Hammersmith Farm
Encyclopedia
Hammersmith Farm is a Victorian mansion and surrounding property located in Newport, Rhode Island
, United States
and was the childhood home to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The property hosted the wedding reception
of Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy
. During his presidency, Kennedy spent enough time at Hammersmith Farm that it was referred to as the "Summer White House." Notably, President Kennedy announced that John McCone would become the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency during one of his stays at Hammersmith in late September 1961.
. The house was located in an area in of the island originally known as "Hammersmith" after the hometown of the first settler of the area, William Brenton
, a 17th century governor who founded the first farm on the site in 1640. The house was opened for public tours in 1978. Following the death of Hugh Auchincloss, Jr., Fruit of the Loom
executive William F. Farley bought the mainhouse for $6.675 million in 1997. In 1999, he sold it for over $8 million to Peter Kiernan, a partner at Goldman Sachs
, who restored the failing edifice and converted the home back to private use. The house had not been lived in since 1974 (over 25 years) and had fallen into serious disrepair. Many of the original plumbing pipes were inoperable, wiring had frayed with time and rodent intervention. Bricks were coming loose and wood rot was everywhere. Each year the building was tipping a little more towards Fort Adams. A major restoration was required to save the damaged structure. Kiernan oversaw a multi-year rehabilitation of the building working with noted restoration architect Windigo headed by James Gubelman. Major structural flaws necessitated the removing of one end of the building and installation of steel and wooden beams for support. The house had suffered from decades of wood rot from leaking windows and was listing towards the left. Outside the brick was bowing due to many successive winters of freezing and expansion. Popping and falling bricks during the winter was routine. The interiors were painstakingly disassembled and numbered and new plumbing, HVAC and wiring were installed. Later the numbered moldings and fixtures were replaced in their original positions so the historic rooms look exactly like they did when the building was constructed in 1887, save for the electricity and modern plumbing.
The exterior was restored with equal sensitivity to the original structure. Working with Gubelman and the Historic District Commission metal and plexiglass porches were removed and brick to match the original was reset and the light green paint used to hide the mismatched brick of decades of repairs was removed. Windows were rebuilt to protect the house from the fierce sea winds of winter. New shingles and roof were installed following the original architectural plans, and the many sketches and photographs taken of the building over its 120 year history. Happily the building had been recorded from numerous angles and vantage points over the many decades and a clear visual history existed as a guide. The goal of the owners, architects and the HDC was to restore the Farm as close as possible to the appearance one might have enjoyed in 1888. About half of the original furnishings were returned to the Auchincloss family under a prior agreement and the family sold them off in a Christie's auction in 2000 which fetched $233,620.
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and was the childhood home to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The property hosted the wedding reception
Wedding reception
A wedding reception is a party held after the completion of a marriage ceremony. It is held usually as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding, hence the name reception: the couple receives society, in the form of family and friends, for the first time as a married couple. Hosts...
of Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. During his presidency, Kennedy spent enough time at Hammersmith Farm that it was referred to as the "Summer White House." Notably, President Kennedy announced that John McCone would become the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency during one of his stays at Hammersmith in late September 1961.
History
The main house on Hammersmith Farm was built in 1887 for John W. Auchincloss, the great-grandfather of Jacqueline Kennedy's stepfather, Hugh D. AuchinclossHugh D. Auchincloss
Hugh Dudley Auchincloss, Jr. was an American stockbroker and lawyer who became the second husband of Janet Lee Bouvier, the mother of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.-Biography:...
. The house was located in an area in of the island originally known as "Hammersmith" after the hometown of the first settler of the area, William Brenton
William Brenton
William Brenton was a colonial President, Deputy Governor, and Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and an early settler of Portsmouth and Newport in the Rhode Island colony...
, a 17th century governor who founded the first farm on the site in 1640. The house was opened for public tours in 1978. Following the death of Hugh Auchincloss, Jr., Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom is an American company which manufactures clothing, particularly underwear. The company's world headquarters is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is currently a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.-Company profile:...
executive William F. Farley bought the mainhouse for $6.675 million in 1997. In 1999, he sold it for over $8 million to Peter Kiernan, a partner at Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
, who restored the failing edifice and converted the home back to private use. The house had not been lived in since 1974 (over 25 years) and had fallen into serious disrepair. Many of the original plumbing pipes were inoperable, wiring had frayed with time and rodent intervention. Bricks were coming loose and wood rot was everywhere. Each year the building was tipping a little more towards Fort Adams. A major restoration was required to save the damaged structure. Kiernan oversaw a multi-year rehabilitation of the building working with noted restoration architect Windigo headed by James Gubelman. Major structural flaws necessitated the removing of one end of the building and installation of steel and wooden beams for support. The house had suffered from decades of wood rot from leaking windows and was listing towards the left. Outside the brick was bowing due to many successive winters of freezing and expansion. Popping and falling bricks during the winter was routine. The interiors were painstakingly disassembled and numbered and new plumbing, HVAC and wiring were installed. Later the numbered moldings and fixtures were replaced in their original positions so the historic rooms look exactly like they did when the building was constructed in 1887, save for the electricity and modern plumbing.
The exterior was restored with equal sensitivity to the original structure. Working with Gubelman and the Historic District Commission metal and plexiglass porches were removed and brick to match the original was reset and the light green paint used to hide the mismatched brick of decades of repairs was removed. Windows were rebuilt to protect the house from the fierce sea winds of winter. New shingles and roof were installed following the original architectural plans, and the many sketches and photographs taken of the building over its 120 year history. Happily the building had been recorded from numerous angles and vantage points over the many decades and a clear visual history existed as a guide. The goal of the owners, architects and the HDC was to restore the Farm as close as possible to the appearance one might have enjoyed in 1888. About half of the original furnishings were returned to the Auchincloss family under a prior agreement and the family sold them off in a Christie's auction in 2000 which fetched $233,620.