S P R I N G 201 4 – W I N T E R 201 5 N E W S L E T T E R S

As we reflect on the events and developments of the last year, we arehumbled by the enthusiasm and support of our many patrons and

friends. We are encouraged by the ever growing interest in our mission topreserve and protect some of America’s finest examples of early 19thcentury residences, fine and original decorative arts within them, and thescenic landscapes and trails associated with these properties. This year hasbeen filled with noteworthy milestones that have reminded us of thepower of these historic properties to both educate and inspire, and tocapture the interest of new friends and supporters after both face-to-faceand virtual introductions.

This year we hosted over 20,000 visitors from around the country andthe world, some old friends, and some new. We were pleased to receiveincredible feedback from our guests about their experiences and theimpeccable upkeep of these properties and landscapes, which could notbe possible without the generous support from our donors, and the tirelessdedication of the staff at each of these locations.

Once again, we opened our homes to donors and the general public fornumerous events, both small and large. These events inspired new interestin our cause. From our sold-out Music at Millford to the first annual Appraisal Fair at Ayr, we continued to use these homes as placesfor gathering and celebration, as the original owners intended. In addition, Richard Jenrette’s dedication to historic preservation wasalso acknowledged by several foundations this year. Read about these events and awards in this newsletter compendium or go to ourwebsite (and Facebook Page) for more information and photos!

We are thrilled to continue this year of big milestones with events leading up to one of the organization’s biggest milestones to date –Ayr Mount’s 200th birthday in 2015. If the enthusiasm of our supporters this year is any indication, we know these events will be aperfect way to celebrate the history and legacy of this property, as well as the importance of preservation work. Another excitingnews headline for 2015 is the addition of Peter Kenny, one of the nation’s foremost authorities on American furniture and a 30-yearveteran of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, to join me as Co-President here at CAHPT.

We look forward to more adventures and to continuing this work, and it is your support that fuels our passion to preserve and protectAmerica’s finest homes for years to come.

All the best,

Margize

SPRING NEWS 2015

Thank You for a Banner Year!

Welcome Peter Kenny!

We here at Classical American Homes are excitedfor a truly historic 2015! This year we welcome

Peter Kenny as Co-President of CAHPT. Peter is a 30-year veteran of The Met, most recently serving asCurator of American Decorative Arts and Administratorof the American Wing.

We know 2015 will be filled with learning andenrichment, celebration and surprise, and we can’t wait forPeter Kenny to join us for all that’s to come for CAHPT.

Cover: A view from Edgewater’s front porch, with its tall columns, looking across the Hudson River to the new guest house.

Margize Howell, Dick Jenrette, and Peter Kenny at the George F. Baker House (April 2015).

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

Peter Kenny, new CAHPT Co-President.

WINTER NEWS 2015

Margize Howell and Dick Jenrette welcoming everyone to the Baker House.

Americana Week in New York CityAND MORE — The George F. Baker House — January 20, 2015

Although 2015 got off to a snowy start, wehave been busy making arrangements for

a full year of tours and events, with excitingmilestones and visits from new and oldfriends to look forward to this year.

On January 20th, we welcomed to theGeorge F. Baker House friends and guestsfrom three influential museums – TheColonial Williamsburg Foundation, theMuseum of Early Southern DecorativeArts (MESDA) and Winterthur Museumand Gardens – for a cocktail receptioncelebrating Americana Week and the 61stAnnual Winter Antiques Show in New YorkCity. The bitter cold weather once again didnot prevent us from a night filled withspectacular company, laughs, and good cheer.

Other highlights from Americana Weekincluded the 2015 Eric M. Wunsch Awardfor Excellence in the American Arts hostedat Christie’s, and of course, the WinterAntiques Show at the Park Avenue Armory.

Left to right: Dick Jenrette,Chairman of CAHPT, and RaganFolan, President of Old SalemMuseum and Gardens; (center)Mitchell Reiss, President andCEO of Colonial WilliamsburgFoundation (CWF); (right) ColinCampbell, former CWFPresident, and David Roselle,Director of Winterthur Museum,Garden & Library.

Left to right:Coley Townsend and MargaretPritchard; (center) Pemmie Frick,Greg Sullivan, Dick Jenrette, andLisa Moore; (right) Leo Bretter,Morrie Heckscher, and RobFroelich.

Left to right:Dick Jenrette, Linda Wells andJeff Nuechterlein, CAHPT BoardDirector; (center) Wilson Pace,MESDA Development Officer;Robert Leath, MESDA ChiefCurator; and Laura Barry, CWFCurator of Paintings, Drawingsand Sculpture; (right) Jack Smith,CAHPT Executive Vice-President of Operations.

