Professor Emeritus Richard Guy Wilson, noted architectural historian who is serving in his last year as director of the Victorian Society in America, visited the Belmont Chapel on May 31. Dr. Wilson’s specialty is scholarship involving the architecture, design, and art of the 18th to the 21st centuries in America and abroad. His research, publications, and exhibitions have ranged from the architecture of Thomas Jefferson to the arts & crafts movements in the United States and Europe.
Wilson teaches the Newport Summer School offered by the Victorian Society, and his students experienced the chapel on this site visit. Dr. Wilson was received by Colleen Pilat, a Volunteer Docent in Training at Belmont Chapel, who expressed her appreciation to Dr. Wilson for his “knowledge and expertise shared with Newport and beyond – and for sharing the story of the Chapel with the class”.
Dr. Wilson addressed the class noting that the Chapel had been “overgrown for years and was ‘a big mess’ and it’s “wonderful that it’s been brought back”. He went on to say “The Victorian Society of America is pleased to announce that the Belmont Chapel Restoration Committee will be receiving an award later in 2025 for their exquisite restoration and in revitalizing this magnificent chapel. The chapel was originally constructed in 1886 by August Belmont under the direction of George Champlin Mason, Sr, and later Richard Morris Hunt. The efforts of matching materials and restoration of the stained glass windows represent a tremendous amount of wonderful work done here, and the use of local trades craftsmen.” Dr. Wilson was thanked by Ms. Pilat on behalf of the Chapel and gifted him an inscribed original slate tile from the roof.
Questions raised by the class were responded to by Robert Vitello, Island Cemetery’s Program Manager, as well as Zachary Russell, Records Manager at the Chapel. In addition, Harry Eudenbach, Estate Gardener, provided invaluable information to the class regarding the process of restoring the Chapel to its original, more presentable state.
Robert Vitello, Island Cemetery’s program manager, discussed their ongoing work to raise funds to restore other architectural features of Island Cemetery, with the next target for restoration being August Belmont’s exedra (Greek for “out of a seat”) bench monument situated in front of the chapel. Belmont was very actively engaged in horse racing, and the Belmont Stakes are named in his honor. An upcoming fundraiser on June 7 from 4:30-7:30 PM under a tent in front of the chapel celebrates the Belmont Stakes Race Day event. This is a great opportunity for people to break out their fascinators and dress for the event, which will be broadcast live. Vitello offered that participants can choose their race favorites and simultaneously help to raise critical funds for upcoming restoration plans.
As the assembly departed the chapel, their attention was drawn to the burial site of Richard Morris Hunt and family. Participants were struck by the spare memorials they witnessed, given the remarkably colorful designs Hunt has created for others throughout Newport and beyond. The Island Cemetery remains an incomparable place to engage rare American history right in Newport.
Photo Gallery
All photos by Jack Casey for What’sUpNewp
