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Classical American Homes Preservation Trust had thepleasure of celebrating our 20th Anniversary in 2013. We

marked this milestone by welcoming thousands of visitors withtours and special events, drawing visitors with a range of agesand interests — whether it be gardening, history, decorativearts, music, or walking. As always, we enjoy seeing our friendsnew and old. We continue to highlight the homes’ collections,with many objects original to the houses, as well as theirgardens and scenic trails. And of course, having fun at thesehouses is always encouraged.

In this 20th Anniversary year we were also excited to introducenew communication tools to help us spread the word about ourmission. Launching a newly designed website with freshphotography, updated information and new scholarship helps tohighlight each property and also to make it easier for individualsto learn more about CAHPT and visiting our homes. We alsoexpanded our social media offerings — relying on tools such asFacebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram to quickly informour followers of events or happenings at CAHPT. Whether it isthrough our new website, social media or by phone, we want to hear from you — so please stay in touch!

Classical American Homes was established 20 years ago with a focus on historic preservation, but it was also created so that youcan enjoy these homes for generations to come. I encourage you to share in this journey with us and chart your own Grand Tour.

Sincerely,

Margize Howell,Executive Director

Celebrating the Old with the New

Charleston Library Society Honors Dick Jenrettewith Inaugural Founders AwardCharleston, S.C.

On Friday, April 11, the Board of Trustees of the CharlestonLibrary Society honored Mr. Jenrette for his dedication to

the field of preservation with its inaugural Founders Award.Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the completion of theLibrary Society’s main building, the Trustees created this award“to honor persons who exemplify the values of the 19 young menwho collaborated in 1748 to promote knowledge and sharedlearning by founding what is now recognized as one of America’searliest cultural and intellectual centers.”

In her remarks to a the packed house of about 180 guests, AnneCleveland, Executive Director of the Charleston Library Society,commented remarked how Mr. Jenrette’s activities have broughtnational attention and high-profile exposure to Charleston’spreservation and arts communities. Steven Gates, a Boardmember of the library society, also presented Mr. Jenrette with aleather-bound edition of Adventures with Old Houses, his own bookchronicling his acquisition and restoration of historic houses.

Cover: Ayr Mount’s West Parlor featuring the Kirkland’s original 1797 London Broadwood pianoforte. (John M. Hall)

Jack Smith, Operations Manager; Dick Jenrette, President and Founder; Margize Howell, Executive Director, at The Metropolitan Museum, The American Wing, October 6th, 2013.

Like us on Facebook.Follow us on Twitter.Find us on Pinterest.

(Left) Dick Jenrette holding the gift of a leather-bound edition of Adventureswith Old Houses. (Right) A view of the full house or full library!

SPRING NEWS 2014

Inaugural Spring Events at Ayr MountAppraisal Fair at Ayr and the Americana SeriesHillsborough, NC — April 2014

On April 17th, Classical American HomesPreservation Trust and Ayr Mount

hosted its first major public program at AyrMount - the Appraisal Fair at Ayr and a specialexhibition of coverlets.  Almost 100 guestsjoined us on this spring evening to learn abouttheir cherished belongings and meet other artsand antiques enthusiasts. Items brought tothe fair included paintings, jewelry, warmemorabilia, and silver. The lush, green hillsat Ayr Mount served as a backdrop whileguests enjoyed wine and refreshments and alsoattended lectures both in and outside thehouse. David Lindquist gave an interestingand informative lecture about qualities to lookfor when viewing and purchasing an antique.Craufurd Goodwin gave a talk on theextensive collection of coverlets he generouslyloaned to Ayr Mount, which were on viewduring the month of April. Julia Carpenter ofUNC-TV’s series Collecting Carolina wasalso on site with a film crew to catch theaction, with the episode featuring the event atAyr Mount airing just weeks later on May 1st(visit our website for a link to the episode).

We want to thank all of those who joinedus for this event, and we hope you willcontinue to visit us at Ayr Mount throughoutthe spring and summer months. We wouldalso like to express our deep appreciation forall of the generous time and expertise providedby our local friends and business owners:Craufurd Goodwin, Doug Lay of the PersianCarpet, David Lindquist and ElizabethLindquist of Whitehall at the Villa Antiques,and Leland Little and his staff from hisauction house — Clair Fraser, Nancy Blount,Mark Solomon, and Rob Golan. Stay tunedfor upcoming events at Ayr Mount!

Ayr Mount also had a month-long exhibition ofantique coverlets generously loaned to us from

private collections. Coverlets: Treasure from the Loom,which was the the inaugural program of the AmericanaSeries, featured over 80 coverlets that date back as far asthe late 1700s in various styles: double weave, overshot,Figured and Fancy, Jacquard, and Biederwand. Thecoverlets — the majority of which were from thecollection of Crauford Goodwin — were thoughtfullyintegrated into Ayr Mount’s permanent collection,keeping color in mind within a narrative that followed the makers, dates, locations, and patternsof the coverlets. The third floor featured a display of photographs, weaving tools, and other objectsrelated to the trade such as cotton, wool, and shuttles. We are delighted that we were able to sharewith guests these special pieces of history in a setting that is quite fitting for their display. What anenjoyable way to welcome visitors back for house tours and celebrate the start of spring!

Top: Ayr Mount

Above: UNC-TV team: Mike Onniffrey (Cameraman), David Hardy (Executive Producer), Gail Zimmerman (Directorand General Manager), Julia Carpenter (Independent Producer UNC-TV NC Weekend & ‘Collecting Carolina’) and Carolina Francis (Director of Development).

Top right: Elizabeth and David Lindquist from Whitehall at the Villa Antiques examine some silver.

Middle right: Hopie Avery from the Scout Guide brought in apainting to be appraised.

Bottom right: Leslie Crews holding a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.

Check out the May 2014 issue of WALTER magazine! P. Gaye Tapp writes aboutRichard Jenrette’s love of restoring historic homes in an article entitled “Richard Jenrette:Always traveling…home.” The article includes an in-depth interview with Mr. Jenrette andlots of photos of the houses. Go to www.classicalamericanhomes.org to read the full story.

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WINTER NEWS 2014

Americana Week in New York CityThe George F. Baker House — January 21st – 25th, 2014

Blizzards and gusting winds did not deteravid Americana enthusiasts from joining

us at the Baker House for receptions filledwith drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and friends (newand old) during Americana Week 2014.

We began the week by welcomingWinterthur, MESDA and The ColonialWilliamsburg Foundation for an AmericanaWeek “kick-off” reception on January 21,2014. We hosted tours for the Directors of theDumbarton House located in Washington,D.C. and benefactors from the Peabody EssexMuseum in Salem, Massachusetts on January23rd and 25th, respectively. We ended theweek with a celebration organized by theDecorative Arts Trust as they wishedExecutive Director Penny Hunt a heartfelt“happy retirement” on January 25, 2014.

The snow came down in droves on the dayof the reception jointly hosted by Winterthur,MESDA and The Colonial WilliamsburgFoundation - but to our joyful surprise, we stillwelcomed over 60 guests to the Baker Housewho came by foot, stop-and-go taxi trips, andeven hitchhiked rides! It was an extremelyenjoyable and memorable night, and a greatway to welcome supporters from near and farfor an events-filled week in New York City.

