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The Kinney Bungalow was built 1899 by Francis S. Kinney, a tobacco and
real estate millionaire, in order to host parties, especially following
polo matches. Its design is strongly influenced by East Indian style, perhaps
a taste he acquired from his younger years as a sailor.
He and Abbot Kinney, his younger brother, had founded Kinney Brothers Tobacco
Company, one of the leading cigarette manufacturers in the late nineteenth
century.Eventually they merged their company with others into the "tobacco
trust" organized by James Buchanan Duke (father of the late Newport
heiress and socialite, Doris Duke). Before it was broken up by government
anti-trust laws, the American Tobacco Company had more than ninety percent
of the the U.S. market. Abbot Kinney had fallen in love with Venice, Italy
in his youth, so he went on to found Venice, California as a resort and
amusement center. Francis Kinney invested in real estate and also got involved
in polo matches in Narragansett.
Following Kinney's death, the Kinney Bungalow was purchased by the Chase/Ewing
family. It was the site of numerous dances, parties, and celebrations.
Lucia Chase Ewing, co-founder of the American Ballet Theater, brought the
troupe to Narragansett where the Bungalow served as their summer rehearsal
site.
In 1991 the Bungalow, along with historic Sunset Farm, was acquired by
the Town of Narragansett. The property (Kinney Bungalow and Sunset Farm)
is managed by the Narragansett Land Conservancy Trust. Following major
restoration work, Kinney Bungalow was opened to the public in 2002.
Once again Kinney Bungalow is a favorite site for weddings, birthday and
anniversary parties, lawn parties, dances, concerts, ice cream socials,
ballet classes, public lectures, and happy gatherings for many occasions. |
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