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WINTER NEWS 2015

Americana Week (continued)The George F. Baker House — January 20, 2015

Third Annual Eric M. Wunsch Award for Excellencein the American Arts — January 21, 2015

As mentioned, one of the highlights ofAmericana Week was the third annual

Eric M. Wunsch Award for Excellence inthe American Arts, hosted by Christie’s onJanuary 21st. This year the award honoredArnold Lehman, the Shelby White andLeon Levy Director of the BrooklynMuseum, and Jon Prown, ExecutiveDirector and Chief Curator of TheChipstone Foundation. Dick Jenrette andClassical American Homes, along with LindaKaufman, were very fortunate to be therecipients of the award last year.

Since 1997, Arnold Lehman has servedas the Shelby White and Leon Levy Directorof the Brooklyn Museum. Under hisleadership, he has prioritized both theindividual visitor’s experience and thecommunity’s engagement with the Museum

through the presentation of innovativeexhibitions and reinstallation of thepermanent collection. Mr. Lehman, praisedas a visionary in the museum world, hasrecently announced his plans to retire in June,after 18 years as Director of the Museum.

The Chipstone Foundation promotesand enhances the appreciation andknowledge of American material culture(emphasizing the decorative arts) by scholars,students and the general public. Throughexhibitions, digital projects, teachingopportunities as well as the study andpreservation of their collection, TheChipstone Foundation encourages newresearch questions and topics centeredaround a “living” collection of fine earlyAmerican furniture, historical prints andearly ceramics.

Above: (left) Margaret Pritchard, CWF Curator of Prints, Maps and Wallpaper; John Metcalf, Tom Savage, Winterthur Director of Museum Affairs;Margize Howell, CAHPT Co-President; and Ralph Harvard; (right) Peter Kenny, CAHPT Co-President.

Right, top to bottom:

Top: (left to right) Terry Carbone, Curatorof American Art at the Brooklyn Museum;Arnold Lehman, Director of the BrooklynMuseum; and Peter Wunsch.

Upper center: (left to right) Beth Wees,MMA Curator of American Decorative Arts;and Jon Prown, Executive Director and ChiefCurator of The Chipstone Foundation.

Lower center: (left to right) Linda Kaufman,last year’s Wunsch Award recipient with DickJenrette and CAHPT, and NonnieFrelinghuysen, MMA Curator of AmericanDecorative Arts.

Bottom: (left to right) Peter Kenny, JimFreeman, and Alan Miller.

Above: Peter Wunsch presenting the awardnamed after his father, Martin Wunsch.

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WINTER NEWS 2015

(Left to right) Former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg, Peter Kenny, Dick Jenrette, andMargize Howell at the Opening Night of the Winter Antiques Show.

The 61st Winter Antiques ShowJanuary 23 – February 1, 2015

The 61st Annual Winter AntiquesShow was held January 23 - February 1,

2015 in New York City. Featuring the “bestof the best” from antiquities through the1960s, the show consists of a loan exhibition,a Young Collectors Night, lectures, booksignings, and 73 exhibitors (one-third whoare specialists in Americana). This year’s loanexhibition Ahead of the Curve: The NewarkMuseum 1909-2015 showcased exceptionalpieces from The Newark Museum in NewJersey. The Museum is celebrating its 106thanniversary this year. Here are some picturesfrom the Opening Night of the WinterAntiques Show.

We ended the busy Americana week bywelcoming to the Baker House membersfrom the Museum of Fine Arts, Bostonand Historic New England for a tour led byMr. Jenrette, who was in the city brieflybefore departing for Cane Garden.

Dick Jenrette and Eula Johnson, WinterAntiques Show Coordinator for the EastSide House Settlement.

Arthur Liverant from Nathan Liverant andSon Antiques showing chalk mark onNewport lowboy.

Carswell Berlin presents a unique DuncanPhyfe cellarette c. 1815, New York.

Carved Lion’s head detail from Phyfecellarette (see image at left).

Susan Stein, Senior Curator & Vice-Presidentof Museum Programs at Thomas Jefferson’sMonticello in front of a Bertoia screen.

Arie Kopelman, Co-Chair of the WinterAntiques Show, and Dick Jenrette,Chairman of CAHPT.

Bidder 999 at Christie’s – part of the AllanStone Collection, a 19th century carved,painted and polychrome – decorated shipfigurehead.

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WINTER NEWS 2015

Shortly before Christmas, we hosted twoseparate events: a visit for Committee

Members of The Garden Conservancyand the Annual General Meeting ofThe American Friends of the GeorgianGroup, with a fascinating lecture onGeorgian follies by Charlottesvillearchitect, Madison Spencer.

We always look forward to welcomingold and new friends and supporters to eachof our properties. It’s never too early tobegin planning an adventure with us toexperience first-hand the many adventureswith old houses that CAHPT offers.

