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C o n te n tsLetter from the President........................................ 3Membership R eport...................................................4Born O n The Poin t................................................... 4New to The P o in t......................................................5Pointers in the N ew s................................................. 6A power struggle on The P o in t? ............................6Waterfront N o tes .......................................................7Fall C leanup...............................................................8Letter from Naples, Ita ly ......................................... 9Fall Alembership Meeting........................................ 10Park Planter K udos...................................................10Budget R eport............................................................11That Was T hen ............................................................12Walking on The P o in t............................................... 14Panoramic Map o f The P o in t..................................15Posy Hall Reflections................................................16Scenes from Around The P o in t...............................17Favorite Recipes........................................................18Nostalgic Moment from O ur Scrapbook............. 19Save the D a te .............................................................20

StaffE ditor....................................................................... AlanWaUAdvertising.....................................................Loretta GoldrickBusiness...........................................................Tom GoldrickCirculation........................................................Marcia MalloryLayout............................................................ Donna MaytumPhotography..........................................Sarah Gill, Jane HenceProduction........................ Jane Walsh, Martha and Alan WallSketches.................................................................. Jane Hence

P o in t A sso c ia tio n E x e c u tiv e C o m m itte e O ffice rsPresident, ]a.ck Maytum.............................................. 849-4395First Vice President, Hillar Sarepera........................... 848-9906Second "Vice President, Bowen G e.trj.......................... 846-8252Recording Secretary Diane Quint............................... 619-0525Corresponding Secretary, Rita Dellavolpe..................... 846-0703Treasurer, Mike Simmons...........................................847-1403Meetings are generally scheduled for tbe first Monday of the month and are open to Association members. Please call Jack for time, date, and location.

Copies of the Green Light may be purchased for $1.00 at Bucci’s Convenience Store, Poplar at Thames.

'^^GREEN LIGHTXLIX No. 4 WINTER 2004 T h e Point Association is a

group o f neighbors working together to improve the qual­ity o f life in our neighbor­hood by getting to know each other; preserving our h is­

toric heritage; maintaining the P o in t’s residential character; beautifying our parks, streets, and piers; and p ro m o tin g public policies that strengthen all o f N ew port’s neighborhoods.

Cover Image: Use Buchert Nesbitt’s work has graced The Green Light for many years. This Christmas card print is from her very first appear­ance on the cover of The Green Light, in December 1984. Thanks, Use, for 20 years of beautiful work and outstanding support!”

The Point Association

Dear Pointers,

Winter is upon us once again, and perhaps a little earlier than last year? I can only hope then that this issue will serve to distract you from colder temperatures and the rigors of snow shoveling.

A letter from Eieen MacKrell, my predecessor as editor, now stationed with the Navy in sunny Naples, Italy, is a reminder of warmer times and warmer climes. Yet the view of the bay from her terrace, while magnificent, would in my opinion still face stiff competition from many local vistas in any competi­tion for “most scenic.”

Being somewhat of a map enthusiast, I had great fun exploring online the very detailed panoramic map ofNewport from 1878, an excerpt of which you’ll find in this issue. A several feet square sheet of paper would be required to do justice to the entire city! If you have the opportunity, 1 would encourage you to look at the entire map, as well as others in the library of Congress online collection. The Web address is included in the article.

Finally, liz Mathinos’ retrospective on the north end of The Point sheds some light on an area of our neighborhood that I, for one, have only ever known as containing the bridge and the Navy Hospital. The photos may bring back some poi­gnant memories for some, yet I hope some fond recollections as weE.

Enjoy the hoUdaysl Alan

The Green Light WINTER 2004

P R E S I D E N T ’ S L E T T E R

Just a few quick notes before we all scurry into our dens for a few months of hibernation.

T h e watchword for this holiday season seems to be cocoon. The board of directors decided not

to host our usual Point Association Christmas party and last year’s well-regarded concert series

at Harbor House will also be eliminated or scaled back. The recent meeting o f Newport Neigh­

borhoods, a group composed o f the leaders o f N ew port’s twelve neighborhood groups, seemed

to echo this sentiment. Most members said their groups were curtailing holiday activities.

Perhaps this trend reflects changes to New port’s demographics; an older, more sedate popula­

tion with fewer children; retirees who can move around the country more freely; second home

owners who primarily spend time in Newport during the summer months. W hatever the reason.

I ’ll welcome the respite as I stifle a yawn.