A winter wonderland outside of theGeorge F. Baker Houses. Snow-coveredtrees on East 93rd Street, New York City.

Top: Guests of Winterthur, MESDA and theColonial Williamsburg Foundation at the Baker House. Middle: (left) Dixie DeLuca, Linda Eaton,David DeLuca; (right) Margaret Pritchard,Linda Eaton, Tom Savage, Stuart Butler.Bottom: (left) Billy, Patty, and Alex Wilson;(right) Margize Howell and Sambo Dixon.

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WINTER NEWS 2014

60th Winter Antiques Show

Ralph Harvard and Elle Shushan

Lauren Brunk, Dean Failey,Andrew Brunk

Johanna McBrien and Nonie Gadson

Phil Zea and Susan Stein

Marcia Feinstein and Tish Roberts

(Left to right) Margize Howell, Peter Wunsch, Morrie Heckscher, and John Hays at Christie’s, NYC.

Leslie Keno speaks with guests.

Richard H. Jenrette and CAHPT are honored with the Eric M. Wunsch Award for Excellence in the American ArtsWednesday, January 22nd, 2014

On Wednesday, January 22, 2014, theWunsch Americana Foundation honored

Dick Jenrette as a co-recipient of the second-annual Eric Martin Wunsch Award forExcellence in the American Arts alongsideLinda and George Kaufman, major collectorsof Americana. The award ceremony was held atthe Rockefeller Center Galleries at Christie’s,New York, where over 200 guests gathered tocelebrate the honorees’ dedication to AmericanArts and their continuation of the legacy ofrenowned collector, Eric Martin Wunsch.

The Eric Martin Wunsch Award was createdby the Wunsch Americana Foundation in the

memory of Martin Wunsch to encouragegreater scholarship in and appreciation of theAmerican Decorative Arts. Peter Wunsch,Wunsch Americana Foundation President andson of Martin Wunsch, acknowledged therecipients for “their steadfast focus on preservingAmerica’s heritage and making it accessibleto so many people to enjoy and learn from.”

Guests mingled over cocktails while weavingthrough displays of Americana that were to beauctioned off at Christie’s later in the week.To begin the remarks, Morrie Heckscher,the Lawrence A. Fleischman Chairman ofthe American Wing of the Metropolitan

Museum of Art, spoke about Martin Wunsch’scommitment to American Decorative Arts asa collector, philanthropist and scholar. Mr.Heckscher spoke about four highlightedobjects from Martin Wunsch’s collection thatwill be on loan at the Metropolitan Museumof Art. Luke Beckerdite, Executive Directorand Curator at the Chipstone Foundation,went on to introduce award recipient LindaKaufman. Mrs. Kaufman’s highly personal andeloquent speech will not be forgotten by thosein attendance, as she clearly demonstrated thepassion that she and her late husband, GeorgeKaufman, shared for the American Arts.Introductory remarks about Dick Jenrettewere given by Peter Kenny, Curator in theDepartment of American Decorative Arts atThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, and can befound here. Margize Howell accepted theaward on behalf of Dick and CAHPT.

The night was filled with laughter and goodcheer among friends and colleagues, andserved as a wonderful way to begin a weeklongcelebration of American Decorative Arts.

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WINTER NEWS 2014

Americana Week (continued)

Martha Stewart visitsEstate Cane GardenSt. Croix

Estate Cane Garden welcomed Martha Stewart for a tourof the house and groundsduring her vacation to St. Croix

this winter. She spent part of the afternoon learning moreabout the history of the house’s architecture, furnishings andassociated ruins, as well as its extensive collection of Islandmahogany furniture and classical decor. Ms. Stewart musthave had a great time (but who wouldn’t while sipping rum bythe Caribbean!), because she featured her visit to Cane Gardenin a recent post on her blog “Martha: Up Close and Personal.”

A big thanks to the staff at Cane Garden for providingsuch a warm welcome to Martha Stewart and her colleagues!

We then welcomed Directors ofDumbarton House and

benefactors from the Peabody EssexMuseum for tours of the Baker House.“Fresh Take, Making Connections atthe Peabody Essex Museum” was onview as the loan exhibition at thisyear’s Winter Antiques Show. Thisexhibit, which was referred to by theorganizers as a “microcosm of thePEM experience,” coincided with thePeabody Essex Museum’s 215thAnniversary in 2014.

On Saturday, January 25th theDecorative Arts Trust celebrated

Penny Hunt’s retirement with acocktail reception at the Baker Housefor friends and supporters. Eventhough there was more snow (and lotsof ice!), over 125 guests joined us forthe event. Penny Hunt’s husband,John, and the Decorative Art Trust’snew Executive Director, MatthewThurlow, gave a toast to Penny’sdedication and inspired vision duringher thirty years of service. Food, drinkand merry conversation floated aroundthe house on this culmination of asuccessful Americana Week.

Saturday, January 25th, 2014

George F. Baker House – Thursday, January 23rd, 2014

(Left) Dumbarton House friends at the George F. Baker House. (Right) Special loan exhibition from thePeabody Essex Museum at this year’s Winter Antiques Show.

Top: (left) John Hunt and Matt and JenThurlow toast Penny; (center) Mary JanePool, Kitty Robinson, Tom Savage, Dick Jenrette; (right) Penny Hunt and Lily Johnson.Bottom: (left) Russell Windham, SusanStein, Helen Scott Read; (center) Mike andMaria Thompson; (right) Mary Raine andBill Pennington.

WINTER NEWS 2014

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Profile: Jack SmithCAHPT Director, Director of Operations

This newsletter’s Profile will focus on Mr. John W. Smith, better known as

Jack, who oversees all of Classical AmericanHomes Preservation Trust’s properties asDirector of Operations, and who also sits onCAHPT’s Board of Directors. Jack has beenwith CAHPT since its inception in 1993, alsohaving worked the previous 18 years forRichard Jenrette as a property manager. Jackhas been directly involved in the restorationof all CAHPT and Richard Jenrette’sportfolio of properties for nearly 40 years.

While working as a contractor in upstateNew York, Jack was first introduced to Mr. Jenrette in the fall of 1975 by a localdecorator. Mr. Jenrette hired Jack tocomplete a large painting job at Edgewateron the Hudson River, which had beenpurchased from Gore Vidal in 1969. Twoyears later, upon the completion of his workat Edgewater, Jack was hired full-time by Mr.Jenrette to manage his properties.

Over the next fifteen years, Jack participatedin restoring and decorating Mr. Jenrette’sresidences as they were acquired. Next was 37Charlton Street in New York (property latersold), where a complete two-year restorationwas completed. In 1985 Mr. Jenrette acquiredboth Ayr Mount in Hillsborough, NorthCarolina, and Cane Garden in St. Croix,U.S. Virgin Islands. Each of these projectsentailed extensive work. Between 1987-89,Jack oversaw a cosmetic restoration of theGeorge F. Baker Houses. The project beganwhen Mr. Jenrette purchased 67 East 93rdStreet in New York (sold a year later), andcontinued upon his purchase of 69 East 93rdStreet, which is now CAHPT’s headquarters.Jack also restored 67 East 93rd Street a

second time in 1996 when Mr. Jenrettere-purchased the property. Additionally,when Mr. Jenrette acquired MillfordPlantation in Pinewood, South Carolina in1992, Jack oversaw a massive restoration ofthe Mansion and the seven individualoutbuildings on the plantation grounds. Ineach of these instances, Jack says that he hasloved to see the houses transform back totheir original, classical beauty.