If you have a group who would like tovisit any of our properties, please visit ourwebsite, www.classicalamericanhomes.orgto submit your tour request.

The American Friends of the Georgian Group

The Garden Conservancy

From the Garden Conservancy: KevinSharkey, Susan Burke, and Martha Stewart.

A warm fire to welcome The AmericanFriends of the Georgian Group in December.

Madison Spencer, architect, discussing thetopic of creative and extravagant examples of18th century Georgian architecture.

An example of “Georgian Extravagance,Georgian Whimsy” from MadisonSpencer’s lecture.

Pete McGee; Jenny DuPont, President andCEO of The Garden Conservancy;Maureen Donnell; Ben Lenhardt.

More Special Events

The Society for the Preservation ofLong Island Antiquities (SPLIA)

braved a dismal weather report and came tothe George F. Baker House from LongIsland for a cocktail reception in January.Their members enjoyed an evening tour ofthe house and a fun-filled cocktail reception.Interestingly enough, three members inattendance are great-granddaughters ofGeorge Fisher Baker: Asia Baker Stokes,Joanna Baker de Neufville, and SamanthaBoardman Rosen. We were thrilled andintrigued as they shared family stories abouttheir fathers and grandfather in this veryfitting setting - and especially Joanna, as shegrew up at 69 East 93rd Street.

The Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities (SPLIA)

Samantha BoardmanRosen and Asia Baker Stokes, great-granddaughters ofGeorge F. Baker.

Asia Baker Stokesand Joanna Baker de Neufville, great-granddaughters ofGeorge F.Baker.

Carol Large,Chairman of theBoard of OldWestbury Gardens.

Peter Schiff,descendant of GeorgeF. Baker; AlexandraWolfe, Director ofSPLIA; and Lisa Schiff.

WINTER NEWS 2015

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Profile: David CrowtherSite Supervisor, Cane Garden – St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

This newsletter’s “CAHPT profile” will focuson David Crowther, site supervisor at EstateCane Garden in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.David has been managing the Cane Gardenproperty since 1994, when he began workingfor Richard Jenrette.

Estate Cane Garden is idyllically set on ahigh hill – some 90 feet above sea level –

overlooking 300 verdant acres and theturquoise-blue of the Caribbean, on thesouth shore of St. Croix. Originally owned byCount DuVal of France and later used as amonastery, the property was then acquiredand owned by the Christopher McEvoyfamily for several generations. The McEvoyswere Scotch-Irish planters who obtainedDanish citizenship and became wealthy fromthe production of sugar cane. The hundredsof acres of sugar cane surrounding the houseon the hill gave it the name “Cane Garden.”

In search of an on-site caretaker for CaneGarden in 1994, Mr. Jenrette received arecommendation from David Crowther’sbrother, Bill, who had been successfullymanaging Ayr Mount for ten years. Mr. Jenrettehoped to duplicate that success and hired David.David then moved to St. Croix with his wife,Dulcie, and took on the responsibility ofoverseeing and maintaining Cane Garden,which is a private residence of Dick Jenrette’s tobe given to CAHPT at a later date.

Originally from Berwick, Maine, Davidgrew up in a large family with five sisters andthree brothers. After high school, Davidopted to work and extensively travel the

United States. Along the way, David pickedup scuba diving and eventually began workingin the commercial diving field.

David’s task of maintaining and preservingEstate Cane Garden involves many diversetasks and unique challenges. With the house’slocation on a high hill overlooking theCaribbean Sea, weather and the elementspresent the need for constant upkeep of thehouse and grounds. David has also shepherdedthe property through many hurricanes overthe years, some of which have proven quitedestructive. He credits the great house withbeing resilient and sound during storms, whilethe carefully manicured lawns and gardensusually sustain heavy damage. David is also

keenly interested in the house’s history andcollection of island mahogany furniture and,along with Dulcie, acts as docent for tours ofCane Garden.

David and Dulcie have been married for 17 years and have two sons: Wylie, age 14,and Cooper, age 12. In his spare time, Davidenjoys recreational diving and snorkeling,and is an avid surfer, following the bestbreaks around St. Croix. He also plays guitarand is a singer/songwriter with friends in alocal band.

Planning a trip to the Caribbean? Schedulea tour for your group, and go see the beautifulwork David does to keep Cane Garden in tip-top shape!

The Crowther Family – Wylie, Dulcie, David, and Cooper

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WINTER NEWS 2015

Sculptural Masterpiece, Mythical TerrorBy Peter Kenny

With its writhing, scrolled, sea-serpentends, this richly carved Grecian sofa is

one of the most dynamic furniture forms madein early nineteenth century America. Presentedto Classical American Homes PreservationTrust by Richard Hampton Jenrette in 2013,this sofa now stands in the foyer of theGeorge F. Baker townhouse in New York,welcoming – and perhaps on occasion,frightening – the numerous guests who attendour Trust programs and receptions there.

