Blithewold Mansion sold, to be preserved thanks to easement

AS PART OF what has been characterized as a non-financial transaction, Blithewold Inc. has taken ownership of the Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum while giving a conservation easement to Preserve Rhode Island. / COURTESY BLITHEWOLD MANSION, GARDENS AND ARBORETUM
AS PART OF what has been characterized as a non-financial transaction, Blithewold Inc. has taken ownership of the Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum while giving a conservation easement to Preserve Rhode Island. / COURTESY BLITHEWOLD MANSION, GARDENS AND ARBORETUM

BRISTOL – A historic state landmark has changed hands under conditions that are designed to guarantee its long-term upkeep via an easement granted to Preserve Rhode Island.

The nonprofit, which has owned and managed Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum since 1976, announced Tuesday that it transferred ownership of the sprawling Bristol estate to Blithewold Inc., an independent nonprofit.

Blithewold Inc. purchased the property for $100,000, Valerie Talmage, executive director of Preserve Rhode Island, told PBN Tuesday.

At the same time, Preserve Rhode Island turned over roughly $100,000 to Blithewold Inc. that it had been holding in a restricted fund for use on the property. The money now will be set aside by Blithewold Inc. in a fund to support the estate based on a conservation and historic preservation easement that Preserve Rhode Island received as part of the deal.

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“It wasn’t a financial transaction. We really did it so we could jointly agree on a way that this really fabulous place is preserved forever for the public to enjoy,” Talmage said. “We talked about whether or not it would be better just to reconfigure our interests, and we really thought this was a way to kick start our easement program, which can be used all around the state.”

Blithewold Inc. has managed the historic site and popular wedding venue since 1999 through a 99-year lease agreement with Preserve Rhode Island.

“At the time they were a new nonprofit, but now they’ve got almost 20 years under their belt and have proven to be just fabulous stewards of the property,” Talmage said.

The 45-room Blithewold mansion, known for its sweeping views of Narragansett Bay and gardens featuring a bamboo grove and numerous exotic plants, was donated to Preserve Rhode Island in 1976. It has been open to the public since 1978.

Elizabeth Graham is a Providence Business News staff writer. She can be reached at graham@pbn.com.

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