As Director of Operations, Jack’s role nowis to maintain the houses and grounds in “tip-top” shape and ensure that they are physicallyprepared to withstand the test of time. This isno easy task, as these old houses consistentlypresent an array of challenges, from structuralmaintenance like leaky roofs and peelingpaint, to accessibility and security issues.CAHPT strives to keep the properties in

pristine condition, and Jack credits theindividual site managers and their teams fortheir tireless contributions. He applauds theteams led by Ernie Townsend at RoperHouse, Bill Crowther at Ayr Mount, DavidCrowther at Cane Garden and Louis Hall atMillford, plus his own crew at Edgewater andthe Baker Houses, for their hard work, deepknowledge of the properties, and dedicationto the cause of preservation.

Jack is also an original member of theClassical American Homes PreservationTrust Board of Directors. The Board ofDirectors oversees all of CAHPT’s activitiesand ensures that these six houses and groundsare being delivered to the next generation ofpreservationists in the best condition possible.He also envisions building a passionate,interested constituency of supporters as beingcrucial to the organization’s ongoing vitality.

It is difficult to sum up Jack’s impact onClassical American Homes PreservationTrust, as his innumerable contributions haveranged from strategic planning, antique andart acquisitions, restoration, and decoration,to electrical work and plumbing, andlandscape design. Regardless of the task,Jack’s sunny disposition and trademark laughare always present. He lives in Barrytown,New York (just steps from Edgewater) withhis wife of 38 years, Diane, who works atnearby Bard College. Their son, Christopher,serves as CAHPT’s Counsel and CorporateSecretary, and their daughter, Julie, a recentBard graduate and lover of old houses, hasrecently joined the CAHPT staff. Next year(2015) will mark Jack’s 40th year in theCAHPT “family”, and we congratulate Jackon all he has accomplished!

Jack Smith, CAHPT Director of Operations,and his wife Diane. Above: Edgewater, on theHudson River, in upstate New York.

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WINTER NEWS 2014

William L. ThompsonIN REMEMBRANCECAHPT Founding Board Director and Interior Designer, dies at 85.

With a heavy heart we announce thatBill Thompson passed away quietly

on November 24, 2013 at Duke MedicalCenter in Durham, NC following anextended illness.

In his 48 years with Dick Jenrette, Bill wasinvolved in the restoration, decoration andlandscaping of several important, early 19th-century homes. These included Edgewater,built in 1824 on the Hudson River innorthern Dutchess County; Roper House,built in 1838 in Charleston, SC; MillfordPlantation, built in 1840 near Columbia, SC;Ayr Mount, built in 1815 in Hillsborough,NC and Cane Garden, built in 1786 in St.Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. In New York Cityhe lived in, and took an active role inrestoring, several noteworthy residencesincluding the George F. Baker Houses at 67-69 East 93rd Street, One Sutton Place Northand 37 Charlton Street.

Bill was instrumental in helping assembleone of the largest collections of DuncanPhyfe furniture, as well the collections ofother early 19th-century cabinetmakers. Healso played an integral role in identifying andcollecting portraits, carpets, curtains, andchandeliers for these houses. He had a keeninterest in gardening and landscaping for allof these properties. No small detail escapedhim. Bill was a founding Director of ClassicalAmerican Homes Preservation Trust, whicheither owns or will own most of theseproperties to open them to the public ashouse museums.

William Lea Thompson was born inCurwensville, PA on August 26, 1928 toRoxie Ann Hess and Francis IgnatiusThompson. Having been raised in a Quakerhousehold, Bill adopted this quiet religion inhis early 20s. He graduated from ClearfieldHigh School in 1946 and attended theCulinary Institute of America. He traveledextensively in his adult life.

He was predeceased by his three siblings,Darl Francis, Robert Walter and Lois MayT. Peters. He is survived by several nieces andnephews and his beloved “Swans”: Amelia,Ann, Anne, BB, Betty, Carol, Cheryl,Connie, Emma, Georgina, Kathy, Lee, Lena,Margize, Maria, Marian, Mona, Pat, Sallie,Schatzie, Shirley, Sunny, Suzanne and Toni.

Bill is the author of two books, Beginningsand Ghostly Poems, and was a voracious reader,having collected more than 60,000 bookslocated in the various properties he shared

with Dick Jenrette. He wanted each house tohave a “property library”. His collectionfeatured 20th-century English and Americannovels and works focused on architecture,gardening, and landscape design. Many of thebooks are signed by their authors, withsignatures from Truman Capote and GoreVidal, who sold Edgewater to Jenrette in 1969.

He bids farewell to his best friend of 48 years, Dick Jenrette, and his other oldfriends and new friends that have made his lifea happy one. He will be missed greatly by hismany friends and family and remembered as

“Climb that hill and look at a sunset of beauty. Remember that this is the last touc h of beauty God gives usbefore the darkness of night. Brighten the world with the

sunshine of your soul. Keep a balance when the rains come, for we need the rain and the storms to make us grow… Afterthe storms there is again the sunshine, and at the end we mustradiate a beautiful sunset before the darkness overcomes us…

what lies ahead is not the end but another beginning.”

From his book, Beginnings (2001)

a lovely human with a wonderful wit andinsightful outlook on life.

Bill did not request a memorial service, buta small gathering of close friends will be heldat a later date in Charleston, SC and in thespring at Edgewater on the Hudson, where hewill be buried. In lieu of flowers and othergifts, Bill would appreciate a contributionto Classical American Homes, which willcontinue to preserve his work. All Gifts inMemoriam can be directed towards ClassicalAmerican Homes Preservation Trust, 69 East93rd Street, New York, NY 10128.

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WINTER NEWS 2014

Pair of Duncan Phyfe Card TablesReturn to EdgewaterEdgewater, located on the Hudson River

in Barrytown, NY, was built in 1825,presumably by John R. Livingston, of thewealthy Hudson River Valley Livingstons,for his daughter, Margaret. In 1852, Robertand Susan Donaldson of North Carolina laterpurchased the estate. Patrons of architectureand art, the Donaldsons added a library byAlexander Jackson Davis and filled the homewith fine American furnishings, familyportraiture, and objets d’art.

Edgewater was empty when it was purchasedby Richard Jenrette from Gore Vidal in 1969.Edgewater remains Mr. Jenrette’s privateresidence, and his desire to restore the estateand eventually turn it over to his foundation,Classical American Homes Preservation Trust,has led him on a collecting journey around theworld. In a series of serendipitous events overthe past 45 years many of the originalLivingston and Donaldson objects have foundtheir way back to Edgewater. Mr.Jenrette’sbook, More Adventures With Old Houses:The Edgewater Experience, details the excitingodyssey of finding, acquiring and returningthese objects to Edgewater.

