Issac Bell, Jr. House - Edna Villa (1882-1883) (Newport, Rhode Island) | museum, place with historical importance, cottage, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, 1880s construction

 museum, house, place with historical importance, cottage, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, 1880s construction

Built: 1882-1883 Architect: McKim, Mead, and White

The Isaac Bell, Jr. House is one of the best surviving examples of shingle style architecture in the country. The house was designed by the firm of McKim, Mead and White in 1883 for Isaac Bell, Jr. (1846-1889), a wealthy cotton broker and investor. Samuel F. Barger (1832-1914), a director of the NYC Railroad, purchased the house in 1893. After passing through a succession of owners, the Isaac Bell House was purchased by the Preservation Society in 1996, and is today designated a National Historic Landmark. The exterior of the house has been extensively renovated and interior restoration work is continuing. The house is presented for tour as a work in progress. The Isaac Bell House was remarkably innovative when it appeared in 1883. It is a combination of Old English and European architecture with colonial American and exotic details, such as a Japanese-inspired open floor plan and bamboo-style porch columns.

additional details - www.historic-structures.com/ri/newport/bell_house.php