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Tour Stops on the 2013 Tour of Homes

Tour Stop # 1 St. Ignatius Church
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St. Ignatius Church was built in 1886 for the former slaves on St. Simons Island. It was rebuilt in 1898 after destruction by a hurricane and was rotated 90 degrees on the current site at that time. The church was built with heart of pine and oak. The wood has never been stained, but its appearance has changed due to the process of aging.

The Altar rail is hand-carved. The Lectern, Bishop’s chair, Priest’s chair, and Baptismal font were all donated by Lovely Lane Chapel. The stained glass windows behind the Altar were made in Philadelphia by the Willet Company. The hand depicts God the Father, the lamb depicts God the Son, and the dove depicts the Holy Spirit. The candlesticks on the Altar were brought from England in 1858. The bell was installed in the 1980's and is from the WWII Liberty Ship Henry Wynkoop. The reed organ was built circa 1900 and installed at Christ Church, Frederica in 1933. The original hand pump is still intact and the pipes are merely decorative. For years, the windows in the Church were translucent, jalousie-panel glass. Ten new stained glass windows were designed in 2000 by M.B. Keys, a parishioner of Christ Church Frederica, and made by the Wippell Company of Exeter, England. The Rt. Rev. Henry I. Louttit, Bishop of Georgia, blessed the new windows April 29, 2001.

Morning Prayer is held daily at 8:00 am (except Sundays and other select days) and Holy Eucharist is celebrated at 5:30 pm on Saturday and 5:00 pm on Sunday. Consult the church website at www.christchurchfrederica.org for more details.

Directions: From the round-about at the entrance to St. Simons Island, turn right on Demere Road and continue east on Demere Road. St Ignatius Chapel will be on your left.

Tour Stop # 2 East Beach

This custom built contemporary home is a celebration of family history. Designed and built approximately five years ago, the home is just a few blocks off the ocean in East Beach. It features three stories plus a rooftop patio with view of the ocean.

The family’s interests are reflected throughout. You will see their love of all things aviation reflected in the airplanes that decorate the central stairway. The home is constructed of concrete and steel with commercial grade fixtures and appliances. There are also family artifacts throughout the home, including an antique radio from the family’s radio business.

You will enter the home from the top third story. The main living space is on this top level and takes full advantage of beautiful views. The bedrooms and a sitting area are on the second level down and a basement and garage occupy the ground floor.

Enjoy the yard as you leave, full of beautiful plants and a play spaces. The yard was built up to provide these areas for recreation during the construction of the home. There is so much to see in this home, both inside and out, with incredible detail too interesting to miss.

Directions: From the round-about at the entrance to St. Simons Island, turn right on Demere Road and continue east on Demere. At the round-about at the intersection of Demere and Frederica Roads, continue onto Demere. Turn left onto East Beach Causeway. After crossing the marsh, take the second left onto Bruce Drive. House is on the right at the intersection of Bruce Drive and 13^th Street.

Tour Stop # 3 Sea Palms West

As you walk the driveway to this low country charmer enjoy the pond surrounded by yellow and blue iris which will soon bloom. Look carefully and you just might see the rare green heron which sometimes calls this pond home.

Designed by Robert Ussery, this home is situated on the banks of Dunbar Creek and the layout provides for fabulous outdoor living and entertaining. As soon as you walk in the front door you will see the beautiful view of the river as well as the Intracoastal waterway just a bit beyond. This home allows its owners to take full advantage of the spectacular location on deep water with frequent family gatherings and outdoor entertaining. Every room that is used frequently is oriented to the western view and the river. The owners were very "hands on" in the building of this home even to the point of hand-placing oyster shells in the exterior tabby.

Collectibles from numerous travels abroad and family antiques hold special places in this home decor. The second floor office with an adjacent balcony occupies the "cat bird seat" with a ten mile view to the mainland. Many productive hours are spent here. Of note is the beautiful painting of Christ Church by local artist Barbara Mueller which holds a treasured spot over the cooktop in the kitchen.

Directions: Take Frederica Road north. Turn left on Oglethorpe Drive. Turn left at the next stop sign on to Sea Palms West. Continue straight through gates marked “The Enclave”. The house is on your right.

