Brenton Point State Park - The Reef (Newport, Rhode Island)

USA / Rhode Island / Newport / Newport, Rhode Island / Ocean Avenue, 499
 park, place with historical importance, cottage, estate (manor / mansion land), interesting place

T.M. Davis-Budlong Estate 1885
Architects: Sturgis & Brigham
Located on Ocean Avenue at Brenton's Point
Demolished: 1963

The Reef was built at the southernmost tip of Aquidneck Island by Theodore M. Davis, copper magnate, author, collector, and renowned Egyptologist.

The Boston architectural firm of Sturgis & Brigham created an elegant shingle and stone clad Queen Anne villa destined to house Davis’ collection of Old Master paintings, largely bought through the art consultant Bernard Berenson, and later bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Between 1903 and 1912, T. M. Davis wintered on the Nile and was granted a license to dig from the Egyptian government. He discovered the tombs of Queen Hatshepsut, Tuthmosis IV, Siptah, Horemheb, Yuaa, and Thuiu, now in the collections of the Cairo Museum.
Following Mr. Davis’ death in 1915, the eighteen-acre estate was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Milton J. Budlong of Providence. The Budlongs divorced in 1928 and the property was placed in contention. The house, never again lived in by the family, passed to Miss Frances Budlong. During World War II, anti-aircraft gun emplacements were set up around the house, which housed gunnery personnel. Vandalized throughout the 1950s, the villa was set on fire in 1961 and demolished on May 25, 1963. The site is now a state park with a restored Davis-era service bungalow and a now-derelict carriage house/stable built by the architect Theodore Davis Boal of Washington.

www.riparks.com/BRENTON.HTM

www.newportmansions.org/learn/history-highlights/lost-n...
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   41°27'9"N   71°21'15"W

Comments

  • it is the best place for flying kite, also the kite festival held here every summer
This article was last modified 12 years ago