To the editor:
My name is Rosalie Reynolds and I am from Charlotte, N.C. My mother, Isabelle Wade Bacon, was a lifelong friend of Doris Duke. They met in Charlotte when they were around five years old and were friends until Miss Duke died.
Because of my mother’s friendship, I also had the rare chance to meet Miss Duke, including a visit to Duke Farms with my sons. Duke Farms was a critical place of grounding for Miss Duke. As some of you may know, she actually sued her mother when she was a young girl — after her father died — to keep her mother from selling the farm. I think when she did that Miss Duke demonstrated her love and interest in the home and farm.
My mother told a wonderful story of coming with the group of girls from Charlotte and spending time at Duke Farms. They spent an amazing time at the home with Mr. Duke and Doris. I think it is important as people work to preserve Miss Duke’s legacy in the larger philanthropic sense you don’t lose sight of the person. I feel confident that if Miss Duke were here today — that she would work to protect the historic structure as part of her father’s legacy and a treasured part of her own life. Surely, if she had wanted to let this house go — she would have done so? I find it hard to imagine that given her philanthropic interests, it wouldn’t be possible to make the home a center to support the philanthropic community by convening organizations in this special bucolic setting to do good work together.
Finally, in part because of my connection to the Duke family, but also because I am passionate about historic preservation, I am a board member and supporter of the Duke Mansion in Charlotte. This discussion about whether or not it is “worth” the investment to protect a historic home took place in Charlotte as well over a long period of time. Finally, nearly 20 years ago, our community made the decision that it was worth it.
We have worked hard to turn what might have been considered a white elephant into a real asset for our community. Our path to be a historic inn and meeting place might be different than what you can figure out — but a path is there. Historic preservation is never easy — but it is something that Miss Duke committed herself to in Newport. Surely, preserving her own special home that was so meaningful to her is in keeping with her legacy.
Rosalie Reynolds
Charlotte, N.C.
