This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Breakers Gardener Billy Murphy Keeps 3.5 Acre Garden Alive
Murphy 72 has tended Newport Breakers garden since 1923 arriving at age 17. He recalls 14 stablehands, a single chef, and living in a red gabled house as head gardener from 1931. Through Madame Vanderbilt and successors, he works 7 to 5 daily earning 115 dollars a month, witnessing hurricanes wars and the Preservation Society era.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Newport
Billy Murphy
Murphy
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Summer Castle
Madame Vanderbilt
Countess Szechenyi
Countess Szapary
Newport Preservation Society
New York
Billy
Narragansett Avenue
Madame
Preservation Society
Society