Downtown Charm

April 1, 2013 Homestyle No comments

106 W. Nash St. Photo by Wendy Hilliard

The character and charm of historic downtown Southport lends to the delineation of our culture. Each brick laid and each detail within the woodwork is a defining section of our history, a stamp in time we can trace back to a significant person or place. It is also a champion for our future. The local architecture of the 19th century, which is an abundant and integral part of Southport’s aesthetic, prescribes where we as a city will stand in years to come.

The home standing at 106 W. Nash Street—or rather its foundation—was originally fabricated by John R. Newton Sr., a river pilot, in 1890. As the Cape Fear River was the main mode of transportation and a fundamental component to coastal Carolinians’ livelihoods, river pilots led incoming ships past the treacherous shoals at the mouth of the river to the port of Wilmington, which was then 25 miles upstream. The harbor of Southport was a safe spot for pilots’ vessels, and the enterprise was their only stake in survival. Though there were slow times when a lack of ships and a surplus of pilots led to fierce competition and little pay, the final two decades of the 19th century were characterized by copious river traffic.

Photo by Wendy Hilliard

Around the same time, the development of local brick and lumber companies brought skilled craftsman to the area (many materials were brought in from Wilmington prior to this, making home-building a difficult prospect). Bay and Moore streets today feature some current homes which date back to the late 1880s; they replaced the smaller homes of even earlier years. The 100 block of N. Lord Street saw a rush of development from 1889 to 1894, and the homes dotting W. Nash and W. West streets were crafted in the early 1890s. At this point there were three major carpenters: brothers Henry and Joseph Daniel and A.J. Robbins.

The siblings were taught by their father, Enoch Daniel, who was a ship’s carpenter, in the years after the Civil War. Robbins joined the family by marriage in the 1890s. From 1889 to 1896, the three men were responsible for constructing 30 new homes in Southport.

Joseph Daniel and Robbins purchased the Newton home in 1901. They renovated the building and expanded it to two stories. Though all of their works were somewhat similar to national trends of that time, the men worked in a style that was native to Southport. The Nash Street home embodies the traditional handiwork of Robbins and Daniel.

Photo by Wendy Hilliard

Their techniques featured characteristics harking back to Greek and Roman design, showcased in details like their monumental columns—though the Southport architects put their own spin on the homes, in this instance tapering the porch supports. The overall fashion personifies both simplicity and dignity—much as the personality of Southport as a city does today.

The roof eaves—or cornice—are projected to propel rainwater away from the walls of the home. Ornamental brackets called modillions attach as decorations underneath the cornice. A second-floor balcony presents smaller versions of the tapered columns along the wrap-around porch. Transom lights appear over every door.

Inside, narrow bead boards create a flow between each room as Robbins and Daniel utilized it for wainscoting and ceilings. Door and window architraves feature corner blocks decorated with incised circular patterns. Such design was characteristic of the architecture of Southport during that time, though it was a treatment used 30 years earlier in other parts of North Carolina. The woodwork likely came from the Southport Lumber Company as it was founded in the same time period.

The parlor showcases the original heart-of-pine floors. Custom Bradbury and Bradbury silk screen artwork adorns the top of the parlor walls, added by current owner Stuart Callari. Photo by Wendy Hilliard

Heart-of-pine floors are still original throughout, as the current owner, Stuart Callari, pulled up carpet laid in the mid-20th century to discover the dark golden boards.

Callari, a Southport native who lived in what is now the Brunswick Inn (301 E. Bay St.)—though she spent much time with her family in Central America as a young girl—bought the home with her husband in 1998. At one point before Callari’s time in the house, Roy Daniel—the son of Joseph Daniel and Ida Robbins—lived at this address. Callari says the front door, which is beautifully and elaborately frosted with flora and fauna, came from an old North Carolina hotel during the Daniels’ ownership.

A founder of Brunswick Little Theatre—which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year—Callari majored in theatre at Louisiana State University. She remained the acting director of the organization for 22 years. She is also a member of Downtown Southport, Inc. Callari—and her sister, choreographer Pat Pittenger—is an essential part of Southport’s now culturally rich community.

The director also put her own touch on the home, adding an elevator and new appliances, and she remodeled some the of rooms to update the now 123-year-old home to today’s standard of living. Closets, which were not as necessary in the Victorian era, were expanded as rooms were re-shaped, and a hall was added upstairs to create a safe place for the elevator entry.

The kitchen island is new as added by current owner Stuart Callari. Photo by Wendy Hilliard

She combined two bedrooms upstairs, as well, to create one large, livable space. The home still boasts three bedrooms, three full baths, and one half-bath. One bathroom even features a Jacuzzi spa tub.

Though the cabinetry in the kitchen is still original, Callari updated the counters and built an island to match. Spanish tile, signed by the creator and a gift from her father, adorns a kitchen wall.

Outside, the original shed—which was once a stable and then an auto-mechanic shop—still stands. The roofs of the shed and the house are still the original tin. The feel of 1901 is still there, even if Callari added a splash of modernity with a sunroom and a swimming pool.

Every home has a story, especially one as wealthy with history as this. Even as new amenities are added, the character of the home still exists in its architectural charm—just like the city of Southport itself. The design of 106 W. Nash Street and its neighboring abodes illustrates the individuality of this town.

The top of the staircase offers a glimpse of the original bead board wainscoting and original stained glass. Photo by Wendy Hilliard

In 1887, its name was changed from Smithville in anticipation of the mighty Southeastern port it would one day become. Citizens at this time believed, because of its easily accessible deep-water harbor, Southport would one day be as bustling as Chicago or Atlanta. Businessmen from cities such as Boston and Fort Wayne bought land and considered new commercial ventures in Southport, hoping to capitalize on their foresight.

However, when the railroad finally arrived in 1911, the golden opportunity had passed. City men no longer dreamed of building up Southport, and its residents came to terms with the area’s destiny: It would only be a small, idyllic coastal town.

Yet, isn’t that what makes Southport such a gem today?

The shed, which was once a horse stable and then an auto-mechanic repair shop, now hosts swimming-pool equipment and a children’s play area under Callari’s ownership. Photo by Wendy Hilliard