‘69-’96: A Closer Look at a House in Common

Our homes hold our most intimate experiences: love, grief, celebration, disappointment and so much more. These buildings were often inhabited by others before us but how often do we meet? Cooking in the same kitchen, bathing in the same tub, staring out the same windows — who came before us and what did they do? Do you know who lives in your old house? If they changed the wallpaper? Fixed the leaky faucet? Found your hiding spot? 

‘69-’96: A Closer Look at a House in Common invites you to experience one Newport house as remembered by three different families who lived there between 1969 and 1996. Not anything particularly fancy or notable, the house on Dresser St holds stories from the era in Newport that spans the opening of the Newport Bridge to the X Games at Ft Adams as remembered by Newporters who each lived totally exceptional, incredibly normal lives.

March 1 + 2/8+ 9, 2025

Drop-in Hours 12-5pm

last admission 4:30pm

15 Dresser St, Newport

FREE

Created by Jed Hancock-Brainerd and Colleen Byrne (Moy)

With support from Tom Finn, Rebecca Noon, the Hancock-Brainerd and Moy families and everyone who has spent time at 15 Dresser St

  • Jed moved to 15 Dresser St in 1982 when he was 6 months old and his family moved out of Navy housing. Born in Newport Hospital, Jed is a theater-maker, educator and support staff member at Bike Newport.

  • Colleen is a  fourth generation Newporter. The youngest and only daughter of 5 kids. She spent most of her childhood on Dresser Street, in a neighborhood with lots of kids and many adventures. She has a BA in Theater from Rhode Island College, and MA in Expressive Art Therapy from Lesley (College) University. She is married, a mother of 4 and continues to live in Newport, in the same house for 32 years. Colleen has worked with several populations in the Arts but the majority has been with Children and Teenagers. She’s directed musicals, improvisation, and taught Theater. Lately her passion has been in documentaries, learning to make them and soaking up as many stories as she can.