Fourteen sculptural sofas of this type areknown, including examples in the collectionsof the White House and the MetropolitanMuseum of Art. The majority of these haverelatively benign, blunt-nosed sea creatureson the ends, a feature that has earned themthe name “dolphin sofas.” However, two ofthe fourteen, including the CAHPTexample, feature more fearsome creatureswith gaping jaws full of jagged teeth, a far cryfrom the mythical dolphins of classicalantiquity that were believed to be talismanswho buoyed shipwrecked sailors to safety.The more fearsome creature was known asthe ketos, a monster that both fascinated andterrified the ancients.

The ketos figures prominently in Greekmythology in the stories of Herakles andHesione (fig. 1) and Perseus and Andromeda(fig. 2). Both of these myths center on the

story of a man who has angered the gods andis then forced to pay the terrible price ofhaving to offer his daughter as anappeasement to a vengeful Poseidon – whosends the ketos to devour her. Luckily,Herakles and Perseus arrive just in the nick oftime to save the damsels, slaying the ketoswith their scythe-like hooked knives.

A three-dimensional, sculptural ketos on asofa such as the CAHPT example wouldeasily have conjured up these ancientmythological tales in the mind of asophisticated, classically-educated clientaround 1820, when this sofa was made in NewYork. By this date, a new, richly ornamentedGrecian style – an amalgam of French Empireand late English Regency design – hadbecome all the rage there. In the vanguard ofthis new style were New York’s pre-eminentcabinetmakers of the day, Charles-HonoréLannuier (1779-1819) and Duncan Phyfe(1770-1854), whose signature winged caryatidand griffin card and pier tables graced theparlors of elite clients from New York to thecoastal American South, and even into theCaribbean. Neither of these great mastercabinetmakers, however, seemed to have beeninvolved in the production of these highlydistinctive dolphin and ketos sofas, leavingtheir authorship, at least for the present, amystery of the deep.

Scrolled, sea-serpent ends on this early 19th century Grecian sofa.

(Fig. 1) Herakles fights the Ketos.Caeretan hydria, ca. 520-510 B.C. from Stavros

S. Niarchos collection, Athens, Greece.

(Fig. 2) Perseus and Andromeda,oil on canvas, by Titian, ca. 1554-1556from the Wallace Collection, London

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WINTER NEWS 2015

Richard Hampton JenretteReceives the Simons AwardCharleston, SC

On Thursday, November 6th, Richard H. Jenrette was awarded The Albert

Simons Medal of Excellence for hisdedicated work in historic preservation.Thomas Gordon Smith, Professor ofArchitecture at The University of NotreDame, was also awarded the Simons Awardfor outstanding work in design and education.

The Albert Simons Medal honorsindividuals who have excelled in one or moreof the following areas: civic design,architectural design, historic preservation,and urban planning. The award waspresented by the Historic Preservation andCommunity Planning Program of theCollege of Charleston School of the Arts.Prior recipients of the Simons Medal include:His Royal Highness Prince Charles - ThePrince of Wales, Mayor Joseph P. Riley,John D. Milner, Andres Duany, ElizabethPlater- Zyberk, and Allan Greenberg.

Dick Jenrette receiving the Albert SimonsMedal of Excellence from Valerie Morris, Deanof the College of Charleston School of the Arts.

Albert Simons, Dick Jenrette, and ThomasGordon Smith.

Sallie and Charlie Duell, CAHPT BoardDirector and President of Middleton Place,with Dick Jenrette.

AUTUMN NEWS 2014

Music at MillfordFeaturing Robert Demaine and James WilhelmsenPinewood, S.C.

Robert deMaine,Principal Cello ofthe Los AngelesPhilharmonic, at Millford.

Classical American Homes PreservationTrust and the Friends of Millford

presented our third annual Music atMillford on Sunday, September 21. Over 150friends joined us on this beautiful, latesummer day in Pinewood, South Carolina.Guests enjoyed exploring the gardens andgrounds, taking a look inside private roomsnot usually open during public tours, andsipping on a cool drink on Millford’s porches.A few friends even brought along a picnic – aperfect way to experience the splendor of thishistoric landmark. Millford lookedmagnificent, even with concert seating inplace of the suite of Duncan Phyfe furniturethat usually graces the Double Parlor!

