George Champlin Mason, Sr. built this home for his family in 1873. Mason was a self-taught architect, as most architects were at that time. Due to his extensive travels in the Alsace and Black Forest regions on the France and Germany border, he developed an affinity for the European Gothic-Swiss Chalet style you see in his extensive repertoire in Newport. Mason was Newport's first noted architect who later went on to mentor other established architects such as Dudley Newton, Patrick Kelly, and Alexander Jackson Davis. This home was Mason's masterpiece and was properly recognized in dozens of publications as his best work from design, materials, and functionality. Today, this house is still relevant as a teaching tool to budding architects in the world of academia. George Mason, himself so proud of this particular, wrote a whole book detailing its architectural features.
Mason only built houses in Newport making his architecture rare, extremely sought after, and a quintessential icon for Newport. Only 26 out of 150 of his houses are still standing in the whole world, as most were lost to natural disaster or were replaced to make way for the classical revival in the late 19th Century's Gilded Age. His homes are sought after by preservationists and Newport enthusiasts alike. This is the first time it has been sold in the public market since it was built in 1873. It is a unique home with a rich history.
Previous esteemed seneschals include John Nicholas Brown and Natalie Brown known for the Rhode Island Foundation, Harbor Court, Emmanuel Church, and Brown University as well as Monsieur and Vicometesse d'Osmoy of Chateau du Plessis Bouquelon in Normandy, France who inspired New York Yacht Club with the design of their home. It has also been more recent rental residence for famous tennis athlete, Gigi Fernandez as well as The Royal Family of Spain, producer/actor/writer Michael & Janeen Damian, actress/stunt double C.C. Ice, Volvo Race sailing teams, and many more.
