The Value Of Preservation: It Nourishes The Soul
Experience an extraordinary 250-year journey through American history, architecture, art and landscape design, courtesy of the Preservation Society of Newport County.
Ordinary houses that convey warmth and security are beloved because a future in them can be imagined. It can be the home not just for yourself and your family, but for the memories you will cherish for years to come.
But some homes are simply great — so great that they give meaning to the distinction between a house and a mansion. In one of the most historically intact cities in America, Newport, Rhode Island, such is the case courtesy of the Preservation Society of Newport County. The Preservation Society, an institution that was founded in 1945, has been entrusted by the public to preserve the architecture, decorative arts and landscape design from the Colonial era to the Gilded Age, which together comprise the legendary Newport Mansions.
Trudy Coxe, CEO of the Preservation Society of Newport County, graced Dolce with an exclusive interview that shines a light on everything it has to offer and the significance of preserving history.
Q: When you were appointed CEO in 1998, what were some of the short-term and long-term goals you had?
A: I wanted to certainly improve the visitor experience so we could guarantee that more people came to visit, so we experimented with a lot of educational ideas. We introduced the audio tour within the first two years of being here. We started the Servant Life tour up to the third floor of The Elms, taking people out onto the roof and then down into the basement. Later, we did the Beneath the Breakers tour. We offered new and different experiences and new ways for people to see the houses. We increased the number of lectures and opportunities for people to come to our houses and get to know them better, to be better educated. Part of my job description was to try and raise money, so that was one of my goals. I just wanted to try to elevate the reputation of the Preservation Society.
Q: What are some of the values the Preservation Society of Newport County represents?
A: I think the most important value is preservation. This was really driven home by a recent trip to Havana where since 1959 the city has seen nothing invested in its architectural treasures and, as a result, right now, every single day of the week, three buildings collapse. What you learn from that is if you don’t take care of your treasures, you can lose them very quickly. And you cannot get them back. So, [concerning] the concept of preservation, somebody needs to be there, somebody needs to be the advocate, somebody needs to be the leader – that’s what we are.
Q: How are each of the properties and landscapes unique?
A: We are fortunate in that we have 11 different houses that range from a Colonial built in the 1740s to a monumental building like The Breakers, which is the epitome of the Gilded Age. So, what we offer to the public is a broad assortment of opportunities from the Colonial through the Victorian Era, all the way through the Shingle Style era all the way up through the Gilded Age.
Q: Can you shed some light on what goes into preserving the heritage and historic properties of Newport County?
A: What goes into the preservation process is money. You cannot do anything like we do here in Newport without the support and the help we have received, from selling tickets to donations people give us – people who really care about preservation. It takes money to preserve buildings. That’s the one thing you learn early in the job. Secondly, in terms of the preservation process, I think finding the artisans – making sure you can bring in people who know how to deal with buildings that are 150, 250 years old. And, then thirdly, from my perspective, we are fortunate because we have some truly outstanding directors of the properties department who know how to bring jobs in on time. Anyone who has restored a house knows how easy it is to get caught down that rabbit hole. All of a sudden you are doing everything at once and not getting anything done. We have all been there. We’re lucky because we have had professionals on our staff who keep the project moving forward, get the job done on time, on budget and move on to the next project.
Q: When members of the public see the properties for the first time, what is the most common reaction?
A: The common reaction is “Wow!” They are awed. They are enthusiastic. They’ve never seen anything like it. These properties are not just massive and ornate, but they are also incredibly well-preserved and that is not by accident.
Q: How has the Preservation Society of Newport County set the tone for historic preservation in general, for the future?
A: I know we are looked at – not only in this country but around the world – as being experts in terms of preservation. People come from all over the world to meet with us, to learn from us, to share war stories and to find out about new technology. We are doing preservation every single hour of every single day of the week. We have a lot of experience that people can learn from. Whether it’s on buildings, landscapes or gates and fences, we have done it all. We are demonstrating a commitment. Anybody who goes by our properties sees that this is high-quality work.
Q: What are some upcoming events that the Preservation Society is hosting/organizing?
A: In partnership with the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, we opened an exhibition titled Gilded Age Newport in Color at Rosecliff on March 15. The exhibition examines various aspects of everyday life in the African-heritage community of Gilded Age Newport, including where they lived, worked, played, travelled and worshipped. It runs through June 30.
We have an incredibly busy summer, beginning with the 28th Newport Flower Show, which runs from June 21 to 23 at Rosecliff. There will be beautiful floral arrangements and botanical arts and horticulture displays along with a marketplace set up on the back lawn.
From July 1 to September 3, we will be displaying life-sized Asian elephant sculptures on one of our properties as part of a travelling campaign created by the Coexistence Consortium. These sculptures are made from lantana, a toxic weed harmful to animal habitats. The sculptures have been displayed around the world, including outside Buckingham Palace, and Newport is the first stop on its American tour.
Our summer season ends with the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival from September 20 to 22 at Rosecliff. This event features wonderful wine and beverage seminars throughout the weekend and is always one of our most popular events.
Q: During your tenure, what has been your fondest memory?
A: My first fond memory was the restoration of The Elms Sunken Garden, which had been nothing but a compost heap. It was a mess. And now it is probably of all the gardens we have the prettiest. I think a second fond memory is the rehabilitation of The Elms Stable, converting it into a centre for our research fellows, so we could house young academicians, get them to do research and help us better understand our houses. I think a third fond memory was finishing the Welcome Center at The Breakers and then the rehabilitation of the entire 13 acres of landscape at The Breakers. That is something I am proud of. Another fond memory is getting through COVID. I know it was not a happy time in a lot of ways, but it opened doors for us that we had never considered before, like “Sparkling Lights at The Breakers.” So now, every winter season, we have close to 30,000 people in a space of 22 days come to The Breakers at night and see it lit up in glorious ways. I have a lot of fond memories.
Q: Finally, what is your definition of la dolce vita (the sweet life)?
A: I think la dolce vita is going to a place like I just did, visiting Havana, seeing how that city is dealing with preservation challenges. Appreciating where preservation is done well and understanding the challenges.
