In 2005, a period of sustained growth for Savannah’s Real Estate market, I got into the business as a licensed agent for Cora Bett Thomas Realty. Who knew that just over 20 years later, I’d be selling the former home of my mentor and advocate, Marge Maddox, a top producing agent at the firm. Marge was always a big believer in Ardsley Park (Historic! Centrally located!) and I think she would be proud of the neighborhood today. With an annual home and garden tour rivaling anything downtown has to offer, Ardsley Park is really a shining star in Savannah’s illustrious feathered cap.

Cora Bett’s office was located at 24 E. Oglethorpe Avenue, and along with Celia Dunn and Richard “Dicky” Mopper in downtown, and Barroll & Barroll in Ardsley, CBT was really considered to be the big deal in the business at that time. I remember fondly the days of “agent tours” and our weekly sales meetings, where I never ceased to be amazed by my colleagues, especially Patricia Bishop and her many wonderful new listings, week after week. Those were exciting times and helped form the foundation of my work in the industry.

Thirty Four East Fiftieth Street was constructed in 1932-3 by and for 35 year old Franklin R Dulany, future grandfather of Savannah’s business leader Reed Dulany III (Reed’s dad was 3 years old at the time). Frank used a 27 year old architect named John Courtenay LeBey to design/build the house with him based on LeBey’s design reflective of Savannah’s Hermitage plantation. In 1934-35, the Hermitage would be dismantled and relocated for Henry and Clara Ford to be repurposed at their new site overlooking the Ogeechee River known as Sterling Bluff in what's now Richmond Hill. Today 34 E 50th Street stands as a testament to the time in which it was built. Solidly constructed of over 55,000 Savannah Grey Bricks along with iron work and the stair banister recycled from historic properties downtown, and along with new Iron work by Lebey’s uncle, they also re-used local historic wide plank heart pine flooring, and floor joists and beams from a hardware store in Pineora, Georgia and marble from the former downtown Savannah post office. Lebey’s design and use of recycled materials helps the house to stand out. Aren't we lucky that today we have Re:Purpose Savannah, a woman led non-profit company, to carry on the tradition of salvaging our local historic treasures, following in the footsteps of former local business lady Noreen Parker’s “Pinch of the Past”. Savannah’s ability to re-invent itself from our past continues.

The future is calling for Thirty Four East Fiftieth Street now. Marge has passed away and Doctor James Maddox has moved on to Virginia to be near his son Brian and family, and the house sits empty, expectantly awaiting its next owners to write the future of this splendid site on a very nice block in a comfortable neighborhood we call Ardsley Park.