The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-07-25
Colonial Mansion For Charity Home

| the English forces, $500 troops in all
| invaded Newport and the friends OF
liberty in the town, among them Yer
non, fled. leaving their possessions to
the enemy The most comfortable
houses in the town were seized by the
soldiers and though no mention OF
Vernon House has come down to us
Miss Stevens believes it was doubtless
used like other homes of patriots to
quarter troops.
When British Left
A change of campaign by the British
commanders led to the evacuation of
Newport In October, 1873. With her COM
merce destroyed, more than 500 houses
burned and her wealth scattered. the town
began the task of rehabilitation. This
was made easier by the arrival in July,
1850 of an expeditonary corps of the
French allies under command of Count
DeRochambeau.
Then began more prosperous days for
Newport and brilliant days for Vernon
house. For to Count DeRochambeau and
the group OF youthful mobiles with him
was assigned Vernon House. Councils
of war were held, officers came and went,
important decisions arrived at in the
north parlor where tradition places the
offices of the commandant.
alone. Gorgeous balls were held Ga new
French Hall" was added for large as
semblages) and eminent personages enter
tanned. The young and gallant Marquis de
Lafayette was entertained in the house, a
band of Indian chiefs was Toasted there.
DIR. Ezra Stiles, president of Yale col
lege, dined there with General DeRoch-
ambeau, and on March 2 1882, no less a
person than George Washington slept in
the northwest chamber.
Thus the old Vernon House was the
scene of a gay pageant of events. the
meeting ground for grave conferences
and the hospice for noted men until the
French occupation came to an end in
August, 1882
In Modern Times
With the withdrawal Of the French
troops William Vernon returned home and
took share in rebuilding the prosperity
of the town. He died In 1906 and his son,
Samuel Vernon. carried on the family
traditions of patriotism and hospitality.
After him only one more generation of
Vernons lived in the old house-the fam
lily of Samuel Brown Vernon, his young
est son. This last Mr. Vernon died in
1858, and n1S72 the house was sold.
From this date on the fortunes of
Vernon House have fallen In many
places. Twice they have been linked
with connections or the paSt-Once after
the dedication of the statue of Count
De Rochambau in Washington, when
French delegates by direction of Pres
ident Loubet of France proceeded to
Newport to lay a wreath on the tomb
of DeTernay the associate of Rocham :
beau, and once In September, 1908.
when a bronze tablet in memory of Ro-
chambeau was affixed to the house.
For a while the house was the home
of Harwood e. Reed, in 1877 1t was
used as the offices of the United States
Geological survey in 1912 after Mr..
Reeds death the property was for
sale.
At the same time the charity organi-
zation society of Newport was anxious
to find suitable home and the idea
occurred to members that not only
would the Vernon House be suitable
for this purpose but 1t would also be
the means of preserving unchanged a
fine colonial house. An appeal was
sent out for a fund of $4,000. Very
generous responses followed both from
interested summer visitors and New
porters themselves. and the heirs OF
Mr. Reed aided.
After the purchase thorough reno
walton took place. The old front door