Our fall members’ meeting provided more evidence th a t The Point has more hidden jewels than

a South African diamond mine. Fudd Benson, erstwhile proprietor o f the John Stevens Shop,

presented a slide show and lecture on stone carving in N ew port going back to colonial times.

Some o f the sh o p ’s more recent products are now permanently embedded in Washington at

several monuments including the FDR and WWII memorials. We also heard from two city

council candidates hoping to represent T h e Point. Unfortunately there was no coup so I, and

most o f the other cu rren t board members who were re-elected, will do our best to serve The

Point Association for the next 2 years. Thanks for your support.

This issue o f The Green light also exposes more gems in our neighborhood. Liz Mathinos shows

us what we lost to gain access to The Newport (Pell) Bridge on page 10 and updates us with

current goings on at Cypress Street in her page 7 Waterfront Notes. O n page 14 we’ve published

a Statement o f Account for The Point Association in order to let members know where our

revenue comes from and where it wiU be going during the nex t year. Please let us know if we’ve

made this report easy to read; forward any comments or suggestions to our treasurer, Mike

Simmons.

WINTER 2004 The Green Light

BORN ON THE POINT

Oscar Lee Anton Farias, born August 17, 2004

by Bill Hall,H isto ry and A rchives

T h e Born on the Pointprogram recognizes new borns and o thers w ho w ere P o in t residents a t th e tim e o f their births.

Certificates w ere d istribu ted at the O c to b e r m em ­bersh ip m eeting fo r new b o rn O scar Lee A n to n Farias and fo r adults W illiam G len n Sherm an, C arolyn Graveline, and L orraine Roley

T h e nex t ro u n d o f Born on the Point certificates will be readied fo r the A pril 2005 m em bersh ip meeting. A nyone in terested in in fo rm atio n o r an application m ay con tac t Bill H all a t 846-4159.

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The Green Light WINTER 2004

N E W T O T H E P O I N T

by Jan e H ence and Sarah Gill

D A V ID A N D W E N D Y T A Y L O R G U E R T IN T H E P IN E A P P L E H O U S E (36 W alnut Street)

In T iv erto n there is a h o u s e th a t h as b e e n rescu ed tw ice by tw o in trep id people.

R escue has been a co n ­tin u in g th re a d in th e G u e rtin s ’ lives. W hen W endy Taylor was sail­ing o n the bay and ran ag round because o f a w rong ly p laced ch an ­n e l m a rk e r , D a v id G u e r tin cam e to h e r

rescue. A n engagem ent was an n o u n ced shortly, and w ith in the year they w ere m arried. A fter the cerem ony, the w edding party and friends ad journed to a recep­tion in the garden o f their house, know n as the D r. Sam uel W est Place. H erein lies the sto ry o f fu rth e r rescues.

W endy and D avid found the 1875 Italianate V ictorian o n eight acres five years ago, abandoned fo r a year and vandalized. T hey resto red it completely, only to have it b u rn dow n o n February 24, 2003, w ith all furniture, family p h o tog raphs, and their painstaking renovations gone. I t is now once again resto red , exactly as it was, and the m eadow s and fields around the house are hom e to 22 animals: a horse , a cow, six goats, four sheep, eight cats, tw o dogs, a w ild starling, and a m ouse, m ost o f them o rphans o r otherw ise in need o f a hom e.

D avid is D irec to r o f D ev e lo p m en t at B attleship Cove, the N aval H istorical M useum in Fall River, and W endy is a m edical m alpractice defense lav>yer. B oth grew up in B ristol b u t never m et until the sailing m ishap. Liv­ing in the P ineapple H o u se is a tru e getaway fo r them : no television, no telephone, no radio o r com puter. T hey en joy b o th sides o f th e ir lives— th e little peacefu l h ouse on T h e Point, and their very large and fuU life, at hom e and at w o rk in T iverton .

T E R R Y N A T H A N A N D M A R ILY N IG hN T E R(55 Poplar Street) T e r ry N a th a n an d M arily n K a n te r an d th e ir tw o la b ra d o rs . Chili and Coco, are the new owners and occu­p a n ts a t 55 P o p la r Street, having m oved to

N ew p o rt from W ilton, Connecticut. Terry left the soft­ware industry to take a position as the new president o f the International Yacht Restoration School (lYRS), while Marilyn is w orking to re-establish her psychotherapy and life coaching practice here in N ew port.

