The estate at 225 Ruggles Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island, was built in 1886 for Josiah Mason Fiske, a prominent New York flour merchant, and his wife, Martha Smith Fiske. The house was designed by the renowned architectural firm Peabody & Stearns, while the grounds were landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of New York's Central Park. It was originally named "Masonlea."

In 1909, the property was purchased by Thomas Suffern Tailer as a wedding gift for his new wife, Harriet Stewart Brown. After extensive renovations, the estate was renamed "Honeysuckle Lodge" and became one of Newport's notable Gilded Age social properties. Through the mid-20th century, the estate remained associated with the Tailer and Blair families before eventually being sold. It later became part of the campus of the Honeysuckle School for Girls for a period.

Honeysuckle Lodge and its Carriage House are two of the most distinctive historic structures along coastal Rhode Island, and restoring them required a level of care and craftsmanship worthy of their architectural pedigree. Slate & Copper Services partnered with Kirby Perkins Construction to complete a full exterior preservation effort across both buildings, focusing on slate roofing, wood siding restoration, and custom copper work designed to withstand the demands of the Southern New England coastline.

Work on Honeysuckle Lodge began with the slate roof—a defining feature of the estate. The goal was to maintain the historic roofline while reinforcing the structure for decades of coastal weather. The result is a roof that looks original but performs like new.

Copper roofing and gutter work completed the restoration at the Lodge. Every piece was fabricated, formed and installed using traditional standing‑seam techniques. Copper is ideal for coastal estates, and at Honeysuckle Lodge it ties the entire exterior together, adding durability while honoring the building’s original design intent.

The Carriage House restoration followed the same preservation‑first philosophy. Its slate roof required precise hand‑cutting, tight coursing, and careful detailing around dormers and transitions. The custom copper gutters were fabricated to match the original profiles, with soldered joints and brackets that reflect the building’s historic craftsmanship. This project earned the 2025 Doris Duke Award for Excellence in Craftsmanship, a recognition that underscores the level of detail and authenticity brought to the work.

Across both structures, the approach never changed: preserve what is original, replicate what is missing, and strengthen the building without altering its architectural soul. Honeysuckle Lodge and its Carriage House now stand as two of the most carefully restored historic estates in coastal Rhode Island—projects that reflect true collaboration, traditional craftsmanship, and a commitment to long‑term preservation.