Classical American Homes Preservation Trust and The Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation Coming in 2016: Millford’s 175th Anniversary Annual Report 2015 To Friends, Donors and Preservationists From Dick Jenrette Now that “March Madness” (basketball) has been replaced by “Election Madness”, all I hear is how much everyone hates “the Establishment.” Whether it’s Donald or Ted, Hillary or Bernie, they all try to distance themselves from the “Washington Establishment,” or Wall Street, or even Silicon Valley. Bernie even wants a revolution! Suddenly I realized how out of fashion I’ve become! Here I’ve been spending my time and money restoring and preserving homes that belonged to “establishment” figures from the past – like the Hamptons and Ropers of South Carolina, the Kirklands and Donaldsons of North Carolina, or the Livingstons and George F. Bakers in New York. Some of their homes may even have been built by enslaved Americans! Should we tear them down, like ISIS in Syria — destroying Palmyra’s 3,500 year-old ruins? Obviously not — we need to learn from history, not destroy it. Maybe the problem in America today — why “things don’t get done” — is notthe Establishment, but rather that we no longer havean Establishment. The Tea Party on the Right and extremists on the Left have wiped out the old Establishment. Both parties used to have a moderate, middle-of-the-road establishment that could and would bring both sides together. The “establishment” wasn’t all bad — it filled a need. Anyhow, I still believe we should appreciate beautiful things from our past — whether it’s great classical architecture, the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights. And so, Classical American Homes sails on! On the cover: Front elevation of Millford, built between 1839-41, with its monumental colonnade of six massive Corinthian columns and two flanking dependencies. (Photo: Bruce Schwarz) Left:East elevation showing the front colonnade and cylindrical stair hall at rear. In the frieze are the classical wreaths above the newly restored shutters completed in 2014. (Photo: John Teague) The 2015 year was outstanding for us in many ways — the diverse The Bottom Line activities taking place at the six properties and record attendance made a If all of the above leaves the reader confused as to how CAHPT really busy and eventful year. Margize Howell and Peter Kenny will describe did financially in 2015, the “financial bottom line” — or what I call these events, but first I’d like to give my usual financial analysis of the year. “adjusted earnings” — declined by $272,488. This values all our liquid, marketable securities to market at year end. The losses were “unrealized” Financial Results for 2015 however, which is to say that we did not sell, which would have locked in Classical American Homes had another good year financially in 2015 the losses. Most have since recovered in the first quarter of 2016. CAHPT — with net income of $1,347,486. These results, however, pale in has no debt, and all the properties are beautifully maintained. So, we are off comparison with the prior year’s record net income of $4,213,093, which to a great start in 2016! benefitted from the settlement of Bill Thompson’s estate and liquidation of the Richard H. Jenrette Foundation. Together these gifts totaled Sincerely, approximately $3 million. Excluding these non-recurring gifts, CAHPT’s reported net income in 2015 would have been slightly ahead of the prior year. But if we use my favorite metric of “adjusted earnings”, which marks Richard H. Jenrette all securities to market, our adjusted net income would have been down by Founder and Chairman $272,488 for 2015. This is largely attributable to diverging investment performance on our portfolio of marketable securities. We had a small investment loss in 2015 — of $52,000 vs. a substantial gain of $1,195,000 in the prior year. The loss in 2015 amounted to only .3 of 1% — not a bad performance in a difficult year for the stock market. However, as the old Wall Street adage goes, “you can’t eat relative performance.” There were other positive developments in 2015: Excluding the previously noted non-recurring gifts of 2014, contributions of cash and securities to CAHPT were $2,074,000, up from $1,852,000 in the prior year. Non-cash contributions — mostly antiques donated to CAHPT — also were up — $1,353,000 vs $1,181,000 in 2014. While the numbers are still small, we were also especially pleased that income from our house museums took a big jump — up 55% to $140,000 vs. $80,000 in the prior year. Ayr Mount led the way with a successful 200th anniversary celebration, orchestrated by Schatzie and Bill Crowther. On the expense side, CAHPT’s total expenses, excluding non-cash depreciation charges, were $2,560,000, up 18% from $2,156,000 in the previous year. The roughly $400,000 increase in expenses reflected some salary and bonus increases as well as the addition of Peter Kenny, who joined Margize Howell as