Bristol Off The Beaten Path

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Ten homes generously opened by Bristol home owners give a unique opportunity to glimpse Bristol's architectural heritage and spectacular waterfront location.
Bristol was designated a 2009 Distinctive Destination by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It's a town rich in history and community volunteerism spreading over 329 years.

The largest home on the tour was Sevenoaks - 1873. Augustus Bourn founded the National Rubber Co. in 1865, producing rubberized clothing, boots, and shoes for Union troops in the Civil War. By 1870 he was Bristol's largest employer. Bourn chose New York architect James Renwick, designer of the original Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., to design a romantic "castle". This Gothic Revival mansion with a slate roof has a picturesque variety of windows, twin turrets, iron roof cresting and grey granite wall.
At one point the mansion was sold at auction, and many details were stripped for re-use as condominiums. After another foreclosure in 1991, a woman purchased Sevenoaks and began its restoration. Many of us breathed a big sigh of relief.

As glorious as the mansion is...along w/ a stunning location overlooking the bay... the 5 of us who travelled together on the tour preferred the little Clark Vaughn House, 1819/2003. We may have been influence by the fact that my friend, preservation architect Lombard Pozzi did the modern day additions... but we were WOWed by even the oldest and tiniest room of this charming home. The housewright of limited means, built a modest story-and-a-half cottage incorporating some antique building elements, evident in the early paneling re-used to finish the original southwest part of the house. I wish I had photographed more of this little jewel, but at least I got some good shots of the abulous garden, pergola and stone patio which stuns you with its beauty as you step out of the back door.
There was an old stone schoolhouse converted to a single family home where the owner had a great collection of 'war years' furnishings (another favorite among my group). Creativity was abundant in these properties. One owner had a 3rd floor suite w/ large bath overlooking the harbor and they placed the toilet right in the middle of the room!
The last house had the best garage I've looked at in a long time. I would have lived in it. Scituated on a hillside which sloped to the bay... the sun sparkled on the water as we finished the tour at day's end. What a house tour! What a day! If you ever get the opportunity to do a House Tour in Bristol.. don't miss it. You will not regret it.

Old World Garden Tour

Bristol has become home to many Portuguese immigrants over the years. Some from the island of Madeira, Sao Miguel, or Bristol's sister city in the Azores, Lagoa on the island of Sao Miguel. The garden tour tells the story of their culture through their fruit and vegetable gardens.... their grape arbors, statuary, and their warm smiles mixed with pride. Some look at us as if we are strange to think it all so novel. For them, it is generations of tradition carried forward even if it must be accomplished after working in a mill all day. It has been a great tour, but even if there is no tour you can always visit Bristol and drive the side streets. You will be sure to see some of the gardeners and perhaps you will be lucky enough to find a stand selling corn, tomatoes and cucumbers. They don't sell their wine, tho. THAT stays in the family !!

The exhibit is titled "Gifts of Pride and Love". This is a traveling exhibition organized by the Anthropology Department at Brown University. The Haffenreffer Museum is owned by Brown. It sits on over 400 acres of prime waterfront land in Bristol. Driving in to the museum is an experience in itself. Such lush virgin woods.....with white birch scattered amongst the spring greens.
Take the time for this little museum that is quite off the beaten path. It isn't big or glitsy, but their collections are worth a look.
The cradle pictured here would be for everyday....without the elaborate bead work shown in my other tip.

At the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology you can see some of the finest bead work done by the natives of our country. Several tribes are represented and there are videos to watch in order to learn more about some of the customs. These cradles are featured in one of the exhibits. The beaded type would be used for "dress up" or special occasions. There is quite a system to it all.