The concert – an energetic and movingperformance by Robert deMaine, Principal

(Continued on page 10)

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1815 1825 1835 1845 1855 1865 1875 1885 1895 1905

1815Ayr

Mount isbuilt byScottish

merchantWilliam

Kirkland

1825Edgewater is built forLowndes andMargaretBrown byher father,John R.Livingston

1838Roper House is built onCharleston’s High Battery byby Robert William Roper

1841Millford is

completed byJohn Laurence

and SusanHamptonManning

1820 Cane Garden is extensivelyremodeled in the classicaltaste by the McEvoy family

1810 French mantle clock, The Astronomy Lesson –Baker House

1815 Portrait ofThomas Jeffersonby Ezra Ames –Ayr Mount

1850Portrait of GeorgeWashington by HarrietPeale – Roper House

Classical American Homes PreservHelp us protect these hou

1815 Classical diningchair byDuncan Phyfe –Edgewater

1840 Danish PierGlass andConsole –Cane Garden

1841 Grecian bedstead by Duncan

Phyfe made for Millford

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2008Millford Plantation

donated to CAHPT

2013CAHPT celebrates

its 20th Anniversary

1982Baker Houses are addedto the National Register

of Historic Places

1984-85 RHJ purchases Ayr Mount in 1984

and Cane Garden in 1985

1915 1925 1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015

1931George F.Baker Housecomplex iscompleted

Octagon Library added toEdgewater in early 1850’s

Ayr Mount’s West Parlor

Baker House’s elegant ovalDining Room

1968RHJ purchases

Roper House

1969RHJ purchases

Edgewater fromGore Vidal

1971Ayr Mount

added to theNational Registerof Historic Places

1987 RHJ first purchases the BakerHouse at 67 East 93rd St.

2004Baker CarriageHouse donated

to CAHPT

1973Millford Planation and

Roper House are designated National Landmarks

1993 Richard Hampton Jenrette(RHJ) establishes CAHPTwith the gift of Ayr Mount

1992 RHJ purchasesMillford Plantation

Double Parlors at Millford withits original Phyfe furniture

vation Trust Celebrating 200 Yearsuses for the next 200 years!

2015Ayr Mount turns 200 years old!

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AUTUMN NEWS 2014

Left to right: the gardens at Millford; at right: Dick Jenrette, Buddy Jenrette,Jack Simmons, Courtenay Daniels.

Left to right: Sharon Brown, Tom Cox, Freddy and Hornor Davis, Priscilla Jordan; at right: Dick Jenrette and Lou Hammond.

Left to right: Bill Crowther, Site Supervisor of Ayr Mount, and Louie Hall, Site Supervisorof Millford; at right: Ginny Bush, John and Marie Land.

Music at MillfordFeaturing Robert Demaine and James WilhelmsenPinewood, S.C.

Cello of the L.A. Philharmonic, and pianistJames Wilhelmsen – was simply outstandingin delivering a program of Debussy,Beethoven, Vaughan Williams, and Brahms.The audience was enthralled. Music atMillford has been quite a success and hasmore than tripled in size since our inauguralconcert in 2011, which featured the piano duoof Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers.Tickets sold out a few weeks prior to theevent this year, so we were saddened to havehad to turn guests away. We hope all will beable to join us next year – it was suggested wemight have to add a music wing to Millford!Below is a selection of photographs – morecan be found on our Facebook Page.

We would like to express a heartfelt thankyou to all of our Benefit Committeemembers for their efforts and support inmaking Music at Millford a success. A specialacknowledgement to Christina Clark (at left),who meticulously guided and nurtured thisprogram into the wonderful event it is today,is also in order. As one of our guests wrote us,“The weather, the architecture, the music, thefriendship – everything was just perfect!” Wewere pleased to see many old friends and towelcome many new friends to Millford.

Left to right: Christina Clark at Millford; at right: Sponsors and Benefactors atMusic at Millford.

(Continued)

Friends of Millford and music enthusiasts.

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AUTUMN NEWS 2014

At Ayr MountEvents and GatheringsHillsborough, NC

The past, the present and the future allseemed to converge at Ayr Mount during

the month of September. This Federal-eraplantation house (at right), built in 1815, maybe turning 200 years old, but Ayr Mount iscertainly characterized by a youthful vibranceand energy that local partnerships andcommunity events bring to the site. The housemuseum, gardens, and grounds, in addition tonearly 300 acres of woodlands and trails acrossthe Eno River, are situated within a dynamiccommunity that celebrates its history whilelooking forward to new and exciting projectshighlighting all the best that North Carolinahas to share!

On September 4-5, 2014, Friends of theMountain-to-Sea Trail convened for itsfirst ever Trail Towns Conference. Speakersat the event shared their insights on how acommunity can benefit from its relationshipwith a long distance trail like the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Representatives from twenty-two North Carolina counties attended,including tourism and economic developmentprofessionals, elected officials, and governmentstaff. All the conference members gathered tocelebrate on the grounds of Ayr Mount.

