7/24/11

On the Road to Bon Secour

Several weeks ago my friend and me found ourselves in Bon Secour, Alabama close by the beach in Gulf Shores! It is a lovely area full of history and known for its fishing and shrimping!

View of the Bon Secour River...



We've always wanted to visit the historic home of Swift-Coles but never arrived in time for the tours. And again we did not arrive promptly for a guided tour of the inside. However I did get beautiful photos of the outside and the grounds...

As with all older historic homes, this one has its fair share of stories...ghosts, hurricanes, and all!! Oh the stories, If These Walls Could Talk!!

The Tidewater Mansion was first built as a four-room house in 1882.  In 1908 all wings had been added completing the 16-room home we see today.  I love the Spanish moss draping from the trees...


The story goes that during a hurricane each adult tied themselves to one child, climbed the chinaberry tree located in the L-section of the home, and survived the raging storm and water that poured through the home!


The Swift descendants lived in the mansion until 1976 when Gulf Shores businessman Nick Coles bought and restored the home. Today visitors  can see his vast collection of antiques!

The grounds are being restored. You can view the gardens with the heritage plants and follow along the walkways that were once "swept walks"!   Before lawn mowers and hedge trimmers?!!
("I remember my grandmother telling as a young child sweeping the yard to keep out the grass blades", says my friend.)

The picket fence has been around for as long as the home.  Originally, it surrounded the house to keep grazing cattle out!

The live oaks lining the driveway ...

A beautiful home and next time I will arrive early to tour the inside!!

Where have you traveled lately?  I love my travels down the junkin' road!!

Have a Blessed Day!!

Jan


Partying with...
http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/2011/07/seasonal-sundays-59quantico.html

DebbieDoos

19 comments:

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Hi Jan,
I love all of your touring adventures! A few years ago we vacationed in N.C. I had never seen moss growing like that. I couldn't get enough of it. I am a moss lover you know. The hurricane story touched my heart. This is a wonderful old mansion. Hubby and I are going to take off next weekend and head up to the North end of Idaho.

Katie@LeBeauPaonVictorien said...

What an interesting visit! Love the pictures! I can bet there are lots of great stories about that house. Thanks for sharing!

Entertaining Women said...

So glad that you've shared your time at The Tidewater Mansion. I once had the opportunity to visit the Bellingrath Gardens outside of Birmingham, Alabama...as I was driving from Florida to Oklahoma. I love historic homes...they convince me that there really are very few new worthwhile ideas in design and gracious decorating. Thanks for stopping by my post for a visit. I hope that you'll drop by often. Cherry Kay

Snap said...

I love road trips and visiting historic homes. The grounds are gorgeous and I bet the interior is amazing! I love the stories. Thanks for taking us with you! Have a delightful week!

Shelly @Crafty Creative Studio said...

What a treasure Alabama has!! I would love to see this in person.

Babs said...

Visiting historic old homes is one of my favorite things to do. This one is especially beautiful. I had to laugh about sweeping the yard to keep out the grass. Sounds like my grandmother's yard. lol
Thanks for sharing your visit and photos.
Babs

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

When I think of a southern home a house such as this one comes to mind. Love the fence, the trees, and especially the porches. What a nice day.

Debbiedoos said...

Gorgeous! I have to say that tree is amazing, I love it. Thanks for sharing with my newbie party.

Beth said...

Visiting from Deb's Newbie party, I really enjoyed this post. What an awesome story about the hurricane! Lovely river and home! thanks for sharing!
Beth

Anonymous said...

Bellingrath is outside of Mobile and it is a gorgeous house and grounds.

Rettabug said...

How very interesting, Jan! I was not aware of The Tidewater Mansion at all. I have a very dear friend in Hoover, AL. I will speak to her about this & send her a link too.

Thanks for sharing your trip!

fondly,
Rett

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

It's grand, for sure; I can hear someone telling a ghost story with it as the setting. :)

Honey at 2805 said...

Thanks for the tour and story about this beautiful property!

Hope you will please drop by and enter my $50 Overstock.com Gift Card Giveaway!! Hometalk has said if I get 500 entries, they will increase the Gift Card to $100.
Honey

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

I love a home with history. So cool!!!

Dee

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Love Gulf Shores and I love these photos of the moss hanging from the trees. I used to live on St. Simons Island and it has the moss covered trees, too. What a beautiful place you visited.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Please turn off word verification. Not needed. Now I have to do it again.

Marsha said...

I've been by the Swift-Coles home,but arrived late for the tour, too. Loved that cute little school house that was near-by. Ate at the Tin Top Cafe. Good ruby red shrimp.

The Tablescaper said...

What amazing homes. I too would be dieing to get inside!

Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

Marsha said...

Pretty post. I didn't take too many pictures when I visited the grounds...they were closed the day I was there. I enjoyed your pictures.
Marsha