Aldrich Mansion is
situated on a majestic seventy-five acre estate on scenic Narragansett
Bay. Built during the "Golden Years" of Senator Nelson
W. Aldrich, a Rhode Island native born to poverty but destined
for greatness. The estate once held a Teahouse, since destroyed
by fire. It was here Abby Aldrich, one of the Senator’s
eight children, wed John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (the sole male heir
to the Standard Oil fortune and father of Nelson A. Rockefeller,
former Governor of New York and later Vice President of the United
States).
Along with the elegant
Chateau itself, the estate is home to a Carriage House, Caretaker’s
Cottage and Boathouse. Originally built to aid in the transportation
of goods to Warwick Neck, a railway and supply tunnel led from
the 150-foot tower to the Mansion.
Construction on the
Chateau began in 1896 by the New York firm of Carrere & Hastings.
Nearly two hundred craftsmen, many of whom were dispatched from
Europe, were commissioned to create this dynamic structure. Some
sixteen years later, the seventy-room Mansion, once known as
Indian Oaks, was completed.
Ornate paintings and
intricate woodcarvings adorn the halls and chambers. Italian
marble, in a diversity of design and color is employed extensively
for fireplaces, floors and bathrooms. The vaulted ceilings of
a spacious receiving room are resplendent with golden richness.
The vast living and dining halls, as well as a music and fine
arts chamber, are located on the main floor.
A magnificent marble
staircase leads to the second level. Six elegant suites, each with
its own marble-fireplaced bath and bedroom, occupy this floor.
The Senator and Mrs. Aldrich (former Abby Chapman Greene), each
inhabited one of the three larger of these suites, which include
sitting room, dressing room and walk-in closet.
The Senator’s suite
holds a private staircase leading to the Great Terrace overlooking
Narragansett Bay. Guarding the terrace sit two decorative marble
sphinxes. Above this second level are eight more suites, each with
a private bath, once used for visiting guests and family.
French doors serve as
windows throughout the halls and rooms of this floor. All are framed
by waist-high railings installed to protect Mrs. Aldrich during
her occasional sleep-walking episodes.
In 1939, eighty-five
acres of the Aldrich Mansion estate were transferred by the
Senator’s heirs to the Providence Diocese for a token
sum. In 1946, Our Lady of Providence Seminary made the Aldrich
Mansion its home.
Today,
the elegant and charming atmosphere of Aldrich Mansion serves
as the perfect site for wedding receptions, bridal and baby
showers, birthday and anniversary parties. With its panoramic
view of the Bay, the Mansion also serves especially well as
a serene location for conferences, meetings and seminars.
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