The same weekend, Ayr Mount hosted thePreservation North Carolina’s (PNC)Orange County Ramble. Also known astheir Diamond Anniversary Roadshow, thiscelebratory event included tours to showcasehouses in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill thatPNC has helped to preserve.

Across the Eno River from the Ayr MountHistoric Site is the Historic OcconeecheeSpeedway Trail (HOST), which was theoriginal speedway track for NASCAR. Placedon the National Register for Historic Placesin 2002, this 44-acre site now has four milesof trails along NASCAR’s only surviving dirtspeedway from its 1949 inaugural season.

Every year the Historic Speedway Groupin Hillsborough organizes a Celebration ofthe Automobile and reunites racers as well ascar aficionados at Ayr Mount’s HOST. Thisyear was the 8th annual event, honoring thelegendary Wood Brothers: Leonard and GlenWood. It attracted 7,500 people. The famousbrothers formed their team in 1950, using thenumber 21 on their main car, and hold thedistinction of being the oldest active team inNASCAR. See below pictures from the day!

Autumn at Ayr Mount (Photo: Nick Pironio for The Scout Guide)

Left to right: Bill Crowther, Ayr Mount Site Supervisor, presenting on Ayr Mount’spartnership with MTST; at right: Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens (far right) addressingthe Friends of MTST at Ayr Mount.

Left to right: Vintage cars go for a spin on the original NASCAR tracks in Hillsborough, NC;at right: Fans gather to watch the procession of vintage cars around the historic tracks.

Left to right: Glen Wood (left) and Leonard Wood (right); at right: The famous fiveWood Brothers featured in this vintage poster.

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AUTUMN NEWS 2014

Profile: Earnest TownsendSite Supervisor, Roper House – Charleston, S.C.

This newsletter’s Profile highlights Mr. Earnest Townsend (Earnie), Site

Supervisor at Roper House in Charleston,S.C. Richard Jenrette first acquired RoperHouse in 1968 and began a process ofrestoring and conserving Roper House in1980. Earnie Townsend had been workingas a painter and plasterer with a localcontractor in Charleston who came to workfor Mr. Jenrette at the Roper House.Impressed by Earnie’s talent, work ethic, andcheerful demeanor, Mr. Jenrette offered him afull-time position upon the completion of thisnearly two year, initial project. Earnie happilyaccepted and became caretaker at the RoperHouse, overseeing the upkeep and maintenanceof the house and grounds.

Earnie’s role has expanded over the years,and he now operates as a one man army atthe Roper House, in charge of everythingfrom keeping up the impeccable gardens andlawn surrounding the house, to the constantpainting, roof repair, and maintenancerequired by the house’s close proximity toCharleston’s East Battery.

Earnie points out that the house is built onmarshland, and cites rising water as hisgreatest nemesis over the years. This wasnever the case more so than when HurricaneHugo unleashed its wrath on the city ofCharleston in 1989, only weeks beforePrince Charles was scheduled to stay atRoper House while in town for a conference.Earnie had shrewdly moved all of thefurniture and artwork upstairs from the firstfloor before the storm hit, and rode out thestorm at the property along with Mr.Jenrette’s mother and her staff of nurses(Mrs. Jenrette had moved into the Roperhouse shortly after turning age 90 and livedthere until her passing at age 101). Earniewatched out for Mrs. Jenrette and the RoperHouse through the storm, although the firstfloor of the house was inundated with fivefeet of water from Hugo. Earnie quicklytook up the enormous task (often workingaround the clock) of coordinating the rewiringand repainting of the entire first floor, andreplanting of all the adjoining gardens.Everything was in tip-top shape just in time

for His Royal Highness’ arrival, and the visitwent splendidly.

In addition to keeping the house andgrounds in pristine condition, Earnie is alsothe official tour guide at the Roper House,greeting the thousands of visitors who cometo the Roper House each year for tour groupsand special events. Earnie’s comprehensiveknowledge of the house’s history, coupledwith his charisma and knack for storytelling,make for a fun and enriching the RoperHouse experience. He says his favorite partof the job is having the chance to meet andinteract with so many different people fromdifferent places, and he loves seeing howmuch people enjoy visiting the property.Earnie lives just outside of Charleston inWest Ashley, S.C., and while he reminds usthat his job is a 24-hour-a-day responsibility,he does enjoy spending time with his family,working around his own house, gardening,and golfing when he has spare time. If youhaven’t had the pleasure of visiting the RoperHouse and meeting Earnie, schedule a tourin Charleston soon!

Earnie givinga tour of theRoper House.

EarnestTownsend, site supervisorat RoperHouse.

