The Pilgrim House is in the center of a district known as Historic Hill. It is a few doors down from the restored Trinity Church and is surrounded by buildings from the 1800's that have remained largely unchanged for the past 150 years. The chase scene for the movie "Mr. North" ran past our inn. Steven Spielberg chose Washington Square and the Newport County Courthouse, right at the end of Spring Street, to film scenes from "Amistad."
While the looks of Spring Street have
remained constant, the street has not. It was the favored address of prosperous merchants,
doctors and lawyers from Revolutionary times until the middle of this century. Built as a
single family home, 123 Spring Street was divided into apartments for Navy families when
Newport was a booming Navy town. When we bought the building, 12 years ago, it rented
rooms by the night to dockhands, merchant marines and passing fishermen.
Turning 123 Spring Street into the Pilgrim House Inn was more reclamation that renovation. One of our greatest surprises came when we tore down a wall in the living room and discovered, hidden behind it, a fireplace with a hand-carved mahogany mantle. Every evening we serve sherry and shortbread before that fireplace, with a fire lit in the cooler months. We consider the fireplace a gift from the house to us.
The house has lent herself graciously to
the reclamation. The Pilgrim House has large rooms with high ceilings and heavy moldings
around windows and doors. They harmonize happily with the antique beds, dressers and
armoires that we've located in unending hunts through Rhode Island's many antique stores.
We've matched the wallpaper, bedding and lace curtains to the furniture. The result is
that each room is different with its own unique appeal.
We have also updated the house, adding private baths and air conditioning to each room. This Victorian Lady is ready to be introduced to the 21st century - her third. Come see.