This week Newport will host the triennial Weekend of Coaching with parades and demonstrations throughout the city. An important promoter of coaching was Fairman Rogers (1833-1900), whose book A Manual of Coaching (1900) helped turn a casual pastime into a serious sport.
Rogers, an engineer, inventor, educator and decorated veteran from Philadelphia, built “Fairholme” on Ruggles Avenue in 1874 with the help of his brother-in-law architect Frank Furness. After several alterations, “Fairholme” recently sold for $15 million.
Above: William Vanderbilt driving his road coach, Venture, in the Newport Horse Show at the Newport Casino, c.1926. People pictured include Mr. Vanderbilt, his daughter Emily, Miss Louise F. Waring, Mrs. Joseph La Rocque, Mr. Lewis Waring, and an unidentified assistant. Venture is in the Breakers Stable. Image from the NHS photo collection.