White lace and promises…
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Archive for the ‘Williams House History’ Category
Yet another Proposal at the Williams House!
Sunday, January 27th, 2013
The ghosts (friendly) of the William’s House!
Sunday, January 20th, 2013These photo’s are from Richard Flitz’s archive and a great treasure showing the original inhabitants (and our CURRENT ghosts!) of the Williams 
.
Richard and Chris were previous owners of the Inn and the two responsible for renovating the Inn and bringing her back to life with all of her grandness and luster!
Richard adds the following on the attached pictures:
Sallie one of our four resident ghosts. I REALLY did see her twice in the inn. This picture was taken by a guest who called us and said do not open the envelope until you call us we want to hear your reaction. Please see the next picture and look and this picture and the little girl on the far left. Sallie died at the age of 9 in the home.
Little Sallie on the beach on Amelia Island in the late 1880′s with her brothers and sisters. The little boy on the right visited many of the guest at 3:15 in the morning. The two girls in the middle Emma and Fanny were present in the house most of the time and we could hear them talking and laughing,
History of the American Soldier – Fort Clinch Nov.10th
Friday, November 2nd, 2012Join us at the Williams House and be a part of the rich history of Amelia Island and Fort Clinch on this Veterans Day weekend!
November 10th, 2012, Ft. Clinch State Park and the Friends of Ft. Clinch present the history of the American Soldier. Join us at Fort Clinch for a full day of U.S. Military History as we honor our Armed Forces. Review Military Displays from
the Revolutionary War to Present Day. Enjoy period music and firing demonstrations. Visit our “Fort Clinch Canteen” for a variety of delightful refreshments. Fun for the whole family.
Regular Park admission applies. Fort admission is one canned food item per person, to be donated to the Barnabas Food Pantry.
For information call Ft. Clinch State Park 904-277-7274
Regular Park admission applies. Fort admission is one canned food item per person, to be donated to the Barnabas Food Pantry.
For information call Ft. Clinch State Park 904-277-7274
WILLIAMS HOUSE HOLIDAY COOKIE TOUR PACKAGE – Nov. 17th
Tuesday, October 9th, 2012The Williams House is beautifully decorated for Christmas and just waiting for those “oohs and ahhs”. Enjoy a wonderful B AND B experience as you stay with us the weekend of the tour.
- Your stay at the Williams House includes
- 2 nights (all the rooms are decorated for the holidays)
- Wine and hors d’oeuvres each evening from 5-6 pm
- 2 tickets for Saturday’s Bed & Breakfast tour of all 8 Amelia Island Inns
- Gourmet southern breakfast each morning
- All our fine Inn amenities too numerous to mention
Rates start at $205 up to $290 per night
IF booking online mention Cookie tour to receive you 2 tour tickets
Williams Family Heritage
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
Williams Family Graves
The Williams family for whom the Inn is named owned this house for nearly 100 years. The parents and most of their nine children are buried at the Episcopal church cemetery, over on Alachua Street. Marcellus purchased the Williams house in 1859 from a Boston banker (name unknown) who built the house in 1856. The fret work or gingerbread surrounding the porches was designed by Robert Schuyler, a New York architect who help build several churches in the area. Emma and Marcellus are buried beside each other in the large central headstone.
Emma's headstone
The cemetery itself is beautiful with large overhanging live oaks and actually is on a hill, something unusual in florida. Perhaps they chose the high ground intentionally!
Marcellus Williams headstone
The Williams had nine children including Kate, Arthur, Emma, Herbert, Sallie, Fannie, Marcellus Jr., Edwin, and Farey. All are buried in this cemetery except Arthur (buried in Jacksonville), Edwin (buried in Georgia) and Farey, the last child for whom we have yet to find a record. Marcellus died the year Farey was born and and her mother, Emma, died four years later. She was listed in the Census records as living with her brother and sister at the Williams House.
Kate and Emma
The house remained in the family until the last of the children residing there passed and then it went through the typical experience of older homes including law officies, rooming house and boarding house. Somehow the majority of the beautiful woodwork, stained glass windows, fireplace mantels and tiles, and even some of the original wavy window glass survived all of these experiences and are still a part of the house today.
Marcellus Jr marker
Fanny Williams Tombstone
We had the great granddaughter of Edwin come here for a meeting and she brought us numerous letters written by the family members which added a real personal touch to the family presence at the Inn. Some things, like how difficult a journey it was from Jacksonville (where Marcellus spent considerable time marketing land in Florida) to Amelia Island are hard to relate to with today’s conveniences. But, in those days it was a carriage or horse ride up the coast to the ferry and then a ferry ride to the island followed by another carrriage or horse ride into town. A world of unpaved roads, no antibiotics, written communications, few restaurants, limited shopping, no air conditioning, no in door plumbing and houses that could be purchased from Sears Roebuck. How did they survive?
Herbert Williams marker
Sallie Williams marker