Co-President, for the full year. Peter, a 30-year veteran and Senior Curator at The American Wing of the Metropolitan Opposite: The dining room with its original Duncan Phyfe & Son extending dining table, Museum, is recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on twelve dining arm chairs, serving tables and cellaret. The windows here and throughout American furniture. the first floor can be raised to door height. (Photo: John Teague) – 2– – 3– – 4– Celebration and Preservation Margize Howell and Peter M. Kenny This year was one of celebration for many reasons! Ayr Mount in Millford continues to be open to the public on the first Saturday of each Hillsborough, North Carolina was in full-swing with its 200th month and every Saturday in April as well as to group tours year-round anniversary throughout 2015. Millford in South Carolina is starting to by appointment. celebrate its 175th Anniversary in 2016. What we are celebrating, in essence, is the preservation and maintenance of these historic houses, At Dick Jenrette’s residences — Edgewater, Roper House, George F. which is our guiding principle at Classical American Homes Preservation Baker House, Cane Garden — there was a 19% increase in tours, while Trust. And of course, we are also celebrating the architecture, history, the overall individual attendance as these houses remained the same. art, landscapes and the individuals who built these houses. As Dick Edgewater had the largest increase in individual visitation at 24% this Jenrette has said, “Most have withstood nearly 200 years of history and year, while last year’s winner Roper House remained in first place for the seem ready for another 100 years.” Even though this seems particularly at largest individual attendance, mainly due to pro-bonotours there in the odds with today’s disposable society where almost nothing is created with Spring now Fall with large groups from Historic Charleston Foundation permanence in mind, Classical American Homes Preservation Trust is and the Preservation Society of Charleston. All income from tours and here to stay the course, both now and into the future. Please join us in events at Dick’s homes are given directly to Classical American Homes. praise of celebration and preservation! The main visitor demographic continues to be older adults, who have more time and resources to travel as they near and enter retirement. Visitation Groups that visit range in interest from arts and preservation-oriented For all of the Classical American Homes and Richard H. Jenrette institutions, garden clubs, educational, historical and other local groups properties, we are excited to report that both the 2015 tour/event (see page 26 for a complete listing). Some positive 2015 trends are that income and tour numbers were the highest in our recorded history since museum and educational group visitation have almost doubled, and many 1985 — tour/event income increased by 70% and tour numbers by 10%. of these groups that have visited another CAHPT house and are looking to visit others. In addition, we had three groups — Historic Deerfield, In 2015, Ayr Mount had a 36% increase in individual visitation, Owens-Thomas House, Institute of Classical Architecture and Art — who a 10% increase in numbers of tours, and a 130% increase in income, visited their third CAHPT house in 2015, while six groups visited two which were largely driven by its myriad bicentennial activities which we different houses during 2015 and one group that visited three CAHPT will report on in more detail later in this report. Millford also reported an houses in 2015. We are also working to attract the next generation of increase in its individual visitation by 64% and income increased by 19%. preservationists by offering special programs at several of the properties as Two well-attended events at Millford, A Day of Art and Architecture Ayr Mount successfully did with several of its programs this year. and the Fourth Music at Millford,were certainly motivating factors helping to attract new visitors. The visitation schedule for these two houses is as Programs follows: Ayr Mount is open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays from March to December, and the adjoining scenic trails, Poet’s Walk Celebrating its 200th Anniversary, Ayr Mount held a diverse range of and Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail (HOST) are open year-round. activities, attracting new audiences and welcoming back returning ones. “A Hundred Thousand Welcomes” was the theme for Ayr Mount’s bicentennial year - which in Scottish Gaelic is “Ceud Mìle Fàilte.”The house, built in 1815 by William Kirkland, merchant and family patriarch, Opposite: View from the second floor of the elegant spiral staircase and first floor stair hall. Above is a handsome oculus (see page 23). (Photo: John M. Hall). was named after his birthplace of Ayr, Scotland. Throughout 2015, we – 5– honored Kirkland’s roots as well the historic house and extensive grounds that make Ayr