Southport Magazine

By Patty Langer

Growing up in a historic New England town, Christmas was always my favorite time of year. The season was defined by old colonial houses with candles in every window, wreaths hung on front doors, and garland draped along porch railings.  The glow of Christmas trees was visible through frosty windows and the smells of pine and cinnamon filled the air! I admit, I was skeptical about finding the spirit of Christmas in the warm, snowless South when I moved to North Carolina a few years ago. I soon realized the enormity of my misconceptions as I wandered through the charming streets of Southport, a town with that same holiday magic, minus the icy streets and finger-numbing cold. In 2019, I strolled through the Southport Historical Society’s Christmas Tour of Homes and was delighted by the beautiful houses decorated for the holidays in an elegant Southern style. After a two-year suspension due to the pandemic, the home tour is back on, and I was thrilled when asked to interview some of the homeowners. So, while tickets may be hard to come by, join me for a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at two of these beautiful houses, see what it takes to prepare for a holiday showcase, and meet some of the people inspired to open their doors to the public this holiday season.

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The Christmas Tour of Homes has been a tradition in Southport for 30 years. The Southport Historical Society (SHS) assumed responsibility for the event in 2000 and helped it become a highlight of the city’s annual Winterfest. This year’s tour will be a scaled-back version as SHS builds their team of volunteers back up following a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID pandemic. According to SHS president Liz Fuller, there are eight locations on the 2022 tour with a range of styles, from cozy cottages to spacious plantation homes and even one historic church, the Mt. Carmel AME Church. All of the sites are within one mile of each other, making for a pleasant stroll through historic downtown Southport. Houses are chosen by the Home Tour committee, and while there is no specific age or size requirement, most tend to be historic and large enough to accommodate a steady flow of people walking through. Homes can be showcased in multiple tours, but not two years in a row. 

“We are always on the lookout for homes for the tour, so if anyone wants to participate in 2023 or has a house to recommend, please let us know,” said Fuller. “The kindness of the homeowners and the enthusiasm of over 100 tour volunteers are the key elements that make the Southport Christmas Home Tour a success,” she added. 

The two families I interviewed for this story certainly fit that bill, exuding Southern hospitality and Southport charm.

Lynn and Randy Meekins, 207 N. Caswell

Lynn and Randy Meekins, former educators and business owners who relocated to Southport from the Georgetown, SC area for a calmer pace of life, cherish afternoons on their porch chatting with neighbors and tourists alike. The couple purchased their historic home at 207 N. Caswell Avenue in 2018, just in time to sustain some serious roof damage from Hurricane Florence. The Meekins replaced not only the roof, but all of the electric, plumbing, HVAC, insulation, and much of the foundation. During the restoration, they worked closely with former Southport building inspector Wayne Strickland to restore the home to its original design, salvaging hardwood floors, wainscotting, door handles, and even the hand-turned rails on the front porch. The gorgeously redone kitchen cabinetry, built-in bookshelves, and a few new closets were all built by Randy himself.  

The Meekins’ home was originally built in 1912 by Price Furpless, a former mayor of Southport and the grandfather of Bill Furpless, owner of the Amuzu Theatre on Howe Street, also built by his grandfather in 1918. Although the house stood empty for about 20 years, it was not for sale when the Meekins spotted it on a trip to Southport. Inspired by the home’s potential, they took a chance and contacted the owners to express their interest. Over a period of time, they developed a friendship with the Furpless family and eventually purchased the house, becoming only its second owners! There are many tributes to the Furpless family in the home today, including an artful display of pillbox hats that once belonged to the original owner’s wife, Lillie Furpless.

The Meekins chose to decorate for Christmas in a traditional style that represents the home’s era — picture an old-fashioned Norman Rockwell Christmas card.  Outside, the spacious, wrap-around porch will be strung with pine garland and lights. Enter into the “receiving room” and you’ll see a display of old-fashioned Santas on the fireplace mantle and family stockings hung from the craftsman style staircase.

The family room holds the Meekins’ favorite Christmas decoration, their Christmas tree, adorned with hundreds of ornaments handmade or gifted by their children, grandchildren, friends and former students over the years. The tree will be situated next to the antique piano in a street-facing window for the enjoyment of passersby.

