Michelle Drum specializes in the sale of historic homes in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island. She has been fortunate to incorporate her academic background at Northwestern University and a Master of Philosophy at Columbia University in American Urban History & Historic Preservation with her career. A second-generation American of European parents, her childhood involved many travelling experiences — and continues to —abroad. Shortly after moving to Newport, while planning to complete her dissertation on Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., she bought an eighteenth-century schoolhouse that had just been placed on the National Register of Historic Homes, choosing it from among other period homes in the area because of its historic significance. She also understood the value of being able to walk to all the cultural amenities Newport has to offer and was instrumental in transforming this neighborhood into the thriving Historic Hill community it is today. Michelle continues to live there with her husband and their rescue greyhound, Athena. The restoration process for Trinity Schoolhouse has further deepened her knowledge of construction techniques, making her a source of information for clients and friends. Her decade--long appointment on the Newport Historic District Commission continued her involvement with Newport’s unique planning environment and gave her further invaluable insights. Her twin brother, Mark M. Jarzombek, is a professor of architecture at MIT, and if Michelle has any esoteric questions, she turns to him first.
Michelle’s clients cite her warm personality, quick response time, experienced negotiation skills, and genuine concern for their best interests. Her goal is to exceed, whenever possible, the needs of her discerning clients.
