragansett Bay.
The Playhouse: An early 1900s boathouse renovated as a family haven on the water of Prices Neck Cove.
Built in 1887-88, Snug Harbor on Bellevue Avenue is an excellent example of a transitional style between the Queen Anne and Shingle styles. It was initially constructed for U.S. Navy Admiral Charles H. Baldwin.
Sulthorne: Just off Bellevue Avenue, an architect designs a new shingle and stone house for his young family, and also renovates a 19th century barn on the property.
Birdsong: A 1940s cottage nestled near Hammersmith Farm takes on nautical style when renovated for a young family.
Considered one of the best surviving examples of Gilded Age coaching and storage, the recently restored Breakers Stable & Carriage House dates from 1895 and features 16 original carriages.
The Audrain building on Bellevue Avenue dates from the early 1900s and received the 2015 Doris Duke Preservation Award for its meticulous renovation including the automobile museum and second floor office space.
Bellevue House: This Federal-style house, designed by Ogden Codman, Jr., in 1910, will be the setting for a Garden Party on the grounds of the property from 3:30 to 5:30 after the tour. The Daffodil Days Festival will be ending a week-long festival schedule on the grounds and has invited House Tour attendees to participate. The property offers delights with follies and gardens galore.
Tickets may be purchased online at newporthousetour.com
Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m., at St. Michael’s Country Day School, 180 Rhode Island Avenue, Newport on Sunday, April 24th.
No photos may be taken during the tour; no children under age 12; no pets; attendees will be asked to remove shoes before touring each house.
The Neighborhoods of Newport House Tour has featured more than 77 of Newport’s most impressive private homes since its inception in 1995. Proceeds benefit the students of St. Michael’s Country Day School, an independent, nondenominational, coeducational school for students in Preschool-Grade 8.
