Historic Bluebird Cottage Sells for $5.4 Million

The property was listed by Melanie Delman, President, Robin Nicholson, Broker Associate, and Kim Doherty, Sales Associate, all of Lila Delman Real Estate.

The deal represents the highest sale in Rhode Island year to date, and the highest sale in Newport since 2010.  

"'Bluebird Cottage' is a fine example of harbor view living in Newport, Rhode Island.  World class sailing, rich cultural experiences, stunning beaches, and proximity to Boston and New York make Newport an ideal choice for today's affluent buyers," said  Delman  

According to Delman, “Bluebird Cottage” is an iconic Newport harbor front estate, whose many guests included some notable jazz musicians who stayed in the house during the early years of the Newport Jazz Festival. One such musician was Count Basie, who lore has it, wanted to buy the stained glass window on the main stairway.

Beyond the music, the home also housed various America’s Cup crews in the 1970s and 1980s, including Sir Frank Packer’s crew for Australia's Gretel II (the last 12-meter boat built in wood) in 1970, and Alan Bond’s crew for Southern Cross in 1974.

The expansive lawn was often to be seen draped with the drying sails of Cup contenders.  The