House on a Rock at Rhode Island
Clingstone, an unusual and such a vintage, 103-year-old mansion in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay, survives through the love and hard work of family and friends. Henry Wood, the owner, runs the house like a camp where all skilled workers welcome. The Jamestown Boatyard hauls the family’s boats and floating dock and stores them each winter in return for a week’s use of the house in the summer.
Mr. Wood, a 79-year-old Boston architect, bought the house with his ex-wife Joan in 1961 for $3,600. It had been empty for two decades. Clingstone had been built by a distant cousin, J.S. Lovering Wharton. Mr. Wharton worked with an artist, William Trost Richards, to create a house of picture windows with 23 rooms on three stories radiating off a vast central hall. The total cost of the construction, which was completed in 1905, was $36,982.99. However, bear in mind that the currency in 1905 is not the same as for now. Possibly the price is estimated about $4 millions.
An early sketch of the house shows the plan on how they develop the greatest architecture. Mr. Wood is as proud as any parent of his house, and keeps a fat scrapbook of photographs and newspaper clippings that document its best moments. Many of the historic photos he has were provided by the company that insured the house for its original owners. The Newport Bridge is visible from the windows of the Ping-Pong room, to the left of the fireplace. The house is maintained by an ingenious method: the Clingstone work weekend. Held every year around Memorial Day, it brings 70 or so friends and Clingstone lovers together to tackle jobs like washing all 65 of the windows. Anne Tait, who is married to Mr. Wood’s son Dan, refinished the kitchen floor on one of her first work weekends.
There are 10 bedrooms at Clingstone, all with indecently beautiful views. The dining room table seats 14. Refinishing the chairs is a task on the list for a future work weekend. Sign by the ladder that leads to the roof reads “No entry after three drinks or 86 years of age“.
“It used to say 80 but we had a guy on a work weekend who was 84, so I changed it,” said Mr. Wood, ever the realist. It would have been a shame to curtail the activities of a willing volunteer.
Image Sources: Boston Travel
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I love the note on the wall! And of course the idea of having a house with the adress similar to Atlantic Ocean Lat: 100:01-23 Alt: 2809:01-1
OMG, this house is awsome. I wish I had one
Please consider correcting your sources… these shots are from the Boston Globe (NY Times)
http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/rhodeisland/articles/2009/07/28/clingstone_owner_has_a_different_view_of_things/
Hi Greg. Thanks for letting me know. My friend sent it to me through email without any quote on the resource.
I just update the post.
Great pictures. thanks for publishing… wonder how it will hold up after a big nor-easter…
[...] Akademi Fantasia Travel » House on a Rock at Rhode Island [...]
That is one of the coolest houses I have ever come across. Congrats on your amazing digs!
My sister, brother and I sailed past this fantasic house on the rock in 2009. We were racing in the North American Lightning championships being sail out of the Newport yacht club. What a sight to behold. Loved it.
Kathy
I would love a unique house like that. that is absolutely incredible
@kathy the house must be really incredible in real life. i wish i could be there too
)
looks to me like a really creepy place to live.
i have a house too wood u like 2 email me about it?
jamesmuntz@dodo.com.au
thnx
[...] Akademi Fantasia Travel » House on a Rock at Rhode Island [...]
OMG that’s just amazing. Living in this place would be a dream.
Especially spending my retirement years in such a house. So peaceful and quiet.
[...] House on a Rock at Rhode Island Clingstone, an unusual and such a vintage, 103-year-old mansion in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay, survives through the love and hard work of family and friends. (akademifantasia) share/save [...]
Awesome house!
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That would be really a dream house…A great effort.I would like to have a one like this..
It looks beautiful. And it fits the isle perfectly.
But it doesn’t look very practical. You have to boat your way to the city just to get groceries.
[...] Akademi Fantasia Travel » House on a Rock at Rhode Island. [...]
found pics from uncle in carlisle mass. i restore old houses on east side of cleveland. i think your houes is absolutely remarkable. i can only imagine the work that went into it. thank you for shareing it. would have loved to have been their for the rehab. good luck!
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But my mom is 88! What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful home. I would love nothing more than a home like that one. The views are beyond amazing and the warmth permeates through the whole place. Wonderful. Did I mention, wonderful?!
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LOL
I have had the pleasure of viewing Clingstone from the opposite shore in Jamestown RI for at least the past 20 years. I fish from shore late at night in Jamestown. The house is beautiful. Often I wonder what it would be like to get a tour or visit. I couldn’t imagine living in a finer house anywhere. I used to have a boat years ago and I would anchor right next to the house and catch Stripers off all the surrounding rock piles. The place looks even better at dawn or dusk or under a full moon. Awesome!
Amazing house. I thought it was fake haha
A cool house, which is a credit to the owner…..
Very cools!It’s a dream house….
That’s an awesome house. Is it not risky? I mean the waves or storms? Though, I think living in that house is a great experience and adventures. I have so much fun viewing the pictures.
Truly enjoy reading your posts on your site. They are always interesting to read. Will keep your website in my bookmarks now. Thanks.
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You would definitely have to love an ocean view to enjoy this home. It would be a wonderful vacation home, but I am not sure I would be comfortable living there all of the time. It is great that it is being preserved.
I love these pictures! Would definitely want to live here
What a horrible thing – a homogenised idea of paradise which just isn’t! Yuck yuck yuck!
That is so cool what a nice looking house!!!
JenniB
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