Tour Stop # 4 Musgrove Plantation

Musgrove Plantation was built in the 1930’s by Nancy Reynolds Bagley, daughter of tobacco titan R.J. Reynolds and an heiress to the family fortune. Musgrove was named after Mary Musgrove, born Cousaponakeesa, who was half Creek Indian and acclaimed as the Pocahontas and Sacagawea of the South. Mary Musgrove acted as cultural liaison between colonial Georgia and her Native American community dating back to the early 18^th century.

Musgrove Plantation boasts nearly 1,000 acres of primarily preserved natural splendor, including 400 acres of marshland between Brunswick and St. Simons Island. The six residences were designed in the old “Low-Country” style. Heavy use of tabby and cypress along with old Savannah gray brick emphasize the under-stated rustic elegance of the property.

The Village Creek Cemetery lies on the east side of the property where only the descendents of slaves are permitted to rest along with their ancestors. Mrs. Reynolds passed Musgrove Plantation down to Smith Bagley, her son, and Mr. Bagley was buried at this historic site upon his passing in January 2010 with special dispensation given by those families.

Musgrove’s primary use is for conferences on a variety of cultural and political topics. The conferences began when President Jimmy Carter, upon election to office, assembled his first full Cabinet meeting at Musgrove. To date, this is the only time a complete cabinet meeting has ever been convened outside of Washington, D.C.

Directions: Take Frederica Road north towards the round-about with Lawrence Road. Just before the round-about, Musgrove Plantation is on your right at 5720 Frederica Road.

Tour Stop # 5 Christ Church and Wesley Memorial Gardens
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Christ Church had its beginning when General Oglethorpe came to St. Simons Island in 1736 to build the fort and town of Frederica. He brought with the soldiers and settlers, an ordained clergyman of the Church of England, the Reverend Charles Wesley, in order that the colony might have the services of the church from its start. The Board of Trustees ordered a chapel to be built and had three hundred acres of land set aside for the support of the minister and the church. It is on some of that land that Christ Church stands today. In 1884, the remains of the old church were torn down, and the present building was erected on this site in 1886 by the Reverend Anson Green Phelps Dodge, Jr., in memory of his first wife, Ellen Ada Phelps Dodge.

Sunday services are held at Christ Church, Frederica, at 8 am, 9:15 am, and 11:15 am. Weekday evening prayer is held at 5:00 pm daily and Holy Eucharist is celebrated at 11:30 am on Friday. Consult the church website at www.christchurchfrederica.org for more details.

Wesley Memorial Gardens

Established in 1986 to commemorate the ministries of John and Charles Wesley, the Wesley Memorial Gardens offer a calm retreat on Tour Day. Dedicated in 1988, the two acre garden has as its focal point an 18-foot high Celtic Cross, sculpted from Georgia granite. Gravel paths wind throughout the natural setting, which has been impeccably landscaped to showcase some 60 varieties of 4,000 azaleas and other native shrubs.

Directions: Take Frederica Road north towards the round-about with Lawrence Road. Travel north on Frederica Road from the round-about. The Church will be on your left in approximately one mile. The Gardens are across the street from the Church.

Tour Stop # 6 Stillwater

This modern home has a comfortable and relaxed feel, so inviting after a long day at work. The home feels like a peaceful sanctuary and is filled with a mix of fun touchable textures set against an elegant backdrop. Interior designer Valarie Zeh pulled together a casual, eclectic interior, perfectly designed for the family who needs a warm, cozy setting to relax and entertain.

The house is made of tabby and is perfectly designed for its beautiful lake front setting. The front doors are from Indonesia and are particularly spectacular. The living room and kitchen look out to the back porch and a beautiful view of the pool and lake.

There are four bedrooms in the home. The boy’s room is full of fun sports collectables and also has its own media room. The girl’s bedroom is the perfect hang-out for a teenager, with beds for slumber parties and a funky chair that hangs from the ceiling. The master bedroom and study feature interesting artwork and medical annotations, a particular love of the homeowners.

Directions: Take Frederica Road north towards the round-about with Lawrence Road. Travel north on Lawrence Road from the round-about. Turn left into Stillwater. Bear left at the Stillwater round-about. House is on the right. .

Tour Stop # 7 Back Banks

Steeped in the history of St. Simons, Black Banks Plantation was first owned by John Perkins in the mid-1700’s. The current home, designed by Abreu & Robeson in 1942, is situated overlooking the Black Banks River with a stunning view of the marshes. Surrounded by magnificent oaks and spectacular native plantings on the five-acre grounds, the estate also features an English garden with lovely fountains and a secluded tree house.

