Preservation Society Seeks Public's Online Votes Today to Win $25,000 Grant

With only one day left to vote, The Preservation Society of Newport is asking for the community's help in securing $25,000 in grant money needed to help maintain the 11 historic homes the Society manages.

Incoming votes throughout the day continue to see-saw the rankings between the top contenders. As of 1:04 p.m. On Wednesday, Newport was in the lead by 94 votes. Twenty minutes later, they were down by about 90 votes. 

The This-Place-Matters Community Challenge, sponsored by The National Trust For Historic Preservation, began on June 1 and ends June 30.  As of June 28 13,000 votes have been cast, leaving Newport only 400 votes behind the leader, Over The Rhine.

Incoming votes throughout the day continue to see-saw the rankings between the top contenders. As of 1:04 p.m., Newport was in the lead by 94 votes. Twenty minutes later at 1:23 p.m. they were in second place by just 94 votes.

"Cincinnati is giving us a run for our money. . .We're the only site in New England that has a chance of winning. We're just too far ahead that nobody else in New England can catch up," Coxe said. She encouraged communities throughout Rhode Island and New England, specifically mentioning Middletown and Porstmouth.

One hundred historic houses across the country are in the running for the grant money, and "every little bit helps," said Trudy Coxe, CEO and Executive Director of The Preservation Society.  

"Every one of these houses we maintain is wrought with unending maintenance. . If it's not the roof, it is the gutters and the doors and the paint and the marble," Coxe said. "These are not inexpensive houses to maintain."

The Newport Mansions sells more than 850,000 tickets per year and, according to Coxe, "are one of the most import historic tourist destinations in America."

"Sometimes we forget how very special and unique these places are and we have a reputation to uphold. We need to look good and be strong," she said.  "We need to safeguard these properties for future generations to come."

The grant money goes to the community with the most votes, and continues to be a very tight race.

Below are instructions on how to vote so you can support your historic community which many of us take for granted. Voting ends tomorrow at 4:59 p.m.

How to Vote before 4:59 p.m. Thursday

1) The Preservation Society will enter your vote for you. Just email info@NewportMansions.org with the word "yes" and your zip code.  They will cast your vote and enter you into a raffle to win gift certificates to the Newport Mansions Store.

2) If you'd rather cast your own vote, click here.  In the blue box, click on "Register or get a password reminder".  After registering with your e-mail address and zip code, just hit the "back" button on your browser twice to return to the Preservation Society's page, and click on the "Vote Now" button.  

That's all there is to it. Stay tuned to Patch to see if the Preservation Society ends up on top.