The most recent piece of history to returnto Edgewater is a pair of Duncan Phyferosewood card tables (see image above). Thetables, decorated with gilded brass mounts andinlay, were recently discovered to be part of an1822 commission by Phyfe for RobertDonaldson, who resided in Fayetteville, NorthCarolina at the time. The pair of tables wasfalsely attributed to a “Mrs. Bronson of SouthCarolina” until their Donaldson provenancecame to light in mid-2013. Extensive researchby Martha Willoughby of Christie’s revealeda connection between the style and design ofthe Phyfe tables and an 1822 invoice fromPhyfe to Robert Donaldson.

After inheriting a substantial amount ofmoney from his father and uncle, RobertDonaldson commissioned many pieces fromPhyfe during the 1820s, which were laterinherited by his daughter, Isabel DonaldsonBronson. The invoice, dated August 21, 1822,reveals the tables could possibly be a part of alarger commission, including a rosewood sofa,fourteen chairs, a center table, a pier table, andthe card tables, which were priced at $100 forthe pair (see image at right). Similarities ingilding and ornamentation connected the pairof card tables to the other pieces documentedas made by Phyfe for Donaldson. However,there was another suite made by Phyfe forDonaldson in 1827 that included a Grecian

couch and sofa which have brass mounts ofrosette flanked by leafy stems that are similarto ones on these card tables. They couldpossibly be a part of that commission.

The 1822 commission, completed by Phyfe’sworkshop in New York City, was en route toFayetteville, NC via the Cape Fear River whenthe ship carrying it capsized, sending the entiresuite of furniture to the riverbed. Donaldsonfamily history recounts the furniture as havingbeen recovered unscathed, a testimony to themaster quality of craftsmanship that came outof Phyfe’s workshop.

Robert Donaldson moved to New York Cityin 1827, bringing this Phyfe suite of furnitureto his new residence at 15 State Street. In 1852,Donaldson acquired Edgewater, againoutfitting his house with his Duncan Phyfecollection. Edgewater remained in theDonaldson family for nearly 50 years until itwas sold in 1902. Robert’s daughter, IsabelDonaldson Bronson, inherited the card tablesand other family furnishings and moved withthem to her new home in Summit, New Jersey.Finances compelled her to sell a sofa and twocard tables, which was documented in her 1928“Reminiscences”. The card tables were sold toJohn Morrison Curtis, an interior decorator inSummit, NJ. The tables later appeared in 1983at William Doyle Galleries, accompanied by a

letter from Curtis, detailing their productionby Phyfe, their treacherous trip along the CapeFear River, and their later inheritance byIsabel Donaldson Bronson. The majority ofthe remaining Donaldson furniture Isabelinherited was later passed down to her grand-daughter, Mary Cromwell Allison, the lastliving Donaldson descendant. Mary Allison,desiring that the family items be returned totheir home at Edgewater, bequeathed them toMr. Jenrette.

Classical American Homes obtained thetables from the Christie’s sale of the JackWarner (Westervelt) Collection last year.Upon learning of the tables’ Donaldsonheritage, Bill Thompson, founding Director ofClassical American Homes Preservation Trustand partner of Richard Jenrette, made agenerous donation to facilitate their return toEdgewater. We are thrilled to have yet anotherpiece of Edgewater’s history back “home” — areminder to visitors of the Donaldson era anda testament to Bill Thompson’s generosity andpivotal role in CAHPT’s founding. Read moreabout Edgewater in More Adventures WithOld Houses: The Edgewater Experience andexplore the history of Duncan Phyfe in TheMetropolitan Museum’s Duncan Phyfe:Master Cabinetmaker in New York — bothavailable for purchase at our Shop online.

Pair of classicalrosewood parcel-gilt, brass inlaidand brassmounted cardtables, attributedto Duncan Phyfe(1770-1854),New York, 1822.

August 21, 1822invoice fromDuncan Phyfe’sworkshop. Seefourth line downfor “1 Pair CardTables.... $100.”

Go to www.classicalamericanhomes.org to see this document in more detail.

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SUMMER/AUTUMN NEWS 2013

Pictured at left: Anne Faircloth & Fred Beaujeu-DuFour and Dick Jenrette; center: Vic &Mary Grady Bell, Buddy Jenrette, Dick Jenrette; at right: Julia Carpenter and Dick Jenrette.

Pictured at left: Dick Jenrette accepting the key to the town of Hillsborough from Mayor Tom Stevens on October 23, 2013. (Kent Murray)

Pictured at left: Schatzie Crowther and Charles Floyd; center: rolling hills at Ayr Mount(photo courtesy of Kent Murray); at right: Macon, Josie and Jim Patton.

Pictured at left: Mac Griswold and Chip Callaway; center: Bill Crowther and Hopie Avery; atright: Dick Jenrette at Ayr Mount (photo courtesy of Kent Murray).

Classical American HomesPreservation Trust’s 20th Anniversary1993-2013 — It is our pleasure to announce that Classical has turned 20 this year!

We cannot believe how far we’ve comesince our founding in 1993, all thanks

to your generous support and sustainedinterest in what we do. Because of friends andsupporters like you, Classical AmericanHomes has been able to continue ourpreservation mission. The story began....

Classical American Homes started as a non-profit foundation in December 1993 with DickJenrette’s gift of Ayr Mount, built circa 1815, inHillsborough, NC. It became our first historichouse museum. The Baker Houses’ carriagehouse at 69 East 93rd Street was the next houseto be given in 1996 to CAHPT for use asits headquarters. The most recent gift was

Ayr Mount, Hillsborough, NCWednesday, October 23, 2013

In honor of our 20th birthday, we hosted areception at Ayr Mount in Hillsborough,

NC, on October 23rd. Nearly 300 friendsand supporters came to help us celebrate onthis crisp, Fall evening. The house was openfor guests to tour while food and drinks wereserved outside on the terrace. Vistas ofundulating fields down to the Eno Rivercreated an idyllic setting for the occasion.

The evening featured memorable remarksby the Mayor of Hillsborough, Tom Stevens,and Dick Jenrette. Mayor Stevens presentedMr. Jenrette with a locally-crafted key to thetown of Hillsborough and an Official Accoladefor his generous preservation of Ayr Mount,its associated scenic trails, and surroundingland in the Eno River Valley. Mayor Stevensbegan his comments by asking, “What doesone call someone who lives in Hillsborough?”His answer? “Lucky!” — due in part toindividuals like Dick Jenrette. He praisedDick’s vision for Ayr Mount and thanked himfor his gift to the community and beyond. Billand Schatzie Crowther were also applaudedfor their constant and exemplary managementand care of Ayr Mount and its scenic trails.

Millford Plantation in Sumter County, SC in2008. Roper House, Cane Garden, Edgewaterand Baker House at 67 East 93rd Street are allstill private residences of Dick Jenrette’s and areslated to be given to CAHPT at a future date.