B a r b o u l

WINTER 2004 The Green Light

e n t e r s i n t h e N E W S

C oogratulations to all the w inners o f the recen t local elections. Charles D uncan , a P o in t residen t and past p residen t o f the P o in t A ssociation, claim ed the F irst Ward Council seat. Charlie Shoemaker, a retired sur­geon w h o lives o n W ashington Street, was the to p vote getter in the School C om m ittee E lection.

Local artist T ony Gill recently m ade the first page o f Section B in The N eiiport D aily News. T h e artist, h u s­ban d o f The Green Tighfs ow n Sarah Gill, was p h o to ­g raphed hard at w ork in his studio o n B anister’s W harf.

A new P o in t A ssociation m em b er has w asted n o tim e g e tt in g in v o lv ed in c o m m u n ity ac tiv ities . M arsh a F rancis w as m en tio n ed briefly in The Newport D aily News as special events coo rd ina to r fo r the Clarke C ooke H o u se on B anister’s WTiarf. T his restauran t and m any o thers partic ipated in this year’s “T aste o f N e w p o rt” held N o v em b er 7 at the H yatt Regency o n G o a t Is ­land. T h e H yatt R egency also deserves praise fo r its su p p o rt o f the fund-raising event, the proceeds from w hich su p p o rt Child and Fam ily Services o f N e w p o rt County.

C hristine A lartin is the daugh ter o f P o in t residen t Pe­te r M artin , w h o actively volunteers w ith the N e w p o rt & O ld C olony Railroad. A San Francisco resident, she recently appeared in The Daily News Business section in a story o n the start-up o f her new business “Style & Entertaining.” She won Best o f Show at the 2004 Spring Gourm et Product show in San Francisco for her Style & Entertaining dinner party kits. According to the article, the kits are available at K itch en Pot-

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A P O W E R S T R U G G L E

O N T H E P O I N T ?

By Kay O ’Brien

Squirrels made the front page o f The Providence Journal recently when one triggered an electrical failure at Rhode Island Hospital. Here on the Point, our expand­ing population o f these critters is alarming. They love bulbs and then the acorns and chestnuts. I love my trees, too, but shudder at The Journal quote, “In this season o f ripen ing nuts, a biological weapon o f mass destruction is scurrying rampant across the nation.” Now I ’ll forgo watching their antics and labors in my yard and teU them to go look for berries and bird feed­ers elsewhere. But I know they’ll remember my ad­dress come spring!

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The Green Light WINTER 2004

W A T E R F R O N T N O T E S

By Liz M athinos

W A S H IN G T O N S T R E E T E X T E N S IO N / CY PRESS S T R E E T

T h e C oastal R esources M anagem ent C ouncil (CRMC) has issued a Cease and Desist order for floats that were p u t in w ith o u t the necessary perm its w here the m arine railway was formerly located.

CEASE A N D DESIST AT NEWPORT SHIPYARD

Since the City Council voted to rescind an agreement with the abutters to use this city street, there is ongo­ing discussion about a solution to the problem. Many Newporters are interested in keeping this public ac­cess as a pocket park dedicated to Jim Steele, who was a popular Point “Hummer.” Others believe the street should be graveled over (to keep it as a “highw ay”) and named as a historic Way such as Dyre’s Way. Dyre’s cemetery and farm were near the Cypress Street entrance to the Navy Hospital (see this issue’s story on Maidand Estate and Dyre’s Gate). Mr. Reagan offered to swap repairs by his construction company to Van Zandt Pier or the bulkhead at the pocket park at Long W harf and W ashington Street in an equal m onetary value exchange for the land in front o f this property. Please weigh in with your opinion with Council members.

BATTERY PA R K ...CON TIN U ED

At a campaign coffee hour at Harbor H ouse, Rep. Paul Crowley promised to find historic preservation money in the state to repair B attery Park. Van Zandt Pier was also discussed. This is the fifth election cycle where campaign promises were m ade, and time will tell if there is follow th rough this time. Again, remind these politicians, “But you promised!”

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For All f o u r Rc.‘al Eblalu N eed s

m the Point"P.O. Bf)x 2 5 5 1 ALddforow!-,. SI 02xS42

WINTER 2004 The Green Light

F A L L C L E A N U P

& B U L B P L A N T I N G

T his fall’s cleanup and bulb p lan ting was o n Saturday, O c to b e r 23. T h e cool w eather and overcast skies m ay have con trib u ted to th e small tu rn o u t— just ten hardy souls! B ut the end result was over 300 bulbs p lan ted and a park tha t is ready fo r w inter. A special thanks goes to the H yatt H o tel em ployees fo r their partic ipa­tion. As always, a ro u n d o f applause fo r M arcia and Coles M allory fo r organizing the cleanup.