In the dining room, a large wooden table, built with beams salvaged from an addition that was beyond repair, will be set for a formal Christmas dinner. The stunningly remodeled kitchen and a sunny, screened porch in the back of the house will also be decorated for the holidays.

The Meekins agreed to participate in the Christmas Home Tour as a way to honor the Furpless family and also to give back to the city.   

“The people in Southport are so kind. When we moved into the house, the neighbors threw a party for us!” Lynn said.

The Meekins also expressed a desire to support the SHS, which they say has been helpful to them in their research. 

According to Liz Fuller, ticket sales from the home tours are the Society’s biggest fundraiser, with proceeds used to maintain the Brunswick County Old Jail Museum, develop community educational programs, create historical exhibits at the Fort Johnston Southport Museum and Visitor Center, and support a scholarship program for South Brunswick High School seniors. 

Brian and Allyssa Larrabee at 103 N. Caswell Avenue 

Supporting SHS was also a motivator for Brian and Alyssa Larrabee, owners of a single-story craftsman bungalow located at 103 N. Caswell Avenue. Built in the early 1900s, the home once belonged to another former Southport mayor, L.T. Yascal and his wife Louise.

A warm, charming couple with two young boys, the Larrabees purchased their home in April of 2021, after relocating from Los Angeles during the pandemic. Alyssa, an accomplished ballerina, and Brian, a former actor, came to visit her parents, who had retired to Southport from the Charlotte area, and they fell in love with the quaint town and its friendly residents. Having already transitioned their business, Good City Mentors, a non-profit that pairs LA professionals with inner city students, to a remote setup, they decided to raise their children in the nurturing environment of Southport. 

The home they purchased had been abandoned for about 15 years and required a complete overhaul.

“There were holes in the roof with vines growing inside and the floors were mushy!” Alyssa said.

But with the help of her father, a professional contractor, the Larrabees were able to complete a stunning renovation in just six months.

Aiming to re-create an authentic feel, they were able to salvage the original hardwood floors, and expose century-old support beams in the kitchen and dining room. They scoured the town for antique furniture and found many pieces that fit with the home, including a dining room table from the Walter Pike House on Bay Street, dining chairs from the Dr. Frink home on Bay Street, and a kitchen island from a home on West West Street. A unique spice rack built into a kitchen wall was made by Jerry Dove, another former Southport mayor and police chief, and a coffee table in the living room was built by the Larrabees with wood reclaimed from an old house on Lord Street.

Several people encouraged the Larrabees to join the SHS Christmas Home Tour this year, but they were hesitant at first, given the daunting challenge of decorating a home with two little boys. However, when the SHS officially asked them, they decided it would be a good way to give back to the city that had welcomed them with open arms.  

“We feel like we are stewards of this incredible house and we want to share it with the people of this town,” said Allyssa. 

The Larrabees’ decorating style is minimalist, with an element of fun to reflect the youthful enthusiasm of their children. Traditional pine roping and white lights hang from their wrap-around porch on the corner of Caswell and Howe streets.  Inside, their less-is-more approach makes carefully placed nutcrackers and whimsical trees stand out, and fits with the simplicity of Christmases past. The Larrabees Christmas tree will go in the corner of the living room and will be decorated with sentimental ornaments. 

“We have a mix from my childhood, Brian’s childhood, and every year Jordan and Camden get a new one,” said Allyssa.  Front and center will be their favorite, an ornament that depicts the four family members, chosen by their five-year-old son, Camden. 

“He recently got his first wallet for his fifth birthday.  We took him to The Christmas House and told him he could pick out anything he wanted with his birthday money. After a lot of thought, he chose an ornament for the family’s first Christmas in our new house,” Brian recounted with pride. (Cue the tears!) 

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Both the Meekins and the Larrabees epitomize Southern hospitality, while their beautifully decorated homes reflect both the charm of historic Southport and the magic of Christmas. Opening their homes to allow the public to enjoy this cherished Southport tradition fills our hearts with the spirit of the season.  

For more information on the Christmas Home Tours, visit www.southporthistoricalsociety.org or call (910) 447-3461.