Classical American Homes was foundedwith a mission to preserve, protect and open tothe public examples of American residentialarchitecture, surrounding landscapes andscenic trails, fine and decorative arts for thefirst half of the nineteenth century. This hasremained unchanged, except for the additionof “surrounding landscapes and scenic trails.”With approximately 1000 acres comprising theproperty at all six houses, we realize the overallsignificance that the land plays in relationshipto these houses and the enjoyment it providesto the visitor. Over time we have purchasedproperty surrounding our houses to furtherprotect them from encroaching development.

Happy 20thBirthday PARTYto Us!

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SUMMER/AUTUMN NEWS 2013

Art AcquisitionsExciting news — more Manning family heritage found

its way back to Millford this summer! The spouse ofa Manning descendant contacted us regarding severalpieces of Manning family silver, along with a mahoganychest that originally housed a full set of Manning Familysilver flatware.  The mahogany chest is now one of thenewest pieces to our collection and boasts a silvernameplate with the inscription “J.L. Manning” forGovernor John Laurence Manning. Select pieces ofManning silver were also acquired and include: a footedwaste bowl by S. Kirk and Son (Baltimore), a Ball,Tompkins & Black (New York) chalice, and a ladle withinscription. The silver chalice is inscribed “JLM from MGC” and came with a calling card thatremains with the piece indicating that it was most likely a gift to John Manning from his mother-in-law, Mary Good Clarke, probably at the time of his marriage to his second wife, Sallie Bland Clarke.

The Halls are Alive with the Sound of Music!Millford Plantation, Pinewood, S.C.Sunday, September 22, 2013

Music at Millford was a resounding (no pun intended) success this year.

The response was tremendous (sold-out), theweather was sunny and clear, and the stellarperformance by virtuoso violinist ChenyiAvsharian, Gold Medalist of the 2008 ChinaInternational Violin Competition, andaccomplished international pianist, Amy I-LinCheng, was extraordinary. The grand yetintimate setting of Millford’s elegant doubleparlors — paired with Chenyi’s unparalledperformance — created an afternoon not tobe forgotten.

The diverse musical program selected wasmesmerizing with works by composersTchaikovsky, Vitali, Mendelssohn, Chopin,Waxman and de Sarasate, as well as a pieceby Ernst that is rarely performed due to itschallenging nature. This same musicalprogram debuted last month on the world-stage at Beijing’s Bird Nest Stadium, whichwas built for the 2008 Olympics.

The afternoon began with guests touring thehouse and grounds before getting seated. Afterthe concert more drinks and hors d’oeuvreswere served with an opportunity to meet themusicians. Music performance has always beena tradition at Millford, and John LaurenceManning would have been proud to see thequality of music performed at his house and theenjoyment it brought to those who attended.

A huge round of applause to our Musicat Millford Benefit Committee whosecontributions were invaluable — Mary &Clinch Belser, Thomas Bennett, Ginny Bush& Warren Schwarzman, Rita & MarvinCaughman, Christina & Emory Clark, Jerry

Dell & Benjamin Gimarc, Sallie & CharlesDuell, Kathleen & Kirkman Finlay, Cathy &Buddy Jenrette, Charlotte & Alan Kahn, LeeManigault, Betsy & Julius McKay, Caroline& Swing Meyer, Suzanne & Peter Pollak,Anne & Alan Reyner. A special round ofapplause goes to Christina Clark whoseefforts and guidance were immeasurable.

Top row: (left) Chenyi Avsharian performing;(center) Chenyi and pianist, Amy I-Lin Cheng;(right) Elizabeth Ravenel, Kathy Ravenel, AnneCleveland.

Middle row: (center) Peter & Suzanne Pollackwith Stephen Schar; (left) Emory Clark andCaroline Meyer.

Bottom row: (left) Kate Adams, MarjorieSpruill, Cathy Jenrette; (center) chairs set up inDouble Parlor; (right) Don Doyle, MarjorieSpruill, Cathy & Buddy Jenrette.

To watch part of this performance, visit ourFacebook page, under “Music at Millford.”

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SUMMER/AUTUMN NEWS 2013

Dick Jenrette Welcomes John Trumbull’s Portrait of Hamilton to The American WingVanderlyn Gallery, The Metropolitan Museum of ArtFriday, October 4, 2013

On Friday, October 4th, Dick Jenrettegave a lecture to the Friends of the

American Wing at The MetropolitanMuseum of Art entitled, “My 20 Years withAlexander Hamilton.” Dick was invited tohelp celebrate The American Wing’s recentacquisition of the John Trumbull portrait ofAlexander Hamilton (1792), which is co-owned with The Crystal Bridges Museum ofAmerican Art in Bentonville, AR, which was agift to both museums from Credit Suisse, whoacquired it from Donaldson, Lufkin &Jenrette. It will rotate between these twoinsitutions every two years.

The lecture, which Dick also aptly referredto as, “Adventures with Old Portraits,” gavean overview of the Hamilton portrait andrecounted the fate of many of the portraits inthe former New York Chamber of Commerceportrait collection-all of which featuredpolitical and financial leaders from the late18th to mid 20th centuries.

In 1980 DLJ purchased the AlexanderHamilton portrait, among others, when theChamber decided to move from Wall Streetto Midtown. This portrait was consideredthe crown jewel of the DLJ Collection ofAmericana, greeting guests at the office’s elegantstaircase. Portraits of President AbrahamLincoln and Generals William T. Sherman andUlysses S. Grant were a few portraits from theChamber’s esteemed collection that also went

Profile: KathyHealy-GillenCAHPT Registrar andTreasurer

on to grace the walls of DLJ. Dick purchasedseveral portraits for his personal collection, mostof which are showcased at The Baker Houses onEast 93rd Street in Manhattan. 

Over sixty Friends of the American Wingattended the lecture. Dick shared his personalaccount of acquiring the Hamilton portraitand those like it: a tale that involved good

timing, prudent decision-making, a bit ofluck, and a deep appreciation for a dozen orso world-renowned American artists.

(Left) Portrait of Alexander Hamilton by JohnTrumbull, 1792; (top right) Dick Jenrette;(bottom) Amie James (CAHPT BoardDirector) and Dick Jenrette.

This newsletter’s Profile will focus on Mrs. Kathy Healy-Gillen, Classical American HomesPreservation Trust’s Registrar and Treasurer. Kathy is one of CAHPT’s longest tenured

employees, having been with the organization since 2001. Kathy is responsible for theregistration of all the fine and decorative arts in the CAHPT collection and maintains the artdatabase, which individually tracks each item. Kathy also coordinates special events and themany group tours at Classical American Homes’ three properties and Richard H. Jenrette’sfour properties. If you have visited a CAHPT property on a tour, it is very likely that Kathy wasinstrumental in its organization. As Treasurer, Kathy is responsible for banking and all accountsreceivable and payable for Classical American Homes.

Prior to her time at Classical American Homes, Kathy served as Associate Curator atDonaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, where she began working in 1986. A Long Island native, Kathyhas a love and deep appreciation for old houses, and especially enjoys managing CAHPT’s andRichard Jenrette’s collection of Duncan Phyfe furniture. Kathy earned a Bachelor of Arts degreein Arts Management and Art History from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia, and hascompleted the Attingham Summer School program and the Winterthur Winter Institute.

