Blithewold Mansion in Rhode Island

The Blithewold Mansion in Rhode Island is a popular spot for weddings, events and visitors who just want to tour one of the most impressive Rhode Island mansions.

Mining baron Augustus Van Wickle was born in 1856 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 1876 he went to work in his father?s coal mining business, ?Van Wickle and Stout?. He moved up in the company rapidly. He and Bessie Pardee, daughter of Hazleton?s wealthiest coal baron, were married in 1882. Their daughter Marjorie was born in 1883. Bessie?s older daughter, Marjorie Van Wickle, became an accomplished watercolorist; many of her paintings are displayed in the mansion. But her true love was Blithewold, where she spent the rest of her life developing this beautiful property.

Van Wickles 1st family home was ready for occupancy in the summer of 1896. The original Blithewold was a 45-room Queen Anne style mansion furnished with antiques and reproduction furniture. This 1st Blithewold house was destroyed by a fire in 1906.

In 1907 the 2nd, grander mansion was ready for the family. The 2nd Blithewold was designed by the Boston architectural firm of Kilham and Hopkins, and was a grander affair altogether. The new Blithewold had electricity and coal-fired central heating, taking advantage of modern technology, though it emulated the English Country Manor style, which was embraced as desirable for the wealthy classes of America. The loggia of Blithewold faces Narragansett Bay, and is carved into crests and gargoyles, copying of the loggia at Cranborne Manor in Dorset, England. The house itself is long and narrow, built on a north-south axis, so that all the main rooms face west to the water. It features French doors leading out to terraces, porches, loggias and sleeping-porches. The large windows frame the glorious sunsets that Blithewold is famous for.

The center hall and staircase of Blithewold Mansion are designed in the Colonial Revival style in the Georgian style. Also typical of the Colonial Revival style are the fluted columns, dentil moldings and volutes in the Entrance Hall, as well as the 3 different patterns of balusters on the stairway.

The furniture in each room remains as former owner Bessie McKee arranged it before 1910. The fine yet quasi-eclectic decor emphasizes elegance, comfort and informality. Custom, handmade furniture abounds. The Dining Room furniture is made of oak, made for the Van Wickle family in the 1890s in a Baroque style. Several of the chairs were made of oak cut from the Blithewold gardens and were emblazoned with a Blithewold family crest.

With the exception of 2 bedrooms all the rooms in the mansion are decorated with the original wallpaper. The walls in the Master Bedroom show a hand-painted Dutch village scene. The fascinating Dining Room Collection includes more than 30 sets of fine china, which are displayed in the Butler?s Pantry.

This breathtaking American home is among the most incredible architectural attractions in the state of Rhode Island. Anyone interested in gilded age architecture cannot afford to skip a trip to this New England treasure.

Resource Box: Looking for more information on Rhode Island Beach Hotels check out visitusa.com your outdoor adventure travel guide

MORE ARTICLES:

Portsmouth Tourist Information & Travel Guide
Portsmouth, the Waterfront City, is the UK's only island city. Separated from the mainland by a narrow creek, it has only three approach roads with which to enter the city. The Main M275 links from the M27 down into the centre of the city, the A2030 ?Eastern Road? into Southsea, and the A3, the main arterial road through the city.

What You Need to Know About Portsmouth City
Life materializes to be calm and complacent and all the worries gradually peter out as one enters the beautiful seaside town- Portsmouth. The city that was initially a ship building center has a rich historical past that is even reflected in the preset day life and functioning of it.

IOLProperty to Launch Revolutionary "Single Search"
Imagine if you could search South Africa's largest database of online listings, classified adverts and property print publications all in one go with a few clicks of the mouse - that's what the recently-launched IOLProperty.co.za will be offering consumers when it launches its new single-search facility early next month.

The Best Way To Get Real Estate Listings
The Real Estate Industry is HUGE and is a golden opportunity for real estate agents. National average home sales exceed $200,000.

The Town of Portsmouth UK
Portsmouth is located on the South coast of England in the county of Hampshire and is the UK's only island city with a population of around 200,000 in the city and combined population of 450,000 in the wider urban area of Portsmouth The city has always had a big connection with the Royal Navy and defense systems for many centuries

Portsmouth Tourist Guide & Travel Information
Portsmouth is a city situated on the south coast of England and is the country's sole island It has contributed heavily to the formation of the Industrial Revolution as historically it has served the Royal Navy logistically

Foreclosure Listings Know The Details
If you have access to forclosure listings in your area, you can take advantage of a really great way to pick up some inexpensive real estate. Even though foreclosure listings are nothing more than a list of properties that are available, they will go a long way in ensuring that you are successful in this industry. If you want to get your hands on foreclosure listings, read on and find out how.

Local Tidewater Virginia Establishment Hosting Entertainer Showcase
A free to the public entertainer showcase event will be held on August 20 from 6-10 p.m. at Paradocks East Coast Grille, 4124 Chesapeake Square Blvd., Chesapeake, VA 23320. This showcase event includes musicians who have entertained at the Mondays@Paradocks open mic events during the past six months. The event will be hosted by Paradocks Management Corporation's Entertainment DirectorJoe Maniscalco.

Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel Offers Three Centuries of History in Three Days
Portsmouth Package Combines History and Luxury from 18th - 21st Centuries.

The Newport Wedding Showcase Goes Green -- Newport, Rhode Island
Industry celebrities gather for a one-of-a-kind bridal event. A weekend getaway with special events planned all weekend for brides. Donations will be made to Save the Bay and The New England Wind Fund. Literature will be available the day of the event to bring awareness to the "Green Movement", our event programs will be printed on recycled paper and more.

Car Hire UK And Get To Know Reading And Portsmouth
Traveling around the world is a privilege, a right, and an opportunity to most people One describes it as a good learning experience as compared looking at pictures and books

Portsmouth: A Fratton Park Guide
The nearest station to Fratton Park is Fratton which is about a 10 minute walk from the ground. The nearest mainline station

Special 4th of July Package at Hotel in Portsmouth, Virginia
The "Sparkler"" Package Available July 1 through July 8, 2008 at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel & Waterfront Conference Center

Chiropractor Listings: How Businesses Can Benefit From Chiropractor Listings
Chiropractor listings open up a whole new world of opportunities to business owners With a regularly updated database of about 57,000 Chiropractors throughout the United States, many opportunities are available to this market