Mount a unique place to visit. The opening event in April was the Earth Day Fair at Ayr.Visitors ambled on the grounds and the Poet’s Walk, planted trees, and learned about a myriad of topics: vermicomposting, recycling, land conservation, and the North Carolina Mountains-To-Sea Trail, which crosses over CAHPT land. Later in the spring, there was also a Time Capsulefilled with Kirkland Family relics such as maps, coins, Civil War items, Kirkland family information, and letters from the community honoring the past, present, and future. It was buried on site and will be unearthed in 2115. There was also the Jane Austen-like Ball at Ayrwhich reflected the early days of Ayr Mount in 1815 with guests wearing period attire and dancing in the English Country manner to Scottish music. A 200th Birthday Dinnerto benefit Ayr Mount was held in May and brought 230 friends, patrons and preservationists together for a festive celebratory evening. A seated dinner under a festive tent with music and a bright full moon made it a night to remember. Opening with a kilted bagpiper welcoming guests as they arrived and closing with Dick Jenrette thanking everyone for attending this benefit and leading the group in a chorus of Carolina Moon Keep Shining(see photo at top right — by John Teague). Music at Ayr Mountwas an inaugural event held in September and featured the newly conserved and original Kirkland family grand pianoforte. Pianist Keiko Sekino and soprano Andrea Edith Moore delighted the 90 person audience with music from Mozart, Schubert and Stephen Foster, held in the West Parlor, which is furnished with early 19th century classical furniture, sculptures and paintings. Bagpipers, drummers, dancing, stories, food, even an inflatable Loch Ayr Monster surfacing in the pond, plus bonnie Carolina weather made for a delightful Scottish festival or gathering called the Ceilidh(see photo at lower right). Over 500 guests learned traditional Scottish dances and listened to great music. It was wonderful to see the range of ages at this event from the young school age children to the local senior citizens. The year ended with Ayr Mount’s interior and exterior decorated with fresh cut greenery, flowers, fruits and vegetables for the holiday season which was a perfect way to end this bicentennial year. In April, Dick Jenrette, Peter Kenny and Classical American Homes Preservation Trust hosted an inaugural event — a special Day of Art and Architecture at Millford.Throughout the course of the day 132 guests – 6– wandered freely about the principal rooms glorious Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8 of the house where they were treated to by Johannes Brahms. For an encore, the trio commentary on the history of the chose the enchanting strains of Claude architecture, interior furnishings, and the life Debussy’s Beau Soir.(Go to News/Events on and times of the original owners, John our website www.classicalamericanhomes.org Laurence and Susan Hampton Manning. to hear a live recording of select concert pieces.) At 4:00 pm our Friends of Millford benefit, In January, the George F. Baker House featuring a special behind-the scenes tour led in New York served once again as the by Dick Jenrette and Peter Kenny, that unofficial site for the kickoff of Americana included a more in-depth study of the Week in New York City, just two days before architectural history of Millford and hands-on the opening of the Winter Antiques Show. study of the original Millford furniture got Guests from MESDA, Colonial Williamsburg, underway. By 5:30 pm everyone adjourned and Winterthur met for a lively cocktail to the front porch for cocktails and hors reception for the third year. In the spring d’oeuvres served amidst the Millford’s we welcomed to the Baker House over 150 glorious colonnade of Corinthian capitals. friends and donors for our annual Spring Millford hosted its fourth Music at Patrons Party, which is the occasion created Millfordwhich proved once again to be a great to thank our friends and donors for their success. The concert was attended by 115 support. It was a beautiful and warm spring guests — essentially, a full house — with evening and guests seemed to linger even many returning friends and many new ones as longer than in prior years. In December, the well. Another new feature of the event this American Friends of the Georgian Group year was a special lecture by CAHPT Co- held its annual General Meeting and holiday President, Peter Kenny, entitled “Phyfe reception at the Baker Houses for the third Unveiled: A New Look at the Bedroom time, with a fascinating lecture by Peter Furniture at Millford.” Peter gave a tour of Kenny on CAHPT’s collection. two newly installed bedrooms on the second floor with Duncan Phyfe See the Newsletter Compendium,the companion publication to the furniture original to the house, followed by a lecture detailing the history Annual Report,for more information and photographs of all these of the furniture, their designs and uses