Kathy currently lives in Long Island with her husband, Michael, whom she met while workingat DLJ, and their 13-year old son, Michael, and their 10-year old daughter, Jacqueline, along withdogs, Banks and Sara. She enjoys reading (especially about Civil War history), visiting museums,and collecting sea glass and shells on the beach. She also likes fishing and is a sports enthusiast,particularly as a fan of the New York Yankees and UNC Tar Heels basketball team.

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SUMMER/AUTUMN NEWS 2013

Gibbes Museum visits New York The Baker House, New York CityWednesday, October 16th, 2013

Dick Jenrette and Classical AmericanHomes welcomed the New York friends

of the Gibbes Museum of Art to 67 East 93rdStreet on Wednesday, October 16th. Thereception was organized by the Gibbes tocultivate support for the museum’s upcomingrenovation and celebrate their recent openingof the Photography and the American Civil Warexhibition over one month ago.

Executive Director Angela Mackwelcomed the crowd on behalf of the Boardof Directors and museum staff. She gavecomments about the long-term vision for theGibbes Museum, which includes a multi-million dollar renovation to refurbish andexpand upon the institution’s Beaux Artsbuilding in Charleston to be led by museum

designer Jeff Daly (see pictured below). Mrs.Mack also spoke about the featured exhibit,which was organized by The MetropolitanMuseum of Art and includes more than 200rare pictures of the American Civil War. JeffRosenheim, Curator in Charge of The Met’sDepartment of Photographs, was at thereception lending his support (see below).The Met’s influence on the exhibit furtheremphasizes the Gibbes’ connection to NewYork City’s arts community, she remarked.

Food, drink and merry conversationfloated around The Baker House on thisWednesday evening. Over 60 guests exploredthe home and connected over their interestin the success of the Gibbes Museum foryears to come.

Pictured at left: An evening view of the colonnade at The Baker House; center: Scott Bessent (CAHPT Board Director) & John Freeman;at right: Dick Jenrette, Angela Mack and Nigel Redden.

Pictured at left: Kayla Nalven, Dick Jenrette and Ted Lee; center: Dr. & Mrs. Jasper Gaunt; at right: Mrs. & Mr. Van Campbell. All Gibbes reception images by Taylor Jewett.

Pictured at left: Mary & Howard Phipps; center: Jeff Rosenheim and Jeff Daly; at right: Jerry Millbank & Caroline Rennolds.

Pictured at left: Philippe de Montebello &Edith Myles, Dick Jenrette, Angela Mack

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SUMMER/AUTUMN NEWS 2013

Summer and the beginning of autumn flewby in the blink of an eye! Over the past five

months our properties have seen visitors fromall around the country and the world - fromCalifornia and Illinois to Hong Kong and theUK. While diverse, our new friends surelyhave in common an interest in preservingthese homes for their beauty and historicalsignificance.

This summer we have had the pleasure ofwelcoming visitors from the Asheville ArtMuseum, the Owens-Thomas House, theMuseum of Early Southern Decorative ArtsSummer Institute, the Preservation Leagueof New York State and a special guest,Madame Ban Soon-taek, wife of the UnitedNations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon,with CAHPT Board Director Amie Jamesand members of the Colony Club ForeignVisitors Committee. We suggested at thattime that Madame Ban Soon-taek wouldenjoy a trip to Edgewater when the leaveswere at their peak — and she took us up on it!In mid-October, Madame Ban returned toEdgewater with her husband, UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-Moon, and 10 Ambassadorsand their spouses from Finland, Yugoslavia,Portugal, Malta, Tunisia, Thailand,Spain, Hungary, Chile, Vietnam, and thePhillippines, along with members of theColony Club Foreign Visitors Committee.They enjoyed Edgewater and other HudsonValley sites on a gorgeous Autumn day.

The Fall season began with a whirl. InNew York City we welcomed the HarvardBusiness School Women’s Association ofNew York, The New York Friends of theGibbes Museum of Art and members of theCeramic Circle of Atlanta, who also made ajourney up the river to see Edgewater.

Edgewater was especially popular this fall!The Greenwich Antiques Society, TheGreenville County Museum of Art, VictorianSociety, Princeton University Art Museumand Historic Natchez Foundation all visitedthe Hudson Valley home. Two groups evencame via boats up the Hudson River on twobeautiful fall days — members of the NewYork Yacht Club (NYYC) and the NationalTrust for Historic Preservation. The NYYCpresented Dick Jenrette with an officialplaque as a token of their appreciation. Butlike all of our visits - the pleasure is truly ours!

In the South, Roper House welcomedmembers from the George WashingtonFoundation, curators from the Metropolitan

Events & ToursFrom South Carolina to New York June to November 2013

Autumnal garden at Edgewater, NY.

Pictured at left: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Dick Jenrette, and Madame BanSoon-taek at Edgewater; center: Madame Ban, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon,and Ambassadors; at right: Madame Ban Soon-taek (third from left) with CAHPT BoardDirector Amie James (right) and members of the Colony Club Foreign Visitors Committee.

Ceramic Circle of Atlanta members at 67 East 93rd Street.

New York Yacht Club members on the Hudson River; NYCC members in front ofEdgewater; Jack Smith accepting NYCC plaque of appreciation.

Museum of Art, visitors from ThePreservation Society of Charleston andmembers of the Speed Art Museum. Inaddition to the 20th anniversary reception,Ayr Mount held two wedding celebrationsand hosted members of the Friendly ForceClub-an Anglo-American exchange programbased in Raleigh.

With 2013 coming to a close, we arecontinuing our planning for next year. Thenew visitation season will begin with tours inNew York City during Americana Week inmid-January. Should your group be visitingnear one of our wonderful sites, please let usknow; we would look forward to welcomingyou, and perhaps a friend or two, in 2014! 

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SPRING NEWS 2013

As the azaleas, camellias and wisteria werebeginning to bloom, the winter doldrums

here at Classical American Homes werebeginning to melt, especially in anticipation ofthe many visitors to our houses and theMillford Picnic and Barbecue this Spring.

Gardens, Jardins, Landscape Architecture...are all words we love to hear! In April wewelcomed 70 members of the Garden Club ofSouth Carolina to Millford during theirextraordinary “Follow the Blooms” tour. Thistour was to benefit their educational andcultural efforts. In Charleston we werepleased to have members of the AmericanHorticultural Society and the Garden Club ofCleveland visit the Roper House. DuringHistoric Charleston Foundation’s AnnualFestival of Houses & Gardens and theCharleston Antiques Show, we had more than500 people visit Roper House, a tradition wehave participated in for many years pro bonopublico. In fact, HCF recorded a boost to thelocal economy of over $6.4 million during thistime with a 13% increase over 2012. How’sthat for newsworthy — Bravo!

