Project posted by T. Campbell

The Historic Watermelon

Structure
House (Single Residence)

20 more photos

Credits

Posted by

From T. Campbell

This 130-year-old historic Mellon property was renovated and restored by owners, Kyle and Amy Reed, and is located in St. Augustine’s Summer Haven Neighborhood.

THE HISTORY:
The 5,000 square-foot, 6-bedroom, 8 bath property has a long and storied history. It was originally built in the 1890s as the Seacrest Inn and is the oldest surviving building in Summer Haven. It existed before there were roads to the area, or even cars, when the only way to get to Summer Haven was by a full day or two of boat travel on the rivers, carefully timed with the tides. The back of the home at that time was the front of the inn, facing the river, and what later became the garages started out as the wharf house for the property.


Mr. Mellon fell in love with the area, partly due to his ability to sleep well in the ocean air, so he purchased the property in Summer Haven and turned it into the family’s summer home, later building numerous small cottages around the property to house the family’s many guests. The Mellon family frequently hosted famous friends and high-profile guests, including the likes of Hollywood elite like Gary Cooper and Cary Grant. Well known writers such as Earnest Hemingway, Robert Frost, and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings were also among the home’s noted guests. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is also said to have dined there.

ADDITIONAL INFO ON THE HOME:
The home’s original details showcase the plentiful materials once available during the 19th century, including old growth heart pine floors and framing, a massive floor-to-ceiling coquina stone fireplace and pecky cypress panelled walls, all dating back to the home’s origins. Also notable is the old growth heart pine stairs and stair railings at the back of the house, on what used to be the inn’s front staircase, and a clawfoot bathtub.

The Reeds loved the old southern estate feel of the home, combined with its riverfront location with views of the Atlantic Ocean. They saw the amazing potential the property had, and taking cues from the historic photos they found, they restored the home with a blend of Key West, beach house, and southern estate characteristics.

The Reeds' goal was to ensure that this house will be around for the next 100 years and to let the home continue its story through those who come to appreciate and experience it.

The property is now affectionately referred to as The Historic Watermelon, a play on words in homage to the property’s genesis: The Mellon family and its waterfront coastal location.