■m

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Small shop butlots of SERVICES:S I G N S

T S H I R T S P R I N T E D

S T A I N E D G L A S S

S I G N M A I N T E N A N C E

DUNCAN SIGNSSS Dr. M arcus W heatland B M .

846-0294

ABOAE: Dave Davis BELOW': Elyatt employees Mike- Jackson and Chris j'■d/son (lejt) Stephen Edes and Kr/s!:,/ Po/riev i/ypu/.

I M .

H e a t - D r e n c h e d ,Transplanted

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very small apartm ent on The Point,

on the water side if possible, for four to six w eeks next summer.

I am single, alum na of SRU, widow of former Rl sculptor William J. Thompson NA.

My life is actively quiet, offer references from

University of Georgia and/or the larger A thens community.

If you have or know of such a pied-a-terre,

or for further information:Claire Thompson,175 Deer Ridge,

Athens, Georgia; telephone 706-548-7989.

CUSTOMH M

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Highest q u a li f work f o r 1 or 1000 pieces.

Newels Balusters Porch posts Fence posts Fence finials Curtain tods

Spindles Finials

Bed Posts Table legs

Rosettes Industrial parts

We offer hand carving, fluting, reeding, roping and barley twist

carving.

I T M E Z :

The Green Light WINTER 2004

A L E T T E R F R O M N A P L E S , I T A L Y

D ear Pointers,Greetings from bella Italid. I have been here for almost three m onths now and am having a great time learning my way around Naples. This is a w onderful place to live!

I ’ve just m oved in to a great apartm en t up on the ridge th a t encloses the w estern side o f the Bay o f Naples. M y terrace looks east over the bay to Pozzulo i and N aples itself, w ith Vesuvio in the distance. T h e view is a splendid d istraction, one th a t I am finding in fin ­itely preferable to hanging pictures and m opping floors. M y landlord lives o n the g round floor; since he and his w ife speak no English, I am w orking hard on m y Ital­ian. I w o n ’t be discussing astrophysics in Italian any tim e soon, b u t I can get along okay fo r basic conversa­tion— asking directions, discussing th e w eather, and ordering food and limoncello.

One small surprise has been the restaurant scene here. There are thousand o f restaurants in Naples and I haven’t found a bad one yet, but the variety o f ethnic cuisine we’re all used to is rather hard er to find. Most Italians apparently agree with my landlord, who opines that since Italian food is the best there is, there is no point to trying anything else!

I’ve found that there are some significant adjustments that the average Yank needs to make if he or she is going to survive a tour here. Driving is the biggest one. Driving in Naples is like nothing else on earth. The N eapo litan drivers are on the aggressive side and operate with a fine disregard for just about aU the traf­fic laws. You wiU see them backing up on the free­ways, running stop signs and red lights with cheerful abandon, passing wherever there is ro o m for their car to squeeze by, and pulling out into traffic without the least concern for what m ight be bearing down on them. B ut the interesting thing is that they all understand the rules under which they are operating, so they tend to make allowances for each other’s driving style. Once you get over your shock and learn to do the sam e thing, you can get along pretty well on the Italian highways. O f course it’s going to make life in teresting when I go back to the States. I ’m not sure th a t the state troopers

win accept “I have been living in N aples for the past two years” as an excuse.

I hope all is well on the Point and you have been enjoy­ing your summer in Newport. Best wishes to aU of you!

Cheers,Eileen M acK rellFormer editor o f The Green Ught

NATURAL SPR IN G WATER

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WINTER 2004 The Green Light

F A L L

M E M B E R S H I P M E E T I N G

The Annual Member Meeting was held O ctober 21 at Harbor House, with approximately 50 Point As­sociation members present. Some o f the committee member reports from the meeting appear in this is­sue. Members reviewed and approved the budget for the 2004-2005 fiscal year. A copy o f the budget ap­pears in this issue.

E L E C T IO N O F O F F IC E R SThe members present approved by a vote the nomi­nations o f three Executive Committee Officers— Jack Maytum continuing as President, Bowen Gerry as the new Second V ice P res id en t, and Rita Dellavolpe as the new Corresponding Secretary. Our sincere thanks go to outgoing officers Louisa Boatwright and Isabel Griffith for their service and support. Also approved were three new Nominating Committee members—Jane Hence, Jeff Marshall, and Mary Jane Rodman.

