Larry Stanford - Wicked Newport: Sordid Stories from the City by the Sea

Wicked

Newport

Wicked

Newport

SORDID STORIES FROM THE CITY BY THE SEA

Larry Stanford

Illustrations by J. Bailey

Published by The History Press
Charleston, SC 29403
www.historypress.net

Copyright 2008 by Larry Stanford
All rights reserved

Cover design by Marshall Hudson.

First published 2008; Second printing 2009; Third printing 2010; Fourth printing 2010;
Fifth printing 2011; e-book edition 2011

ISBN 978.1.61423.153.0

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Stanford, Larry.
Wicked Newport : sordid stories from the city by the sea / Larry Stanford.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
print edition ISBN 978-1-59629-343-4
1. Newport (R.I.)--History--Anecdotes. 2. Newport (R.I.)--Biography--Anecdotes. 3. Scandals--Rhode Island--Newport--History--Anecdotes. 4. Corruption--Rhode Island--Newport--History--Anecdotes. 5. Newport (R.I.)--Social life and customs--Anecdotes. I.
Title.
F89.N5S69 2008
974.57--dc22
2008014320

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

I would like to thank the folks at The History Press for all their help and support in getting Wicked Newport published.

Thanks also go to my colleagues and mentors at the Newport, Rhode Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, especially President Evan Smith. His passion for tourism and Newport history is infectious and an inspiration to everyone he comes in contact with. Also, a thank-you to Kathryn Farrington, Cathy Morrison and their staffs at the CVB for their dedication to delivering a wonderful experience to everyone who visits the City by the Sea.

A very special thanks goes to Jennifer Bailey for her time and effort for adding her artistic touches to the original sketches seen throughout this book.

Without the inspiration of history teacher extraordinaire Charlie Ryan, this book would not have been possible. Thanks for making history fun and interesting to learn.

I would also be remiss if I did not acknowledge Key West author David Sloan. For your friendship and hospitality, I am grateful.

A special thanks also goes out to the professor Thomas Cornell XV for his assistance in locating the lost graves of his ancestors.

I am also grateful to the queen of Newport retail, Lisa, and her crew at Only in Rhode Island. Thanks for the front-row positioning of Wicked Newport.

Last but not least, I must thank my Facebook Angels, Rachel, Tess, Katie J. and Kathleen. Because of you, I have the most attractive friends of anyone online. You have truly inspired me to take my writing to the next level. Thank you!

Newport, Rhode Island, represents a variety of things to a multitude of people. For over a million guests annually, the city symbolizes a picturesque getaway with priceless mansions, unforgettable harbor tours or a meal at a waterfront eatery. To many natives, Newport is the town where they were born and has been the only place they have ever lived. Those who are old enough have seen their city evolve from a strategic navy port to a tourist mecca. For those of us who have made Newport our adopted hometown, it represents a place with unique architecture, stunning ocean views and perhaps a small taste of what colonial life was like.

Newport has certainly come a long way from its infancy as a tiny enclave of pioneers seeking their religious freedom in 1639. The city progressed into a thriving colonial seaport, then subsequently an encampment for British soldiers; a depressed fishing village; a summer getaway for wealthy Southern planters; a colony for artists, writers and intellectuals; the playground for Americas super wealthy; a strategic navy base; and eventually a world-renowned resort area. Who knows what the city will evolve into next? The best part of all these diverse layers of history is that there is at least a small remnant of each era still in existence in Newport to this day.

One thing you will notice as you progress through your reading is the frequent number of times New York City and Newport are linked. Throughout Newports gilded era, it would be almost impossible to mention one location without the other. These two cities will be inexorably linked throughout history because of the steady stream of affluent globetrotters who spent at least a portion of the summer season seaside. Many of the characters highlighted in this book may have earned their vast fortunes in New York, but chose Newport to spend their seemingly unending flow of capital in an attempt to out-build, out-spend and out-entertain each other. The City that Never Sleeps and The City by the Sea have seen their fair share of these peoples indiscretions and we are more than happy to share some of the more memorable ones with you in the next few chapters.

Hopefully, you will have as much fun reading about these unsolved mysteries, colorful characters and salacious scandals as I have had writing about them. Enjoy!

Atop one of the highest points in all the city of Newport, Rhode Island, stands an object that has been perhaps the most controversial structure in all of the Americas. The first time one sees the mysterious structure, one cannot help but be awed by the size and symmetry of this beautifully constructed circular stone tower. After looking over the object, the mind drifts to its purpose and to the obvious question of why this thing was built.

Unfortunately, there is no easy or concrete answer. Philosophers, scientists, theologians and just about every man, woman and child who lay eyes on it come to their own conclusions. Locals and visitors alike have been trying to solve this mystery for over three hundred years. One thing is for sureit was built by someone and must have served a specific purpose. There seem to be more questions than answers when it comes to the Mystery Tower.

Lets examine the few known facts we do have about the tower. It is defiantly circular and constructed of local, mostly flat stones set in mortar to hold the stones stable and in place. For the structures support, there are eight arched columns of flat stone. Each arch measures seven and a half feet in height. The curved portion of each arch contains flat stones angled toward the ground, also held in place by mortar. Above the arches is the main body of the tower. A look inside the circular portion reveals notches in the stones where crossbeams may have held up a floor at one time. There are also three small, square windows, with one facing Newport harbor. Curiously, there is an indentation on the inside wall that seems to have been a fireplace. The total height of the tower is twenty-four feet with the width across at twenty-three feet. Thats where the absolutes end and the theories begin, with some more plausible than others. Lets examine some of the most popular theories that have evolved over the years.