Christmas At Beachmound (South Facade)
Beachmound at Night (East Facade)
Beachmound at Night (West Facade)
The Thaw family history brought a touch of high-society drama to the house. Benjamin was the half-brother of Harry Kendall Thaw, who became infamous for the “Trial of the Century” after shooting architect Stanford White at a New York club in 1906. A popular Newport legend suggests that when Benjamin Thaw later visited the flamboyantly ornate Mar-a-Lago in Florida, he remarked, “My God, I shot the wrong architect!”—a wry nod to the restrained, classical elegance he preferred at Beachmound.
Ownership and Evolution
In the mid-20th century, the mansion passed to Marguerite Tyson, whose sister was the famous Washington hostess Perle Mesta. During this era, Beachmound remained a hub for Newport’s summer social season. However, as the upkeep of such gargantuan estates became unsustainable for single families, Beachmound followed the path of many Newport landmarks: it was eventually converted into seven large, luxury apartments. This adaptive reuse preserved the grand exterior and many interior architectural details while allowing the estate to survive into the modern era.
Beachmound at Christmas (Central Stairs)
Today, like many of the private mansions along Bellevue Avenue, Beachmound participates in the city’s traditional holiday celebration through the “Christmas in Newport” movement. Begun in 1971, this community-led tradition encourages residents and businesses to use only clear white lights for their decorations. This “candlelight” aesthetic is meant to preserve the non-commercial, historical atmosphere of the city.
Beachmound Apartment at Christmas
During December, even though many of its residents depart for warmer climes for the winter, Beachmound is nevertheless transformed into a vision of winter elegance. The beautiful central stair is often adorned with garlands and red bows with an extra Christmas tree sitting on the stair landing in front of the enormous Palladian window. In keeping with local custom, the many windows of the estate are illuminated by individual electric candles, casting a warm, flickering glow across the lawn toward S. Coggeshall Avenue. While the interior remains private for its residents, the exterior serves as a elegant reminder of Newport’s enduring commitment to both historical preservation and sharing an understated holiday spirit.
Beachmound Christmas Tree and Gifts
A4 Architecture did a major restoration of Beachmound, restoring the beautiful balusters that had been lost during the 1938 hurricane that hit Newport. If you have a house in New England that you would like restored as well, please feel free to reach out to the award-winning professionals at A4 Architecture, and we will be pleased to discuss how we can assist you.
Ross Cann, RA, AIA, LEED AP, is an author, historian, teacher and practicing architect living and working in Newport, RI. He holds degrees in Architecture and Architectural History from Yale, Cambridge, and Columbia Universities.