Remodeled in 2004, the home features a stunning formal entry with a gracefully curving staircase, a cozy gentleman’s library with an eclectic array of collectibles and art, a light and airy sitting area with views of both the marsh and front lawn, and a formal living room. Houseguests enjoy a private retreat with a mirrored wet bar. The double vistas of the dining room enhance the antique wallpaper as well as the luxurious draperies. The chef’s kitchen and the morning room are perfect for preparing and serving a more casual dinner, with plenty of room for guests and informal entertaining. The master bedroom commands a second floor view of the marsh and the river, and features his and hers baths and wardrobes and heated flooring. Wide porches on the first and second levels invite both quiet moments and friendly gatherings. The home was furnished throughout with carefully selected antique furniture and light fixtures, custom draperies and upholstery enhanced with imported trim, and the owner’s extensive art collection.

Tour Stop # 8 Sea Island

This superbly decorated cottage has just undergone a complete renovation. This home is separated from the beach by one house, and is an easy one-mile walk to the Beach Club and Cloister. The Great Room, decorated in soothing sea tones, is the perfect setting for gracious gatherings and dinners. A gourmet cook’s kitchen, including a Thermador range and SubZero refrigerator/freezer, opens to a breakfast area and a cozy paneled family room. A wet bar connects the dining room and kitchen.

The master suite offers a secluded retreat, with two French doors opening to balconies overlooking the pool. The luxurious master bath has a deep soaking tub, marble shower, and walk-in closet. The large sitting room off the master suite can be closed off separately and includes a trundle daybed, which enables this room to be used as a seventh bedroom. Televisions with cable boxes are located in the kitchen, family room, master bath, master bedroom, upstairs landing and each bedroom with a queen bed. The pool has an attached spa with a waterfall (pool may be heated if requested in advance of arrival for an additional fee). A hammock in the backyard and a ping pong table in the garage offer additional opportunities to relax.

This tour stop is as charming on the outside as it is on the inside and you are going to love this storybook home from start to finish.

Tour Stop # 9 Sea Island

This magnificent oceanfront cottage is called “Marbello”, a name taken from the spectacular Mediterranean town on Spain’s famous Costa del Sol. It’s located just steps from the Atlantic Ocean and in stunning in both location and detail.

As you enter this home, you are taken back by the expansive ocean views from every angle. This fabulous floor plan is ideal for entertaining large parties but quaint enough for a smaller family. The foyer leads directly into the formal dining and living rooms. The large eat in kitchen is completely updated with marble countertops, breakfast bar and the finest top of the line stainless steel appliances. There are four oversized bedrooms and five full baths.

The outdoor spaces are simply spectacular. The lawn is oversized and features a large pool overlooking the ocean. It’s no wonder this home was used for the filming of a television show last year. You will enjoy it from start to finish.

Tour Stop # 10 Sea Island

Above all, this is a family home made to be lived in. Built and furnished by the homeowners three years ago, the house is centered around the needs of a busy multi-generational family with young grandchildren. The result is a comfortable residence built with both new and antique materials blended in a Mediterranean-inspired flair. It’s uniquely livable and also takes advantage of its beautiful location on the Sea Island Drive.
            The first floor is perfect for entertaining and family activities. The foyer welcomes you with a view across well-appointed living and dining room areas to the lush backyard and pool. The entertaining rooms are full of beautiful and interesting furnishings as well as art collected on the family’s many travels. Colors are of rich blues and browns with stone and hickory flooring. The kitchen and family rooms feature walls hand-painted by local artist Josie Kennedy and are designed for both family living and entertainment.

            The master suite features a fun array of family photos and is a haven for relaxation. The owners enjoy his and her bathrooms with a closet incorporated into each bathroom. The bathroom fixtures are built into furniture and his closet is fashioned from custom woodwork.

            Up the circular stairway, the second floor has wonderful views of both the Drive and the backyard, perhaps best enjoyed from the outdoor balcony. There are two guest rooms upstairs, as well as an additional bedroom specially designed for the grandchildren. Note the whitewashed floors and basket weave tile throughout the second story.

Outside areas are also focused on entertainment and feature a pool with a vessel fountain and separate guest quarters over the detached garage. Every part of the home, outside and in, is used as a beautiful refuge for the entire family to enjoy.

Pictures taken by Harland Hambright and Barbara Mueller.