The Millford Picnic and Barbecue on April6th was a party that would have made Scarletthappy, even if Ashley weren’t there! With thewisteria beginning to open up and the camelliasat peak perfection, over 200 friends andsupporters came to tour Millford and see thelatest additions, catch up with old friends andmeet new ones, and partake in a deliciousSouthern-style lunch. The Picnic andBarbecue was a benefit for the Friends ofMillford. The event was held under a festivewhite tent, surrounded by Millford’s gracefulold trees with Spanish moss, with tablesscattered under them both. Kudos to thechefs at Doc’s Barbecue in Columbia, SCfor their mouthwatering cuisine — andspecial appreciation to Kirkman Finlay forunderwriting the catering. Scarlett would haveapproved of the whole day and perhaps wouldhave added a few inches to her waistline.

Towards the end of the month, Millfordhosted the Historic Charleston FoundationBenefactors for a tour focusing on the Phyfefurniture, followed by a box lunch. Inbetween this visit and quite a few others, wealso hosted the fifth grade classes from theLaurence Manning Academy in Manning,

Events & ToursFrom South Carolina to New York March to May 2013

Go to our Facebook Page for many more photographs on the Millford Picnic& Barbecue.

Pictured at left (left to right): Senator John C. Land III and Mrs. Marie Land with DickJenrette. Center: guests explore the Double Parlor and original Duncan Phyfe furniture. At right (left to right): Karen Brosius, Executive Director of the Columbia Museum of Art,Marvin Caughman, Will Cullum, and Rita Caughman.

Pictured at left (left to right): Suzanne Togna, Brian Condon, Suzanne and Peter Pollak,Robert Viet, and Lee Manigault. Center: a bowl of camellias from Millford’s gardens. Atright (left to right): Josie Patton and family - Macon, Mac, and Lori Patton.

A beautiful blue-sky day for our Spring Picnic & Barbecue on April 6th at Millford in Sumter County, S.C.

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SPRING NEWS 2013

S.C., who came for their social studies class.We perhaps have some future preservationistshere! See: drawing and thank you note,below, from the students.

Further north, Ayr Mount in Hillsborough,NC reopened in March with a busy Springseason. There were many groups visiting AyrMount, including church groups, women’sorganizations, and a History class from N.C.State University. The property also hostedseveral events, including family reunions, awedding, and a baby shower. The housemuseum welcomed many individuals duringits open schedule from Wednesday toSunday. Click here for Ayr Mount’s tourschedule. Others came to enjoy the bloomingenvirons and to walk the Poet’s Walk. Formore information on Ayr Mount and tounderstand how it ticks, please see the Profileon Ayr Mount’s Site Supervisors  later in theNewsletter.

Continuing this spring tour migration toNew York City, we welcomed the AmericanFriends of the Georgian Group to the GeorgeF. Baker House for a lecture on our housesand collections by our own ExecutiveDirector, Margize Howell. Following thelecture, refreshing mint juleps were served (forhistorical purposes only). The mint juleporiginated in the South, most likely during theeighteenth century, and has had a long andwinding journey to its present incarnation. Itwas definitely a fitting way to celebrate therites of Spring.

We look forward to welcoming you toall our sites and hope you will considervisiting one (or more) of our houses this year.Thank you!

Sofia Vergara at Roper HouseStar of the TV show Modern Family visits Charleston

On a clear and sunny day in early April, theRoper House was the ocean-side setting for

an afternoon visit with celebrity guest SofiaVergara (pictured at right). Ms. Vergara, who iswell known for her current role as GloriaDelgado-Pritchett in the ABC series ModernFamily, has been nominated for three GoldenGlobe Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awardsand three Screen Actors Guild Awards for BestComedy Actress for the show.

Ms. Vergara and her boyfriend, Nick Loeb,spent a weekend in Charleston. She was the talk ofthe town! The Daily Mail (UK) reported on thecouple’s trip.

Pictured left: Statuesque Sofia beside Roper House’s monumental columns.Pictured right: Dick Jenrette, Nick Loeb, Sofia Vergara, and Bill Thompson.

Pictured at left: Ned and Lily Johnson. Center: The Friends of Millford Co-Chairs LeeManigault (left) and Kirkman Finlay (right) with Dick Jenrette. At right (left to right):Tommy Bultman, Harriett Green, Director of Visual Arts at the South Carolina ArtsCommission, and Dick Jenrette.

Pictured at left: a drawing by William Elmore. At right: a note and drawing by Madi Lew.

15

SPRING NEWS 2013

Spring was in the air in the Big Apple too! We held our annual Spring Patrons Party at the George F. Baker Houses on May 30th. Over 175 friendsand supporters, coming all the way from Dallas to Miami to Chicago, joined us in New York to catch up and enjoy a cocktail. We raise our glasses

to all those who attended the event, and to those who could not join us that evening, and say “Thank you for your support!”  

Annual Spring Patrons PartyThe George F. Baker Houses, New York CityThursday, May 30th, 2013

Acquisitions19th Century Sinumbra Lamps

Classical American Homes recently received another generous gift from Stuart and Sue Feld. Mr. andMrs. Feld contacted us last summer to offer a stunning pair of late nineteenth century French

Restauration sinumbra lamps to display in one of our house museums. They previously gifted us a singularGothic Sinumbra Lamp, which is currently at Millford in South Carolina. The pair of painted spelter andormolu lamps, just under three feet tall, have partially frosted, blown glass shades and wheel-cut glasschimneys. The French Restauration style is characterized by a shift from gilded and carved ornamentationto more simple, plain surfaces such as the unadorned pillar and scroll form, which Scottish-borncabinetmaker Duncan Phyfe began producing in the late 1830s and 1840s. With its extensive collection ofPhyfe furniture, and the recently acquired Phyfe pieces from The Met, Dick Jenrette thought Millfordwould be a fitting home for the lamps, as they are of the same period as the house. We invite you to visitMillford to see the lamps on display.

Pictured at left: Jane and Bill Donaldson. Center (left to right): Tony Daddino and Susan Bevan with Amie James, a CAHPT Director.Pictured at right (left to right): Elle Shushan, of Fine Portrait Miniatures, Besty Pochoda, Editor of The Magazine ANTIQUES; PeterKenny, Curator of The American Wing at The Met; and John Hays, Deputy Chairman of Christie’s Americas.

Pictured at left: Agnes Hsu and Oscar Tang. Center (left to right): Dick Jenrette, Margize Howell, and Jeff Nuechterlein, a CAHPTDirector. Pictured at right: Carl and Kari Tiedemann.

Pictured at left (left to right): Richard Sorota, Buddy Jenrette, a CAHPT Director, and Eileen Sorota. Center: Joan Solotar and SabinStreeter. Pictured at right (left to right): Joe Melone, Bill Thompson, a CAHPT Director, and Marie Melone.

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SPRING NEWS 2013

Pictured at top right: Dick Jenrette and Leon Botstein, President of Bard College. Pictured at bottom right: (left to right): Glenn Adamson, head of research at the Victoriaand Albert Museum, London; Adrian Sassoon, of Adrian Sassoon gallery, London; SusanWeber, BCG Director; Dick Jenrette; and Morrie Heckscher, Lawrence A. FleischmanChairman of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Pictured at right (left to right): RobertLeath, Chief Curator and Vice-President,Collections and Research at Old Salem,Jackie Montag, Dick Jenrette, RaganFolan, CEO & President Old SalemMuseums & Gardens, and Tony Montag -the Montags are co-chairs of MESDA’sAdvisory Board.

