Architectural Diversity and Splendor on St. Michael's House Tour

"Swinburne" on Pelham Street

The St. Michael’s Country Day School’s Parents Association put together a terrific house tour for their 12th consecutive year in late April. Clouds and light rain failed to deter about five hundred curious guests from venturing out to see the insides of five of Newport’s most elegant (not to mention exclusive) private homes. Event organizers and volunteers, including Bethany DiNapoli, President of the St. Michael's Parents Association & Mardi Sayer, Business Manager for St. Michael's were stationed at the school’s lobby, throughout the houses, and at special parking areas for trolleys which shuttled tour-goers to destinations without street parking.

St. Michael's teachers and volunteers Ken Hileman and Bob Tavares manned the trolley stop at Fort Adams.

Bart Dunbar greeting guests at "Swinburne"

Although photography was not permitted inside the homes, Newport Seen captured the impressive exteriors and enjoyed the tour with some of our fellow architecture and design enthusiasts

First up was “Swinburne” on Pelham Street in downtown Newport, where Bart Dunbar greeted guests. Designed in the Greek Revival style and built circa 1850 for William J. Swinburne, onetime mayor of Newport, the house also served for many years as the location of the Swinburne School, which taught household arts to young girls and currently belongs to developer/builder Mark Horan. Now, it features a modern kitchen and beautiful marble floors, not to mention a large swimming pool – right in the heart of downtown! Teddy Aspegren and businessman nd author Robert Bailey were spotted on site.

"Swinburne's" backyard (with pool!)

Next on the tour was “Sulthorne,” a newly constructed home on Webster Street near the Cliff Walk as and Salve Regina University. Architect Paul F. Weber designed the house in the Shingle Style to mimic other buildings that were built in the Ochre Point neighborhood in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. “Sulthorne,” built in 2005, stands at the former location of a Gilded Age mansion and still includes its 19th-century barn.

After that came “Seaweed,” originally built in a chalet style in 1850 but converted in 1903 to the Colonial Revival style by Gilded Age architect Horace Trumbauer. “Seaweed” overlooks Bailey’s Beach and went through an intensive restoration in 2008. The 22-room interior is now full of light, sunny spaces and nautical-themed artifacts and artwork suiting the house’s name.

The Gazebo

“Beacon Rock” has easily one of the most beautiful views of Newport Harbor and the Newport Bridge, with stunning drops on either side of the driveway to its elevated location on Ocean Drive. It was built in 1888-1891 on a massive granite boulder, designed as a Gilded Age mansion with design elements of a Grecian temple such as Ionic columns, a white marble pediment, and plenty of statues.

Last on the tour was “Broadlawns,” built in 1880 and designed by renowned architect George Champlin Mason. “Broadlawns” sits upon 15 acres of land and was also recently remodeled in 2009, with a gorgeously renovated modern kitchen and brightly decorated upstairs rooms to catch the sun and ocean views. Touring it gave special pleasure to Patricia Ustick, Judy Smith, Mary Louise Fye and Bea Ross.

-- Amanda M. Grosvenor

The historical and architectural details cited in this article are taken from the 2010 tour program book.