In 1895, Augustus Van Wickle and his wife, Bessie Pardee Van Wickle, purchased 70 acres of waterfront land in Bristol, RI and named it Blithewold (Old English for “happy woodland”). They built a large, Queen Ann style mansion, and moved in during the summer of 1896. They would reside at Blithewold from May until November, often returning for holidays at Christmas, Thanksgiving, and family occasions. Bessie hired John De Wolf, landscape architect and superintended of NY Parks, to help implement her vision of a horticultural sanctuary.

First priorities included the subtle grading of the Great Lawn and planting of specimen trees. A golf course was laid on the southern part of the property, complete with a club house for entertaining. Docks, bath-houses, and swimming platforms were built on the waterfront, and fine sand was brought in from Martha’s Vineyard to create a sandy beach.

In 1898, Augustus was killed in a skeet-shooting accident. He left two daughters, Marjorie, born in 1883, and Augustine, born several months after her father’s untimely death. The family continued summering at Blithewold, and in 1901 Bessie married William McKee, a successful Boston businessman and an old friend of Augustus. The McKees were known for their gracious hospitality, and carefully orchestrated parties for family and friends.

In 1906 tragedy struck again when fire completely destroyed their beautiful home. The fire was slow-burning, and with the help of many people from Bristol they were able to remove all their furniture and furnishings, even fireplaces and bathtubs. The following year, a second, grander mansion was built on the same site in an English Country Manor style. Bessie and John De Wolf continued their tireless work adding elements to the grounds: rare trees including a now-90-ft giant sequoia, stone walls, a formal perennial garden, ponds, and a working vegetable and cutting garden.

Marjorie inherited her mother’s talents as a horticulturist, and after her parent’s death, lived permanently at Blithewold, spending most of her life with her husband George Lyon developing the arboretum and cultivating rare plants. Marjorie died in 1976, leaving her entire estate intact for the enjoyment of the public. In 1999, Save Blithewold, Inc. took over the management of the property under a 99-year lease. Its mission is to maintain the mansion and gardens in accordance with Marjorie Lyon’s wishes. Every year thousands of visitors enjoy the grace, serenity and beauty of Blithewold.