SVA Tour of Homes & Tea

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

2011 Tour Sites

(1980) This handsome infill property, built in 1980, expertly relates to the surrounding neighborhood with its Greek Revival features, such as dental molding at the cornice line, six over six double-hung windows and raised stoop with classical entrance and transom windows. As part of a double house, this property shows us how we can blend new construction seamlessly with historic houses, just as we have shown in several locations that we also can blend contemporary with the historic. As an added touch, the scored stucco exterior building material is similar to what was used during the height of the Greek Revival in Savannah. This home is a terrific assemblage of elegant furnishings and a gourmet kitchen to wow anyone who loves to cook.

(1700s) Built in the late 1700s by wealthy attorney-planter Edward J. Harden, this charming, heart pine cottage served as an occasional “town residence” for his wife, Jane, and later as “a tenement” (rental property). Both Edward and Jane died of yellow fever in 1804—she on his birthday, and he on hers—leaving their minor children in the care of faithful slaves.
     Abandoned in 1954, the house gradually fell into decay, developing a sizeable hole its roof and weeds growing up through the heart pine floors. In 1980 a petition began circulating to tear the eyesore down as the showcase neighborhood regarded with distaste the rats and vagrants that inhabited what is now the garden. In 1982, two young, undaunted Savannah builders sensitive to history bought the derelict structure and began to restore it. Among other treasures they found a packet of original deeds, which they presented to the current owners when they purchased the cottage in 1984. One of those deeds can be viewed in the downstairs hallway. That same year, the house won Historic Savannah Foundation’s Award for Excellence in Residential Restoration.
     The present owner, an author and historian, has written a book titled Savannah’s Little Crooked Houses: If These Walls Could Talk. In its pages are the full histories of this house and nine other antebellum cottages in the Historic District.

(1854) This home was built in 1854 for William Quantock, Jr. It is a four story townhouse in the Greek Revival style. Original features include Savannah Grey Brick walls and mantels. Ceiling timbers and wooden pegs seen above the fireplace are typical of construction methods of the period. Within you will find an amazing mix of antiques, beautiful rugs and a fabulous collection of paintings by one of the owners, and accomplished artist.

(1897) Often called “the wedding cake house” and one of a twin, “The Thomas-Levy House” was built in 1897 and is in the Second Empire Baroque style. Note the egg and dart motif across the façade and the Tate, Georgia, marble steps. The interior details include stenciled ceilings by Savannah artist Lori Sturgiss, original crystal and brass chandeliers, cornices and a pier mirror of the Second Empire period. The home is furnished with early 19th century antiques, including a breakfront which once belonged to Mary Telfair, Natural history prints by Audubon, Catesby and Abbot are displayed in the two parlors.

(1879) This architectural masterpiece was built in 1879 and bought by its current owners in 1978. It is a three-story traditional stucco over Savannah Grey brick and overlooks one of Savannah’s beautiful and unique squares, Madison Square. The owners adorned their lovely home with antiques and artwork featuring local artists and friends.

(mid-1800s) This house and the adjoining house, 16 East Jones Street, were one 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, t he kitchen was on the ground floor and a small-glassed in dining room stood where the apartment bedroom currently resides. The parlor level portion of the house ended where the exterior kitchen windows currently are located. 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.

(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.

(1888) This Italianate home was built in 1888, just two years after the Cathedral, directly across the street, was built. Originally, the brick construction was covered with stucco. During a remodeling, the stucco was removed to expose the brick, doing some damage to the brick underneath. The home has had many “lives” including apartments, a shop, office space and, at one time, it was actually owned by the Cathedral and sold by the church in the 1970s. Now back to its original purpose, it is a single family residence.
     The original site of the current garden was occupied in the 19th century by two wooden houses. The houses burned and two structures were built to replace them. Unfortunately, during the general deterioration of the Historic district, those houses fell into such disrepair that they were beyond saving and were demolished. The dirt lot was then converted to a parking lot and was not changed until the home changed hands in 1997 and the new owners purchased the property to convert it to a lovely garden. The iron gate on Harris Street was salvaged from window grates used on the house and were redesigned as gates.

(1869) Overlooking Colonial Park Cemetery, this outstanding Italianate townhouse was built in 1869 for Ramon Molina, a tobacco importer and cigar maker. It was renovated by the present owners. The original trust lot, #68 that the house now stands upon, was owned by the city, purchased by Michael McGreal and later sold to Mr. Molina.
     The original home was 4800 square feet with nine fireplaces and consisted of two front parlors on the first, second and third floors, a grand hallway, an additional room to the rear of the garden and parlor levels, as well as a two story wing at the northwest corner of the house. When purchased in 2008, the building was split into five apartments. Although 233 Abercorn had been “modernized” and used as an attorney’s office, apartments and even a boarding house through the years, as much as can be surmised, it had never undergone any major restoration project until the recent two year project that spanned from 2008 to 2010.
      Included in the restoration was an addition to the rear of the home that is now a kitchen, elevator, master suite, multi-tier decks and garden landscaping. This addition added 1800 square feet.
     With its beautiful cornice brackets, ceiling to floor windows, side garden and ornate iron work, this home exemplifies the high Italianate style of the 1860s and 1870s in Savannah.