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AUTUMN NEWS 2014

Tours and EventsJuly, August And SeptemberSouth Carolina to New York

The unusually mild weather was a bonusfor people visiting our houses and

gardens in the late summer and early fall,which boasted wonderful foliage and fabulousblooms at each of the six locations. Thequieter summer months (compared to thespring tour season) allowed the sitesupervisors to catch their breaths and gear upfor fall tours. Here are some highlights:

At Millford, we continued to have a goodresponse to the Open Public Saturdays,which were well attended during the monthsof July, August and September. These toursprovide a wonderful opportunity to visit forindividuals who may not be able to schedulea group tour. Moreover, as these Saturdaytours are geared for individuals, guests cantake their time enjoying the grounds andperhaps a picnic lunch after their tour andbefore moving on to their next destination.

Later in September, Ayr Mount also hostedthe Mosely and Bowman nuptials andreception, as well as a dinner for the UNCRichard H. Jenrette Scholars and theDean of the Kenan Flagler BusinessSchool. Ayr Mount is open to the publicWednesdays through Sundays from Marchto December, and the adjoining scenictrails, Poet’s Walk and Historic OcconeecheeSpeedway Trail (HOST) are open year-round.

At Edgewater, Mr. Jenrette was able togreet members of Historic Deerfield duringa visit just after Labor Day, as well asmembers of the Allyn’s Creek GardenClub of Rochester, NY, who were receivedmid-month. We so enjoy welcoming gardenclubs to our properties for group tours!

Members of the Tuckahoe Garden Clubof Westhampton and the James RiverGarden Club of Virginia also recently visitedthe Roper House.

Left to right: Dick Jenrette giving a tour of Edgewater to the Historic Deerfield group (picture at right and below).

Left to right: touring the gardens and grounds at Edgewater; at right: relaxing on the lawn,facing the Hudson River.

The Tuckahoe Garden Club and the James River Garden Club James River Garden Clubof Virginia in Charleston.

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SPRING/SUMMER NEWS 2014

Profile: Louis HallSite Supervisor, Millford Plantation – Pinewood, S.C.

We are delighted to introduce Mr. LouisHall (Louie), our experienced and

dedicated site supervisor at MillfordPlantation in Pinewood, South Carolina.Louie, as he prefers to be called, came toMillford in June 1982 as the caretaker for theEmory Clarks. When Dick Jenrettepurchased the house and grounds from theClark family in 1992, Louie continued as thesite supervisor to this 400-acre property.Evident to anyone who has visited Millford,the immaculate condition of the buildings,the collections and the surrounding landscapeare a reflection of Louie and his family’s careand dedication to this extraordinary site.

Louie and his wife, Paula, along with theirthree sons, Luke, Matthew and Adam, all playa role in the efforts that continue to makeMillford sparkle. The property consists of 15buildings and structures, over 550 collectionobjects, and at least 30 acres of lawns that aremaintained daily. Paula, who Louie describesas his “right-hand lady,” coordinates the publictours and cares for the buildings’ interiors.Matthew and Adam concentrate on themaintenance of Millford’s extensive groundsand gardens. Luke, who is a Sergeant at theSumter County Sheriff’s Department, keeps anunofficial eye out for Millford. On any givenday, you will find Louie doing “hands-on”work: whether it be climbing a high ladder to

inspect a roof, driving the tractor, overseeingthe installation of new shutters, or doing all ofthose things – and then getting ready to greeta group of visitors for a tour!

Louie is a devoted family man who enjoyscamping and spending time with his six (soonto be seven!) grandchildren. He is known asa one-man Humane Society with ten dogsand two cats (mostly strays and rescues he hastaken into his home). With his warm andwelcoming nature, most cannot resist hisoffer to try one of his beloved treats: a MoonPie microwaved for precisely eight secondsor a honey-bun with freshly sliced bologna!

When asked about his favorite spot atMillford, Louie describes a very specificlocation and time – standing on the mansion’selegant porch, looking East toward theSpring House at around 4 o’clock in theafternoon. At this serene hour, Louie loves towatch the long shadows being cast across thefront lawn, highlighting the majestic beautyand grandeur of this unique place.

This month Louie celebrates his 32ndanniversary as a caretaker and site supervisorat Millford. On behalf of Dick Jenrette andClassical American Homes Preservation Trust,thank you to Louie and his family for theiryears of dedicated service and stewardship ofthis National Historic Landmark. Hats off tothe Halls! Louie Hall, site supervisor at Millford.

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SPRING/SUMMER NEWS 2014

Twas the Spring Patrons Party that put some spring in our step! Over 200 friends andguests joined us at the Baker Houses on May 22nd. Many thanks to everyone who came

out that evening to make it such a fun event. It is always such a pleasure to see all of our friendsand supporters gather together to have a cocktail, share in some laughs, and catch up with oneanother at our annual get-togethers! Here are just a few photos from the evening... more picturesare available on our Facebook page, not to mention behind-the-scenes sneak peaks of our teamat CAHPT getting ready for the event! Cheers!