T H E JO H N STEV EN S SH O PThe highlight o f the meeting was an excellent pre­sentation by Mr. John “Fud” Benson o f the John Stevens Shop on Thames Street. His lively review of the history and stone carving work o f the shop was complemented by an exceptional slide show highlight­ing some o f the shop’s past and present work. We extend our appreciation to John for his willingness to share his thoughts and accomplishments, and wish him and the shop continued success.

P A R K P L A N T E R K U D O S !

Many Pointers comment on the wonderful planter boxes that are mysteriously maintained in both Storer and Battery Parks. Some might think that the planters are taken care o f during the twice-yearly Point clean-ups. N ot so! In reality, a few select volunteers dedicate their time and resources to carefully tending the planters. Please thank these individuals when next you see them.

ABOVE:Eleanor Flowers in Storer Park.BELOW:BU/ Hall and Kay O ’Brien in Battery Park.

10 The Green Light WINTER 2004

THE POINT ASSOCIATION OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLANDStatement of Account, Fiscal Years 2004 & 2005

(Fiscal Year is Oct 1 - Sep 31)

2004 - 2005

REVENUEMembership Dues Green Light Plant Sale Other Events Donations OtherInterest Income

Total Revenue

EXPENDITURESOPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION Administration and Printing Postage Green LightLegal, Tax, Insurance, Consulting Other

COMMITTEES Beautification City Liason Harbor and WaterfrontHistory and Archives (Bom On the Point Cert.) Neighborhood Watch Events / Programs Publicity and Communications Underground Wires

EVENTS Plant Sale Pot Luck Dinner New Member Party Annual Cocktail Party April Meeting Annual Meeting Concerts Special Events Other

Total Expenditures RESERVE ACCOUNT

Total Expenditures & Reserve

2003-2004 APPROVEDBUDGET ACTUAL BUDGET

7,500.00 5,706.00 6,000.001,300.00 1,807.71 1,500.001,000.00 1,203.00 1,200.001,000.00 0.00 500.00

0.00 1,017.00 1,000.000.00 165.00 50.00

200.00 122.27 200.00$11,000.00 $10,020.98 $10,450.00

400.00 1,209.56 700.001,100.00 1,170.48 1,200.002,800.00 3,621.25 3,200.001,200,00 185.00 1,000.00

200.00 30.00 100.00

1,400.00 674.66 1,200.0050.00 0.00 25.0050.00 0.00 25.0050.00 0.00 50.0050,00 0.00 25.0050.00 0.00 25.00

200.00 0.00 25.0050.00 0.00 25.00

200.00 0.00 100.00500.00 121.19 200,00100.00 0.00 100.00800.00 421.24 600.00200.00 30.30 50.00200.00 0.00 50.00

0.00 1,000.00 1,000.00700,00 401.88 400.00200.00 313.56 200.00

$10,500,00 $9,179.12 $10,300,00500.00 0.00 150.00

$11,000.00 $9,179.12 $10,450.00

V A L ED E S I G N

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"'BrimI ym it ihm ir i \u k !*> /(?■ '

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WINTER 2004 The Green Light 11

THAT WAS THEN...MAITLAND ESTATE, DYRE’S GATE, ANDTHE WISSAHICKON by U , Ma,h.n„s

W ith m ajor changes being discussed fo r the N e w p o rt bridge ram p, the “Scenic N e w p o rt” entrance, and the N aval H ospital property, a tten tion is currently focused o n the T h ird S treet area.

In 1909, the M aitland p roperty was sold to the U,S. gov­ernm ent for $21,700.60, T h e W issahickon, the fo rm er M aitland m ansion, was m oved to the corner o f Bayside Avenue and Sycamore Street (now under the bridge).

Historically, the H u n te r p ro p erty at the n o rth e rn end o f w hat w ould som eday becom e the Poin t becam e the A laitland estate and D y re ’s F arm w ith D y re’s G ate; landm arks familiar to all at the time.

b-

A n excerpt from an 1878 panoramic map of Nenport shows the relatively rural ai~ea north of Battery Street.

Pictures show a rural landscape spreading north and east with the “honey wagon” bringing the droppings cleaned up from the city streets to fertilize the D y re’s Farm. From Van Z an d t, formerly Hawthorne Street, looking n o rth , only a few houses can be seen.

Honey carts travel north on 'Third Street past the Navy Hospital under construction.

12

'I’he Wissahickon up on blocks for movement from its site on future Navy Hospital.

