The Bell Houses
By Helen Gordon Litrico • Photos by Charles Litrico
The original version of this article appeared in Amelia Now in 1983. It has been updated to reflect changes of ownership in the houses.

Much of the charm of Fernandina's residential architecture is the heritage left to us by Captain William B. Bell and Captain James Bell. Nine houses known to have been built by them remain intact today.

The Bell brothers were river pilots who came here from North Carolina after the Civil War. Born in 1841, they were identical twins. They looked so much alike - the local story goes - "they used to swap their clothes and fool their wives!"
Captain William and Virginia Bell had two sons and two daughters. Captain James and Martha Bell lost their only son at age two.
In the latter part of the 19th century Fernandina was such a busy shipping center that pilots didn't lack for money. They also had spare time between jobs, so most pilots had sideline businesses. The Bells' sideline was buying up real estate and building a succession of homes for themselves and occasionally for others. After their first simple cottages, they utilized plenty of gingerbread trim - almost as though they were competing with each other in the variety and uniqueness of their architectural decoration.

Salvador House 1880
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Like other pilots, the Bells started out living in Old Town, but the first homes they built and owned were in downtown Fernandina - William on a lot purchased in 1874 on S. 5th a half block off Centre, and James back-to-back on a lot purchased in 1875 on S. 4th.
In 1879 James purchased the lot next door, and the 1-1/2 story cottage built in the 1880s still stands at 20 S. 4th Street. Known as the Salvador House, it became the property of shrimping pioneer, Mike Salvador, in 1918. Today, the house has been in the Litrico family for over 60 years and now serves as offices for Gillette & Associates and Amelia Now Magazine.

Captain's House in Old Town 1888
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In 1887 James bought a lot facing the river and the Plaza in Old Town (212 Estrada Street). In 1888 he completed his two-story home (Captain's House) with a tower and a hatch out onto the roof, so the pilot could observe schooners entering Cumberland Sound. With sunbursts, fish-scale, 3-leaf clovers. 4-leaf clovers, brackets-and-globes, scallops, circles, diamonds, Maltese crosses and other decorations, this house has a wider variety of gingerbread motifs than any other in Fernandina. The house was purchased by another pilot, Captain Roberts Downes, in 1903. It was then purchased by J.W. Decker and in 1964 was slated to become a museum. Captain's House underwent a major restoration project from 1970 to 1984 when the owners were Gino and Helen Litrico. In 1987 the house was featured in the movie, The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking. Afterward, the house was transformed by Mrs. Joan Altman into a bed-and-breakfast inn. Today, the house is again a private residence.

Mahoney-Mills House 1888-9
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About the same time as James was building the Captain's House, he was also constructing the residence of W.A. Mahoney on the SW corner of Cedar and S. 8th (303 S. 8th). This house is said to be modeled after Captain Bell's own home in Old Town, but common sense dictated that the tower be reduced and the tiny widow's walk be only symbolic, as this house was not on the river. The house has some of the most delightful gingerbread in town, and it is beautifully maintained by the Mills family.

Beech Street Grill 1889
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In 1888 William purchased the lot on the NE corner of Beech and S. 8th, and in 1889 completed the most elegant of the Bell Houses. The balustrade on the first and second story porches was inspired by the Chinese chippendale design in furniture. The Bell's daughter, Haidee, and her husband, Sam Kennard, purchased the house from her parents in 1910. Today, this house is the home of one of Fernandina's finest restaurants - The Beech Street Grill.
In 1900 William purchased the lot on the NW corner of Beech and S. 8th. Tax records indicate that the corner structure (now the House of Pets) was completed by 1903 and the small cottage next door in 1904. Both buildings are now owned by Larry French.

Lasserre House 1904
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In 1902 James purchased the lot on 121 N. 3rd Street and built the present quaint cottage as his home. It was purchased in 1919 by the shrimping pioneer Salvatore Versaggi, but is best known as the home of our long-time lighthouse keeper, Tom O'Hagan, Sr. It is now owned by Tom O'Hagan, Jr. and his sister, Helen Sintes.

Lowe House 1907
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James Bell died in 1903, but William continued to build.
That same year, 1903, William purchased the lot on the NE corner of S. 7th and Beech (130 S. 7th) and in 1904 completed this residence with some of the most graceful ornamentation in town. It was purchased by the automobile dealer, Charles Lasserre, in 1920, and is still in the Lasserre family today.
In 1907 William purchased as trustee for his youngest child, Howard B., the lot on the SW corner of Beech and S. 8th (714 Beech). This final Bell home is lavish with fish-scale and charming frou-frou at the peaks of the rooflines on the east and west sides.
William Bell died in 1915 and is buried beside his brother in the Episcopal cemetery. Their tombstones are identical, just as the twin brothers were in life.