The Preservation Society’s Headlines of the Week

Documenting Newport During COVID

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit this area in March 2020, local filmmaker Susan Sipprelle found her mission that continues today: to document the effects on the Newport community and how people are coping, with an eye toward the eventual recovery.

The project is called reNEWPORT. In November, Sipprelle and her two-person crew recorded video segments at The Breakers and The Elms, asking visitors why they came to the mansions and being told (we are glad to hear) that they believed the houses and grounds were safe.

Since then, Sipprelle’s project has grown tremendously, with new videos and photos being posted nearly every day. They feature local political and civic leaders, business people and entrepreneurs, working folks, students, older residents – and everyone is invited to share their own stories.

reNEWPORT is produced by Sipprelle’s Tree of Life Productions.