Lyra Brown Nickerson, inherited a fortune at the young age of 20 to become one of the youngest Dames and one of the most generous philanthropists in Rhode Island. In 1916 her gift of 20,000 dollars built the first community health center in Providence, Nickerson House, which exists today. She built the first indoor tennis court in East Providence as well as supporting the arts, aviation, RISD and the Providence Public Library. While on an extensive trip, Lyra and her friend Katherine Schermerhorn ( also a Dame) were arrested in Germany as Russian spies. They returned safely to Providence. Lyra died prematurely of typhoid.
