The 21st annual tour of Martin County’s historic homes is Feb. 13, according to Chris Sawicki, executive director of Stuart Heritage Museum. Six residences and a museum are included in the tour, most built before 1940 or having historic significance or in a historic area. The local historian and volunteers research and compile histories of the homes on the tour. 500 participants are expected.
The Museum building style is known as "Florida Frame Vernacular". This style usually featured a false frame front and most were constructed from Dade pine. Other types of architecture seen in Stuart & Martin County include Mediterranean and the Bungalow style house. A great deal of what you see in the Museum has been donated by members of the pioneer (and today's) local families. Many artifacts are on display. The Museum is dedicated to the early pioneers, telling their story of growing pineapples and of harvesting fish, life during the good years, "the boom" years and the difficult depression. "
Homes on the tour will range from an early 1920 cottage named Bigenuf and sometimes rented out, to the home of a Judge who served in the Union Army, was on the Kansas Supreme court, and participated in the incorporation of Stuart.
To a Tudor Revival home built prior to 1928 which has a particularly pretty queen crape myrtle in the yard, to a semi-Colonial-style home built in 1937 which has a gazebo built about 1975, 6 rooms plus bathroom, double garage and porch which was later enclosed.
To a 1925 Mediterranean-style home built by a nephew of Andrew Carnegie who demolished the first home he built on the site in 1923 and was remodeled by the current owners in 1995 but still has the original oak floors, pecky cypress beams and 18” thick walls. The Mizner-style estate runs from river to river and includes a barn water tower, artesian pool, bathhouse and quarters for guests and caretakers.
The tour will end at the Stuart Feed Store within the Museum. The general store was built in 1901, a wood-frame building with false front and gabled tin roof. Tour will be held Saturday, February 13th from 10 am to 4 pm. This will be a self-guided tour with maps available when you buy tickets. The funds are used for the benefit of the museum. Tickets can be purchased at the Stuart Feed Store in the Stuart Heritage Museum, 161 SW Flagler Avenue, Stuart, FL. and many other sites in the area. For more information call the Stuart Heritage Museum at 772-220-4600.