F ro m the spacious M aidand estate w ith gardens, stables, an c ien t cem etery , o rch ard s and the spraw ling D yre farm, the landscape changed dramatically into the large hospital complex and city street, dotted with new houses. World War I and the Depression had an effect on the neighborhood as many o f the large Colonial and Victorian houses were divided up to provide housing.

Dyre’s G ate becam e an area o f duplex houses, pictured in the 1940s with the M arren children, Jackie, Jerry, Joan, Denny, and Judy.

.vr-

■4

The Green Light WINTER 2004

T h e W issahickon had its spacious room s divided up into a boarding house, where many transien t actors and actresses lived, along w ith m any N ew p o rters . B ernie M azza, no w an 86-year-old resident o f H a rb o r H ouse, whose family lived on Sunshine Court, moved into the W issahickon in 1941 and has many happy memories from when he and his young bride lived there during the w ar years. B o th w ere involved in coastal defense patro lling the Bay, and had m any exciting m om ents p ro ­tecting ou r city. W ith the Bay so accessible from the stone steps at the b o tto m o f Sycam ore Street, Bernie re m in is c e d a b o u t h o w h e b u il t a sa ilb o a t in th e W issahickon yard.

T h e W issahickon’s final years, as it fell in to disrepair, p ro v id ed m any scary m o m en ts fo r youngsters w ho w ere sure it was haunted.

IThe Wissahickon and other hcmtes as seen looking north from the comer of Washington and Van Zandt Streets.

D em o litio n o f the W issahickon in A ugust 1967 to m ake way fo r the N e w p o rt bridge w ere sad days for the peop le in the ne ighborhood , w ho aU rem em bered this house from their childhood on the Point, and the Mvely tim es they had at this beautiful V ictorian land­m ark. O n e can only w o n d er w ha t the W issahickon w ould lo o k like i f it had survived to be p a rt o f the resto ration years o f the Point.

Jo an M arren C alcutt rem em bered Mrs. H art, w h o m ade clamcakes and chowder and sold them through her win­dow. Every Friday, neighbors Uned up on the porch to buy her delicious homemade food.

Pictures are from the Louise Sherman collection, or were pro­vided hy Joan Marren Calcutt who lives at 2 Sycamore, not

fa r from where the Wissahickon used to be! Panoramic map courtesy of the Library of Congress.

C o l o n K ^ H a v e llu o a r p o m te d

M D B , U c

C A R P E N T R Y2 Sunshine Court

Newport, Rhode Island 02840170 Spring Street • Newport Phone/Fax: 401-847-1831

T; 401.849.6433 ~ F: 401.849.7503800.887.4680 Michael Dennis-Bale

WINTER 2004 The Green Light 13

W A L K I N G O N T H E P O I N Tby Kay O ’Brien

Some like it hot and some like it cold, so autumn, our transitional season, should have something for everj'- one. Spectacular fireworks from the Natty base cel­ebrated the end o f summer. Most boats are on their way elsewhere, but cruise ships are back, often an­nouncing their early arrival by loud toots and clank­ing anchor chains. Tour buses keep rolling into town, often presenting a challenge to drivers, and attempt­ing to negotiate our narrow streets. Some days are spec­tacular, some soggy for our visitors. Facing the real­ization that we are rapidly losing daylight hours is a shock as we watch the sun traveling south to set be­hind the Green Light. How grateful we are that no hurricanes took dead aim at us.

/ he i nnrhild carnnge house at Second and Pine Sts,Now jackets are out, leaves are falling, winds have a bite, but there’s still much to do. Sadly, yard furniture comes inside, last flowers are picked, and gardens are put to bed. But keep walking, there’s much construc­tion activity to check in all stages. Maybe the busiest corner on the Point is Third and Pine, changes north, south, east, and west. And next door is the Fairchild carriage house at Second and Pine. The restoration of this McKim original means tearing down in pieces be­fore it’s built back up. Now with so much new lumber, it looks like progress. That’s a tight corner to handle with all the disposal dumpsters and delivery trucks. There have been many conferences and creative solu­tions o f how to manage difficult deliveries. With time to spare, it’s fun to be a sidewalk superintendent.

I f walking turns treacherous some winter wonderland day, here’s an idea. You’ve pulled down the storm win­dows, gotten out the salt and snow shovel and turned up the heat. So maybe there’s time to imagine Point histoty' o f the past. No cars, no bridges, no malls and supermarts, no TVs or cell phones. What would our neighborhood have been like in those days?