programs and more. Both the Annual Reportand Newsletter Compendium Everyone enjoyed Millford’s historic setting and the talents of three are also available on our website. virtuoso musicians. Amy Schwartz Moretti, Violin Chair and Director of Mercer’s McDuffie Center for Strings, made her debut at Millford this year, Development playing with Robert deMaine, Principal Cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (see photo above), and James Wilhelmsen, pianist, who were As Dick Jenrette noted earlier in this report, Classical American Homes back for their second appearance after last year’s impressive concert. The received in 2014 nearly $5 million in cash and securities of which performance this year was also extraordinary — with Amy on violin bringing approximately $3 million was non-recurring, making it an exceptional year a real dynamism to the returning duo — starting with Josef Haydn’s Gypsy and hard to compete with in 2015. However, we did manage to bring in Rondotrio, an audience favorite. It was followed by the rarely heard Zoltán over $2 million in cash and securities and over $1.3 million in non-cash Kodály Duo for Violin and Cellowith Amy and Robert, and ended with the contributions in 2015. There was a total of 585 donations of cash, securities, – 7– art and antiques with 125 new first-time donors for a total of gifts over $112, 000, including in this total were 15 new donors of $1,000 or more. Both the Friends of Millford and Friends of Ayr Mount groups received significant gifts this year, with the Friends of Ayr Mount receiving a record of nearly 100 donations for a total of $80,000, some of which is earmarked for the new footbridge over the Eno River. In 2015, there were two other major gifts — a final residuary gift from the Estate of William L. Thompson of nearly $300,000 and a gifts of $653,000 in cash/securities and $1.3 million in real estate from Dick Jenrette. This gift of real estate is the Edgewater Gate House, a small temple front structure with four Doric columns, designed by Michael Dwyer and built in 1999, with a 2.3-acre parcel of Hudson River-front land at Edgewater which will serve as a welcoming center for visitors in the future (see photo at right — by John M. Hall). Communications The CAHPT growing communications footprint consists of digital outreach that includes our website, social media, and E-News as well as printed outreach such as publications and print media. Similar to last year, the website continues to attract new visitors, with an audience profile of 75% new visitors and 25% returning visitors, reflecting that our website is still “new” and has significantly more first time visitors making Classical Architecture and Art reception at the Baker Houses. Locally, the up the traffic. Over 35,000 users visited our website last year, for a total of Southern Garden History Society, Preservation NC, Charleston Magazine 46,197 sessions. Page views increased over 127%, reaching 122,920 views. and the Scout Guide/ Raleigh,Durham, Chapel Hillcovered and promoted The social media presence, comprised of Facebook, Pinterest, and our houses and programs. Two cable programs that might have caught Instagram, also continues to increase. The Facebook page views are up your eye this year was CNBC “American Greed” on the silver robbery at 37% and the Facebook Likes have tripled, along with Instagram followers Edgewater and Blaine Nordahl;and PBS “Finding your Roots” series with who have quadrupled since 2014. Specifically, Facebook and Instagram entertainer, Keenen Ivory Wayans and his ancestral ties to Millford. posts have also been valuable in promoting events at our houses. To help promote Ayr Mount activities this year, they created their own Facebook Gifts and Acquisitions and Instagram accounts, linked to CAHPT’s. Due to the generosity of several donors, there were significant gifts of This year media coverage included local and national sources in art and real estate in 2015. Marika and Thomas Gordon Smith donated digital, cable television and print formats. We would like to thank the one of at least two original Millford Phyfe & Son dressing glasses, which following auction houses for providing gratisads for us — Christie’s, is now installed on the second floor and was a wonderful early start to Charlton Hall, Leland Little, and Brunk — helping us to promote the returning original Millford objects for its 175th celebration (see image of various events at our houses. Architectural Digest’s online version focused bedroom on page 19). Mrs. Betty Causey, a descendant of the Kirkland on Ayr Mount and its 200th Anniversary. The New York Social Diary family of Ayr Mount, sold to the Trust a Philadelphia sofa, ca. 1830, a featured Edgewater in John Foreman’s blog “Big Old Houses” as well as mahogany pillar and claw worktable and a brass fireplace fender, circa 1825, provided coverage of the reception held jointly with the Institute of and made a gift of a Kirkland family trundle bed. Stuart and Sue Feld – 8–