The Iris Foundation Award forOutstanding Patron from theBard Graduate Center, NYC

On April 17th,  Richard H. Jenrette(pictured at right) was honored as a 2013

recipient of The Iris Foundation Award forOutstanding Patron from the Bard GraduateCenter in New York City. The award recognizesDick’s “long-standing and passionatecommitment to preserving and  restoringclassical American houses and their relatedcollections, [which] reflects the true spirit ofthe Iris awards, and that [his] decision to sharethem with the public through ClassicalAmerican Homes Preservation Trust isespecially important to celebrate.”

A First Recipient of MESDA’sFrank L. Horton LifetimeAchievement Award

Amonth later, on May 17th, Dick Jenrettewas presented with the inaugural Frank L.

Horton Lifetime Achievement Award from theMuseum of Early Southern Decorative Arts(MESDA) at Old Salem Museum & Gardens.This award was named for Frank L. Horton,whose shared vision, along with his motherTheodosia “Theo” Taliaferro, establishedMESDA as the preeminent museum fordomestic objects made in the South. RobertLeath, the Chief Curator and Vice-President,Collections and Research at Old Salem, said“Dick Jenrette is the perfect person to honor withour first Frank L. Horton Lifetime AchievementAward. His southern roots and unprecedented

Awards and HonorsRichard H. Jenrette recognized by two institutions for his contributions in the field April and May 2013

Columns by the Sea: The Roper HouseBy Richard Hampton Jenrette

Columns by the Sea is the third of Dick Jenrette’s books chronicling his love of old houses,following the widely read memoirs, Adventures With Old Houses and More Adventures With

Old Houses. In his new book, Mr. Jenrette focuses in greater detail on one of these houses – RoperHouse, an outstanding example of early 19th Century Greek Revival architecture, circa 1838, onthe Battery in Charleston. In Columns by the Sea Dick Jenrette gives his highly personal accountof how he discovered Roper House strolling on the Battery one moonlit night by accident in1968 and how his dream of owning this house with its colossal colonnade soon became a reality.$20 (softcover) available online at: www.classicalamericanhomes.org/shop

contributions to the fields of preservation,conservation and collection have made him animportant presence in our world.” It was awonderful evening with many of Dick’s friends

from his home state of North Carolina andbeyond. We encourage you to visit MESDA, andtheir newly opened Anne P. and Thomas A.Gray Library and Research Center.

1. What movie influenced Dick Jenrette’s love of classical architecture?

2. What was the first house Dick Jenrette purchased to begin his collection of houses?

3. Ayr Mount is located along which important early trading route?a) Carolinian Silk Road b) Old Indian Trading Path c) Tar Heel Tunnel d) Trader Joe’s Produce Aisle

4. True or False. In 1854 Edgewater had a unique octagonal library added to it by A.J. Davis, which later became Gore Vidal’s study.

5. The architect/builder of Millford Plantation, Nathaniel Potter, was related to which famous Potter who helped save Millford from destruction during the Civil War? a) Helen Beatrix Potter b) Harry James Potter c) Brig. Gen. Edward Elmer Potter d) Gen. William T. Sherman

6. What does the Guggenheim Museum have in common with the Roper House?a) Roper House’s architect was the great-uncle of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim’s architect.b) Robert William Roper was Solomon Guggenheim’s dear friend.c) The spiral design of the Guggenheim Museum was said to be in interpretive “modern columns” inspired by the Roper House.d) Solomon Guggenheim, who built his namesake museum, once owned and resided at the Roper House.

7. Which house belonged to a prominent banker who founded Citibank?

8. President George Washington didn’t necessarily sleep there, however he keeps “watch” at these two houses.

9. Which one of our houses was owned by the same family for 170 years?

10. Column-mania – Which house has the tallest columns?Which house has the most?Which is the only house with Corinthian columns?Name two houses with Doric columns?Name two with Ionic columns?What is the total of all columns?

11. Which house survived the Civil War, 1886 Earthquake, Hurricane Hugo and Sofia Vergara’s visit?

12. Owned originally by French Count DuVal, this oldest home in the collection was used as a monastery and later functioned as a sugar cane plantation under the ownership of Scotch-Irish planters.

13. Which house did Dick Jenrette like so much, he bought it twice? Hint: it’s in New York, New York.

14. The Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail, a 1-mile oval track adjacent to Ayr Mount, served what purpose before it was turned into stretches of scenic trails?a) mysterious crop circle b) the original NASCAR racetrack before NASCAR moved to Talladega/Daytona Beachc) a popular Occaneechi Indian sports arena d) all of the above

15. Which house had a “sister” house, Millwood, which was burned down in the Civil War?

16. Which house has a documented collection of Duncan Phyfe furniture that accidentally fell in the Cape Fear River in transit to Fayetteville, NC and returned over 100 years later from a descendant living in Spain?

17. This house was designed by Delano & Aldrich as part of a family compound complete with a private railroad spur and car for easy rail travel to the owners’ country house.

18. Which house shares its lead architect, Dr. William Thornton, with the White House?

19. If Scarlett O’Hara had not returned to Tara, which house would she have chosen?

20. True or False. One of Dick Jenrette’s requisites for Classical American Homes is to enjoy these old houses and have fun with them!

CAHPT 20th Anniversary Pop Quiz

ANSWERS1 Gone with the Wind (1939), directed by Victor Fleming and George Cukor, and Sam Wood.2 True3 b) Old Indian Trading Path – although a Trader Joe’s produce aisle would be convenient!4 Roper House in 1968.5 c) Brig. Gen. Edward Elmer Potter6 d) Solomon Guggenheim, who built his namesake museum, once owned and resided

at the Roper House7 The George F. Baker House8 Roper House and Edgewater9 Ayr Mount10 Baker House has eight columns. / Millford / Cane Garden and Edgewater /

Baker House and Roper House

11 Roper House12 Estate Cane Garden13 The George F. Baker House (67 East 93rd Street)14 b) the original NASCAR racetrack before NASCAR moved to Talledega/Daytona Beach15 Millford16 Edgwater17 The George F. Baker House18 Estate Cane Garden19 She would probably fancy them all, but would have loved the curtain at Millford best!20 TRUE! Come have some fun!

EDGEWATER

AYR MOUNT

ROPER HOUSE

BAKER HOUSES

MILLFORDPLANTATION

ESTATE CANE GARDEN

Classical American Homes Preservation Trust69 East 93rd Street, New York, New York 10128 • Phone (212) 369-4460 • Fax (212) 369-4462

info@classicalamericanhomes.org • www.classicalamericanhomes.org

EDGEWATER

AYR MOUNT

ROPERHOUSE

GEORGE F.BAKER HOUSES

MILLFORDPLANTATION

ESTATE CANEGARDEN

To schedule a tour, please go to:www.classicalamericanhomes.org

Visit Our Houses

Our mission at Classical American Homes Preservation Trust is to preserve, protect and open to the public examples of classical American

architecture, surrounding landscapes and scenic trails, as well as fine and decorative arts of the first half of the 19th Century.