Catherine Veronica Shepley was born in Tenafly, New Jersey in the late 1800's of immigrant parents from Scotland and Ireland. Catherine the oldest of five girls married Lewis G. Shepley at a young age. Their only child Lorraine, fell to illness and died never having any children of her own.

Kitt dedicated her life to the young and sick and worked her way up to the position of Director of the Children's Orphanage on the corner of School and Mary Street in Historic Hill Newport. Many of the children in future years came back to visit Kitt to thank her for making a difference in their life. It was on occasions like this that Kitt, who reached out to all who crossed her path would emit a warm smile and speak a kind word. Children from everywhere and especially those who were her relatives for several generations knew she had in the folds of her dress a candy or two.

Lewis Shepley was a candy maker who on many an occasion for April Fools Day would make chocolates for his nieces and nephews. A prankster at heart, he would make one wooden chocolate and cover it with the candy topping for all to guess which one was the impostor. The children looked forward to this game of trying to guess the wooden chocolate for many years to come and became a tradition for all to enjoy.

Kitt and Lewis purchased the land on Division Street in Historic Hill, Newport in 1931 and hired an architect and builder to build the home. The architecture and style was of modern Colonial with crown moldings and wood floors. Eight rooms in total.

After the passing of Mr. Shepley, she opened the residence to accommodate many of the area locals who were without home and family. This modern day boarding house stood as testimony to her dedication to humanity.

Kitt Shepley died of natural causes at the age of 91. It was at that time that the house passed on to her sister Anna Kingstree Armbrecht and later to her daughter Barbara J. Armbrecht Manning and ultimately to her son Paul S. Manning. It is with the spirit of generosity that we continue as Innkeepers to honor Kitt Shepley and her life's commitment.