From Rome to Home: My life in Mobile, Alabama: Saving a little piece of history, a Savannah Street Shotgun

Friday, July 1, 2011

Saving a little piece of history, a Savannah Street Shotgun

My husband and I love Mobile's historic architecture. After several fires early this year in the Oakleigh Garden District, we decided it was time to do our part and try to save one of the old houses. We purchased the Verneuille Cottage built in 1888. Although slightly damaged by one of the fires, it was not nearly as bad as it looked. We managed to save a good bit of the original fabric of the house and only replaced the old parts with new where absolutely necessary. The work has gone a good bit faster than we ever imagined thanks to an excellent contractor.

Project complete...

7 comments:

AnonymousJuly 6, 2011 at 7:56 PM
I'm glad you are blogging about the work on the house. I'll be following it. By the way the Hallbergs just visited Cape May, NJ today and there is some beautiful Victorian architecture there.
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SimonaJuly 8, 2011 at 10:27 AM
I am glad you liked this post. The house is coming along nicely...it`s very much improved from this pics. Can`t wait for the Hallbergs to see it. Glad you all are having fun. Looking foward to see y`all back in Mobile!
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Anita @ GoingALittleCoastalJuly 16, 2011 at 6:53 PM
Hi Simona! So glad to see that you are helping to preserve a part of history. What a job that must be. It's coming along wonderfully!
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SimonaJuly 17, 2011 at 6:26 AM
Hi Anita! Thanks for following!I love your blog!I will post updates on the house soon.
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DaniVerdeSalviaAugust 24, 2012 at 12:51 AM
OMG!, che coraggio che avete avuto! (è quello che dicono a noi quando vedono le foto del rudere che avevamo comprato ed io rispondo: Non coraggio, INCOSCIENZA!!!)
Avevo già visto le foto del 'prima', ma non me la ricordavo così disastrata, o forse adesso fa ancora più effetto, paragonata a come è venuta: SPLENDIDA!!!
Siete stati bravissimi, complimenti ed in bocca al lupo,
Dani
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SimonaAugust 24, 2012 at 1:10 PM
Grazie mille Dani! Hai ragione tu: che incoscienti!!! E... crepi il lupo :-)
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UnknownApril 20, 2020 at 8:18 PM
Luv it!
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Simona's Top 10 things to do while in Mobile, Alabama

#1 Take a walk Downtown on Dauphin Street. There's a lot of great architecture and places to eat. Don't miss the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the Bishop Portier House. Bienville Books is one of my favorite haunts and dinner at Wintzell's Oyster House is a must before leaving Mobile.

#2 Tour Mobile's Greek Revival Public Buildings. Buildings of note include Barton Academy and the Presbyterian Church on Government Street and Christ Episcopal Church at the corner of St Emanuel and Church Street (near the Fort Conde Visitor Center). The Mobile City Hospital and Marine Hospital on St Anthony Street and the Washington Fire Station on Lawrence Street are also worth a visit for the architectural enthusiast or history buff.

#3 Walk through the De Tonti Square Historic District. This is one of Mobile's oldest neighborhoods and includes architecture ranging from raised Creole Cottages to brick Federal and Italianate Townhouses. Just outside De Tonti Square, monthly jazz jambalaya's are held by the Mystic Order of the Jazz Obsessed at the Old Gulf City Lodge.

#4 Tour the Oakleigh Garden District. Stops should include a tour of the Oakleigh House Museum, a stroll through the camelias and under the oak shaded canopy of Washington Square, and dining at Callaghan's Irish Bar. When you need a break, stop by the newly renovated Cream and Sugar Coffee House.

#5 Visit Spring Hill College. The architecture and landscape of the southeast's oldest catholic university provide for a pleasant stroll through the grounds. Stewartfield is an excellent example of an antebellum home that is on campus but don't miss other notable homes in the area including the Marshall-Eslava house on Tuthill Lane, the Gaillard House on Myrtlewood Lane, and Carolina Hall on Yester Place.

#6 Travel along the Old Dauphinway. On your return from Spring Hill, along Spring Hill Avenue, the Old Shell Road, and Dauphin Street you'll find many exceptional old homes. The Gates-Davy House on Dauphin, the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion on Spring Hill Avenue, and the Calef House on Old Shell Road are a few of my favorites. For a special treat, stop by the Visitation Monastery on Spring Hill Avenue where the nuns have been selling their delicious "Heavenly Hash" since the 1950's.

#7 Go back in time in Church Street East and Fort Conde Village. Back downtown, make sure to check out the on-going renovations in Fort Conde Village and visit the Conde-Charlotte House Museum. Church Street East has a range of architectural styles including many turn of the 20th century shotgun homes. The replica Fort Conde includes great colonial-era artifacts collected at the site and the nearby Museum of Mobile provides additional insite into Mobile's History. No visit to Mobile would be complete without visiting the Mardi Gras Museum on Government Street which celebrates Mobile's oldest tradition.

#8 Take a Cemetery Tour. Mobile has many old cemeteries and three of them should definately be on any travel itenerary. The Church Street Grave Yard dates to 1820 and includes separate sections for the interment of catholics, protestants, and strangers. Yellow fever quickly helped to fill up the Church Street Cemetery so Magnolia Cemetery, 1838, and the Catholic Cemetery, 1848, were created.

#9 Go for a Bike Ride. Mobile has a couple of very active bike groups with group rides available for the novice to the pro. The relatively mild weather through much of the year, flat terrain, street layout, and the many less travelled roads provide excellent biking opportunities. "Mobilians on Bikes" can be found on facebook and provides information on all the rides.

#10 Tour the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The Mobile-Tensaw Delta is the second largest delta in the United States and provides many opportunities for boating, fishing, kayaking, and nature watching. Eagles, Osprey, and Alligators are some of my favorite sites. The Bottle Creek Indian Mound is a treasure hidden deep within the delta.