Spring PatronsPartyThe George F. Baker Houses,New York, NY

Left to right: Dick Jenrette, Joe Roby, Sharon Jacquet. Center (left to right): Kathy Nye, Andrew Holter, John Hays, Peter Kenny. Right (left to right): Jane Mack Gould and Judy Donner.

Left to right: Dupie Cochran, Tony James, Peyton Cochran. Center (left to right): Margize Howell and William Banks. Right (left to right): Mark Gilbertson and Andy Blum.

Left to right: Marlee and George Pushkar. Center (left to right): Hornor, Tilden and Warren Davis. Right (left to right): William IveyLong and Ken Jennings.

‘

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SPRING/SUMMER NEWS 2014

Press and Other CoverageOur houses are featured in two recent articles

W ALTER magazine (May issue) published an in-depth interviewwith Richard Jenrette by P. Gaye Tapp. Reflecting on his love

of old houses and restoring them for future generations, this articledescribes the “heart” of what we do at Classical American HomesPreservation Trust and the man behind our mission. We even madeit on the cover! Ayr Mount is at the “top” of the state!

MILIEU magazine (Summer issue) highlights the legacy ofRichard Jenrette and the work of his foundation to open the doorsof six historic homes to the public.

Media coverage this year also included UNC-TV’s series “CollectingCarolina” showcasing Ayr Mount. In the Spring, Richard Behre, a weekly columnist onarchitecture and preservation for Charleston’s The Post & Courier, wrote an article on “RichardJenrette leaving a rich legacy of old houses and new museums.” Martha Stewart also wrote aboutand photographed extensively her visit to Cane Garden for her blog, themarthablog.com.

ToursSpring 2014

After what felt like a lengthy winter, wewere delighted to witness signs of spring

with blooming azaleas, dogwoods, wisteria,and even narcissus eventually peekingthrough in the northern climes in early April.These wonderful spring blooms coincidedwith the real start to our tour season.

The Roper House in Charleston, whichremains Mr. Jenrette’s private residence andhas attracted the most groups and attendeesthis year to date, welcomed visitors whotraveled near and far to see this extraordinaryhouse. We greeted many wonderful groupssuch as Coastal Carolina University’s Adultdegree program, The French HeritageSociety, Art Institute of Chicago, NationalTrust for Scotland USA Foundation,Greenwich Garden Club as well as aperennial favorite by participating members inthe Historic Charleston Foundation’s 67thAnnual Festival of Houses and Gardens.

In May, Edgewater, Mr. Jenrette’s privateresidence, opened its season by welcoming theFriends of the Arts from Wellesley College,Mrs. Field’s Literary Club (Brooklyn) andthe Rotch-Jones Duff House and GardenMuseum in New Bedford, MA, as well as agroup of docents from the MetropolitanMuseum of Art. Also during this month, we received visitors from the Finch CollegeAlumni Association Foundation Trust,Monmouth Museum of Art, and members ofthe Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum to theBaker House in New York City. Bartow-Pellis celebrating their Centennial Anniversary thisyear and we send our congratulations to them!

“Dick’s personal tour and the splendors of the Roper House on a sunny Monday morning made for a memorable conclusion to our Charleston weekend.

CAHPT will certainly have an important role in sustaining historicpreservation movement and informing American tastes in the years ahead.”

Chuck O’Boyle, Jr.

“I hope what you have accomplished continues to inspire the next generation,especially the appreciation of American arts, antiques and decorative arts.”

Kathleen M. Doyle

“What a treasure Millford is! So grand, so elegant, yet so welcoming. I felt I could easily live there comfortably. We [Greenville County Museum of

Art] enjoyed a delightful picnic lunch on the back terrace and all of us could feelourselves slipping back in time to the days of more gracious living.”

Bev Whitten

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The fifth grade classes from the LaurenceManning Academy visited Millford on

May 5th and toured the plantation with sitemanager, Louis Hall. The students wereexcited to visit the home of their school’snamesake, John Laurence Manning, whobuilt Millford Plantation before becomingGovernor of South Carolina from 1852 to1854. Each student wrote a letter to thankMr. Jenrette and Mr. Hall and also includeddrawings of Millford and other scenes on thegrounds. Their enthusiasm is inspiring andwe were proud to host these young, futurepreservationists!

FuturePreservationistsA Class Visit to MillfordPinewood, SC

Some quotes from students:

“Dear Mr. Jenrette, This was a field trip to remember!Sincerely, Bailey Moore”

“I loved the f lying staircase, it was amazing! Thank you,Austin D. Kirby”

“I love history now! Thank you so much, Grace Lane”

SPRING/SUMMER NEWS 2014

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.