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14 Tbe Green L ight WINTER 2004

PANORAMIC MAP OF THE POINTwtyto

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T his m ap is an excerpt from a panoram ic m ap showing all o f N ew p o rt that was published in 1878 by the N ew York firm G alt & Hoy.

Panoram ic m aps were a popular cartographic fo rm used to depict U.S. cities and tow ns during the late nineteenth and early tw entieth centuries. K now n also as b ird ’s-eye views and perspective maps, they are nonphotographic representations o f cities portrayed as if viewed from above at an angle. T hough n o t generally draw n to scale, they show street patterns, individual buildings, and m ajor landscape features in perspective. Civic pride and the desire o f the city fathers to encourage com m ercial g row th m otivated their preparation and sale. M any views were prepared for and endorsed by cham bers o f com m erce and were used as advertisem ents o f a cipfs com m ercial and residential potential. T h e m aps depict the v ibrant life o f a city. H arbors are show n choked w ith ships, trains speed along railroad tracks, people and carriages fill the streets, and sm oke belches from the stacks o f industrial plants. T h e m aps give a pictorial record o f A m erica’s cities during the post-Civil War period and for m any localities provide the sole nineteenth-century map. N o o ther graphic form o f this era so effectively captured the vitality o f Am erica’s urban centers.

T h e entire m ap is available online th rough the Library o f C ongress panoram ic m ap hom e page at < h ttp ://m e m o ry .lo c .g o v /a m m e m /p m h tm l/ panh o m e.h tm l> .

POSY HALL’S REFLECTIONn

By Laurice Shaw

I first got to know Posy about two years ago when Herb Rommel suggested I w ork with Posy as a scribe for her stories and letters. Though her eyesight was failing and a stroke had left it difficult for her to write, her vibrant mind had not slowed down one wit. So began— and continues— a ver}' enjoyable relationship with a marvelous ladv At ninety Posy is still com­posing stories for the young— and not so young. We’re hopeful that her biography o f Roger Williams entitled 'Lanthorn o f the Wilderness is going to be published by the Redwood Library in the near future. Fd like to offer some o f her recent reminiscences about the holi­days for your enjoyment.

“Kling Covell led a troupe o f us caroling through the streets. Sometimes they stopped by my little house for cookies and Christmas refreshments. It ended up at King Covell’s house where w'e had hot chocolate and the snowballs baked by Virginia Covell.

“Sometimes my sister Frances would come down from Boston and have Christmas in her house on Rhode Is­land Avenue. She had an epergne o f china with little straw animals from Sweden. There always had to be ribbon candy! And, all the traditional fixings— using the beautiful old family china.

“I remember one Christmas at my sister’s when Maxim Karolik came to call. He made a collection o f Ameri­can paintings now in a museum. The ‘old girls’ o fN ew ­port hated him and made fun o f him. One asked him if he was a ‘white Russian’ o r a ‘red Russian’. He re­sponded, ‘Neither, Madame. I am a Rhode Island Red!’

With that our time was up. Posy’s lunch was being served and I had to get on to other work. Much was left to consider until we met in a week. Delightful!

Posy is very happily re-ensconced at Aquidneck Place at 125 Quaker Hill Lane; Rm. 129; Portsmouth, RI 02871, I f you’d like to contact her, Fm sure we’ll bothenjoy responding! Happy Holidays!

“Remember the grandfather clocks? V h’d be singing and then aU the clocks would strike. It was a charm­ing pandemonium!

“I remember one year that Taff Roberts read ‘Christ­mas in Wales.’ We all remember it and wish he were still living here. Maybe he’U return one day.

“I had the job o f making Christmas dinner for rela­tives, and relatives o f relatives. As long as you have a kitchen you can make Christmas— and Thanksgiv­ing— and Easter, and feel a sense o f plenty.

“I once won the ‘turkey raffle’ at my office in New York. The money was supposed to buy a turkey but I only had a little steriio stove in my tiny apartment so I bought a duck instead. My meal was untraditional in every way. There w'ere only four or five o f us crowded around the tin oven waiting, and waiting for the duck to be cooked. The meal was so long to prepare, we still had not had coffee and my neighbor was tipdiig to brew it with heat from the radiator. To no avail but it was worth a laugh!

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16 The Green Light WTNTER 2004

S C E N E S FR O M A R O U N D T H E P O IN T

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tal iMSalk Place Block Paiiy on Saturday evening, August 7.

ys the season’s first snowfall on November 13.

