When the Tinney family first opened "Belcourt" in the summer of 1957, they had extended an invitation to Mrs. Eleanor Robeson Belmont (Mrs. Metropolitan Opera) to visit whenever she came to Newport. A year later on a crisp autumn day Mrs. August Belmont's maroon Rolls Royce motored silently down Ledge Road to the main entrance of "Belcourt". In true aristocratic tradition, her liveried chauffeur opened the honor seat door and aided the Grand Dame in ascending the three granite steps up to Belcourt's huge oak gothic doors. Even though "Belcourt" was still undergoing major restoration, the Castle was open to visitors. As Mrs. Belmont entered the foyer, Harold Tinney noticed the chauffeur, arms folded, standing motionless in front of the parked limousine. Mrs. Belmont had arrived without notice. The Tinney Family was not prepared for such an important visitor.

There was no heat in the mansion. But refurbishment work would continue in the cold weather to come. The Tinneys had screened off an area in the entranceway to remove a section of oak paneling exposing the brick of the chimney. They had begun to chisel a hole for a stovepipe to accommodate a Franklin stove in the grand hall on the first floor. Harold, Ruth and Donald were creating billowing clouds of brick dust and black soot, which despite the precautions taken, coated everything in the hall!

With dignity and decorum, Mrs. Belmont observed the project underway immediately as she entered, and queried "Do you expect to heat Belcourt with that?" as she pointed at the small Franklin stove propped temporarily in the doorway. Undaunted by their obvious awkward position, Ruth Tinney replied "An adequate heating system for the 60-room building is in the design stage. We don't want to compromise the structure by some of the recently submitted proposals for a new heating system." Harold and Donald smiled, greeted Mrs. Belmont, and explained the temporary nature of the project. Though the reception room, foyer, hall, solarium and library were presentable, the huge banquet hall was still a storage area for the antique collection that had not yet been placed in the living areas. Stopping the project, the Tinneys personally guided Eleanor Belmont throughout the museum.

Mrs. Belmont, who had owned the castle in the 1930s, expressed her pleasure that Belcourt was being restored and splendidly refurnished. She said " It is even more beautiful than it was when I owned it." The visit, which had begun so uncomfortably, ended on a warm note. Mrs. Belmont corresponded with Ruth Tinney after that.