OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (WLOX) — It is one of Ocean Springs’ oldest homes, and now one woman is making sure it stands for another century by restoring the Seven Gables.
“It doesn’t take long as a resident here to really resonate with how much this community loves their history,” Michelle Hawkins said.
Not long after moving to Ocean Springs, Michelle Hawkins spotted a property just steps from downtown and jumped at the chance to buy it.
“It’s a real gem to have something that’s 150 years old that people remember from their childhood, they remember coming here playing, and they have fond memories,” Hawkins said. “When you can make sure that sustains for another century there’s something heartwarming about that.”
The Seven Gables, built in the 1880s, wasn’t exactly move-in ready with no central air or heat, vacant for years, and in serious need of attention.
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“It was run down, it had some real issues, we knew that it was going to be a tremendous job to bring it back to life, but it had enough character that we saw value,” Hawkins said.
Others might have torn it down and used the valuable land for something else. Hawkins had other plans.
“I did want to see the home because it was the home I was interested in and bringing life back to it,” Hawkins said.
Three years ago, she went to work.
“We’ve redesigned some things to bring back the original elements of the home,” Hawkins said.
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Hawkins brought in architect Henry Furr with H.H. Furr Architecture & Development to begin the restoration.
“One of the things that was really special about this house is the character that an older home has, and it is a challenge to create that character in a new home,” Furr said.
Furr preserved the home’s authentic look while adding modern features, more than doubling the original square footage with a new kitchen, living room and master suite that flow seamlessly from the existing structure.
“We worked hard at bringing all of that new modern function, but embracing that character that the house already had, and doing it in a new way,” Furr said.
Throughout the process, Hawkins had her daughter Stevie by her side, so much that she has named one of the original rooms after her.
“She (daughter) will be one of those in 50 years in Ocean Springs saying I remember when my mom tore this apart and put it together,” Hawkins said.
There is still some work to be done, but when it’s finished the Seven Gables will once again begin creating memories for generations to come.
“I hope that because this house and our paths collided for the last few years that will mean for the next 100- or 150-years people will continue having stories at this house,” Hawkins said. “It will continue having life and one day maybe the next person who redoes this house will be able to say there’s 300 years of history here.”
Hawkins expects landscaping and finishing touches to wrap up in the next few weeks. When it’s done, she plans to sell, giving the Seven Gables its next chapter.
For more information on the Seven Gables, visit its Facebook page.
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