I hay were a regular sight during the atttumn months.

Point on Halloween.

I intersect to show the passage of time on the Point

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A INTER 2004 The Green Light 17

FAVORITE RECIPES by Kathy DevlinShrim p and Sausage Jambalaya Time; 35 minutes Temperature: Medium to highYsnjoy this wonderful winter dish with friends and family during the holiday season!1 cup long-grain rice K cup crab boil seasoning

(see directions at right to make your own)1 lb. fresh or frozen shrimp in shells 1 cup chopped celery1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 clove garMc1 16-oz. can tomatoes, cut up 1 6-oz. can tomato paste1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce2 cups cubed smoked ho t (or chorizo) sausage (The secret ingredient is cayenne pepper

Crab boil seasoning:3 tablespoons mustard seed 3 tablespoons whole coriander 2 teaspoons whole cloves 1 teaspoon crushed cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon allspice 8 bay leaves, crumbled

’ smoked flavor of the choriyo sausage.)

Cook rice according to package directions and set aside.In large saucepan, combine 4 cups water and crab boil seasoning. Bring to boil and reduce heat. Cover and

simmer mixture for 15 minutes. Add shrimp in shells. Simmer for about 3 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Drain. Peel shrimp under running water; remove vein and set aside.

In 3 quart saucepan, cook celery, onion, and garlic in butter or margarine until tender. Stir in the undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 /3 cup water, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.

Stir cooked rice, shrimp, and sausage into tomato mixture. Season to taste with cat’enne pepper. Cook uncovered until mixture is heated through, stirring occasionally.

L a u r i c e S h a w

Broker AssociateTel: 401-846-3945CEa:401-862-fl93§

WBellevueAve'Newport, ri 02840 Te: 401-849-7220 • Fax; 401-841-5281

www.heritageofnewport.com

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N i n a L y n e t t e

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of ‘NEWPORTi

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The Green Light W I N T E R 2004

N o s t a l g i c M o m e n t f r o m O u r S c r a p b o o k

■* Vi;..-.

m.-:.e r r f f i W ' r -

L o o k in g n o r th a lo n g T M rd St. f ro m V an Z a n d t St. (fo rm erly H a w th o rn e St.) o n a w in try day.

A n u n u su a l sn o w p lo w clears th e tro lley tracks. P h o to p ro v id e d b y jo a n M a rren C alcu tt.

T h e P o i n t A s s o c i a t i o n M e m b e r s M p F o r m Please make check payable to The Point Association and mail with form to PO Box 491,

Newport, RI 02840. A subscription to T h e G reen L ig h t is included with all memberships.

Individual $10 Family $15 Subscriber $25 Patron $40

N a m e :

P hone: Fax: Email:

M ailin g A ddress:

S econd A d d ress ( if app licab le ):

C o m m ittee s a n d A ctiv ities Y our p a rtic ip a tio n is w elcom e. P leace ch e ck th e c a teg o rie s o f in te re s t to you.

□ B eau tif ica tio n □ H a rb o r W atch Q P ro g ra m /E v e n t P la n n in g Q P u b lic a tio n s / C o m m u n ic a tio n s / W eb

□ G reen L ig h t □ P la n t Sale □ M em b ersh ip□ H is to ry a n d A rchives □ C h ild ren ’s A ctiv ities□ N e ig h b o rh o o d W atch □ U n d e rg ro u n d W ires

W I N T E R 2004 The Green Light 19

Save the DateP o tlu ck Supper Sunday A p ril 3 6:00 p.m .

Watch your m ailbox for a flier! Bring a dish and come enjoy a potluck supper w ith your neighbors. Fo r more inform ation, please call Donna at 849-4395.

O t h e r n o t e w o r t h y e v e n t s

C hristm as in N ew p o rt C andleligh t T our o f 18* an d 19* C en tu ry Private H o m es Dec 26, 27, 28 4-7 p.m .Maps available at the Gateway Center in m id-December. |3 per house, payable at the

door o f each house. Fo r more inform ation, please call 848-7017.

W in te r C o n c e r t e v e n t sThe Point Association is working to schedule one or more concerts at H arbor House

through the coming w inter. Once details are available, postcard notices will be mailed out.

T H E G R E E N L I G H T

T h e Po in t A ssociation P .O . B o x 491N e w p o rt, R I 02840

P reso rted S tan d ard

U.S. P o stag e P A I D

N e w p o rt , R I P e rm it N o . 36