SVA Tour of Homes & Tea

St. Vincent's Annual Historic Tour of Homes & Tea

2009 Tour Sites

1 (1890) Built in 1890 by the Home Building Company, this home is a magnificent example of Queen Anne Victorian architecture and is a lovely complement to its sister house next door. By the 1970s, the home had been partially rehabilitated, but the defining feature, the porch, had not been restored. Porch restoration was undertaken in 2006 by examining historic documentation and other examples of homes in the area. During this rehabilitation project, the home was completely repainted in a four-color paint scheme, representative of the Victorian era. A non-historic addition was removed and replaced with a sun room. This fine example of the Victorian period is just as exciting inside as out.

2 (1882) This home received one of the Historic Savannah Foundation Preservation Awards in 2007. Situated just to the west of Monterey Square, this Italianate house was built in 1882 by Mr. John Williams, an established builder. Intended as a single family dwelling, it eventually was converted into a six unit apartment building.
     The current owner was living in one of the apartments when the property became available for purchase. The owner wasted no time making this beautiful building her own. She kept the building as it was for a while because of the tenants, but when the time was right, she and her family began the process of restoring the property back into a single family residence. Because the walls were still intact, the main task was to remove the six kitchens and overabundance of bathrooms. As the owner and her daughters lovingly worked on many parts of the restoration, her stepson became the one to oversee the entire project. Preserving everything they could, one will find the skeleton key locks, the plaster and the eleven fireplaces are original. The ground level of the home is the "Downstairs Gallery" where the owner, an accomplished artist, sells her work and the works of other Low Country artists. You will not want to miss visiting the gallery!

3 (1853) This four-story brick row house was built in 1853 by William Remshart, a cotton broker who also built several houses north of Oglethorpe Avenue. In 1999, the current owners updated and renovated as necessary, leaving intact the original architectural details and floor plan as much as possible. The simplified Greek Revival design is accented with a cast iron front entry door and matching exterior banister. The top three floors are a single family residence, while the street level is the owner's studio and art gallery. In the gallery, which you may want to browse, she exhibits her non-traditional still life oil paintings and hosts shows for other artists as well.

4 (c. 1847) This house and the adjoining house were some of the original properties developed by Eliza Ann Jewett, a strong-willed widow, in the mid 1800s who overcame social prohibitions to become a successful real estate developer. The homes were both owned by Eliza Ann Jewett as rental properties until her estate split the properties and sold them in 1865.
     The major renovations were completed in mid 1996 by the former owner. At that time, the kitchen was on the ground floor and a small glassed-in dining room stood where the apartment bedroom currently resides. Original heart pine can be found throughout the home. The 3200 square foot home includes four bedrooms and three and one-half baths on four floors.

5 (1899) This tour site is a two-story, six-unit, Arabesque-Renaissance style brick building. Located on Troup Square, it was built approximately 110 years ago, and was formerly known as The Beverly Apartments. Notable architectural features include sandstone masonry framing ornate arches, Corinthian-Order sandstone bracketing, high ceilings, much surviving original plasterwork, and an incredibly efficient use of space.
     In 2007, the apartments were converted to condominiums and a major renovation on the building was begun by its current owners, SCAD graduates in the fields of Historic Preservation and Interior Design. The Grikitis Group has renovated the home to its original beauty. Their focus on blending the latest in modern technology with the best craftsmanship of the past is amply evident in this building. Their focus on historic preservation has led to their donating an easement to the façade of the building to Historic Savannah Foundation, in perpetuity, and has also led to the building being recognized as a "Certified Historic Structure" contributing to the significance of the Registered Historic District of Savannah.

6 (1879) This home is part of a three unit row of town houses built by Francis Grimball for Daniel Purse in 1879 on Madison Square. Built in the Italianate style, it features overhanging eaves with decorative brackets, arched lintels over the windows and a lovely decorative iron porch running the length of the three houses on the third level. This residence was one of the first in the city to have modern conveniences such as bathwater, dumbwaiters and speaking tubes for communication throughout the house. Much of the home's original material is still intact, with the exception of the back façade, which was removed and extended by nine feet. Some of the original elements in the house include faux-painted marble mantles on the parlor floor, wood floors and moldings.

7 (1842) Known as the Eliza Jewett House, this beautiful three story over a basement home was constructed by lady builder and developer, Eliza Jewett. Built on a trust lot in 1842, it would become her splendid home overlooking Madison Square. There are local architectural historians who believe that it is very possible that this house was designed by noted Irish architect, Charles Cluskey. Corinthian columns in the entrance hall and parlors are some of the most intriguing architectural elements of this magnificent home. The home boasts an impressive collection of 19th century American artwork and early maps of the Americas. The owner of the home also owns Savannah's renowned bookstore, E. Shaver, bookseller, which is attached to and in the basement of the home. You are invited to browse in the bookstore.

8 (1845) St. Vincent’s Convent was designed by the noted architect Charles Cluskey and built in 1845 on land that was once farmland. Tour participants will see the Convent’s private chapel, parlor, grotto area and halls which feature beautiful stained glass, sacred statuary and paintings.
     To guide tourists along the way, there will be several “nuns” (Academy students) wearing the three major traditional habits of the Sisters of Mercy spanning the years from the 1840s through the 1970s.
     The collection of memorabilia displayed in Heritage Hall documents Savannah’s history against the backdrop of an all-girls education at the world’s oldest Mercy high school in continuous existence. Displays include needlework by pre-Civil War era students, 19th century scholastic awards and photography spanning the entire 20th century.
     The Convent proves to be a fascinating place whether you’re an architectural history buff or a curious alumna who has always wanted to venture beyond the closed doors of the Convent.

9 (1886) This house was built in 1886. It was bought and restored in 2008. There are heart pine floors and gas fireplaces along with a new kitchen. The faux finishes and the painting on the back porch were done by Becky Frame. A garage and reshaped patio are planned for the back courtyard.
     The side and back gardens are newly planted and a new pond was recently installed. The centerpiece of the pond is two giant handmade cantilevered leaves that allow the water to cascade into the pond.
     The house is furnished with a combination of family pieces, memories of the owners' lives together and life today. It has three bedrooms, an office to handle volunteer work and a comfortable downstairs in which to entertain. The home even boasts a "wrapping" room at the top of the stairs. The artwork ranges from a commissioned painting that includes the Oxnard tugboat to a series of Jack Leigh photographs, to pieces bought by the owners' sister at auction. Other mementos from the owners' parents and grandparents are interspersed with items form grandchildren, all making up a wonderful collage of living.

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