Celebrating NSB's historic charm: Charming Homes Tour draws hundreds to annual event

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — For the past three years, the Charming Homes Tour in New Smyrna Beach has sold out with around 400 people in attendance.

That was what the New Smyrna Beach Residents’ Coalition hoped would happen when members organized the first event six years ago.

They saw it happen again Thursday when another sold-out Charming Homes Tour led visitors through six homes on the city's beachside.

“We have been very pleased with the interest,” said Angeline Barretta-Herman, member of the coalition and of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission.

The New Smyrna Beach Residents’ Coalition is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to preserving what makes the city "unique" by informing residents on how they can "take a meaningful role in shaping the future of New Smyrna Beach,” according to its website.

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Part of the tour’s mission is to “encourage people to take these old houses and not tear them down,” Barretta-Herman said.

“We keep it small so that people can enjoy each house, really learn about the house and see what (owners) have done to make the house livable” she said.

Tickets were sold out 10 days before the event.

Every year, the tour tries to showcase a different neighborhood of historic homes in the city.

The coalition uses the money from ticket sales to organize educational seminars (on sustainability, historic preservation and more), candidate forums during election years, maintaining the organization’s website and other operational costs.

“There is something about the serenity of an old house that brings a sense of peace, and I think it makes me feel grounded to the community,” Berretta-Herman said. “The new, modern houses are beautiful, they’re quite fun to look at, but in my view, they tend to give out a sense of coolness and isolation. Old houses somehow seem welcoming and interesting.”

Salvaging 100 years of New Smyrna Beach history

One of the homes on the tour, located on Peninsula Drive, is thought to be more than 100 years old, according to current owner Jana Caswell.

The property consists of the big main house with a stunning riverfront backyard and a guest house. Both are two-story structures linked by garden paths filled with plant life and greenery.

Caswell and husband Craig’s plan to renovate the main house a few years ago was scratched when they found termite damage in the structure's walls.

She said it “broke our hearts” for her and her husband to have to rebuild the damaged structure of the house, but it was important for them “to be able to at least preserve what we could and to keep the footprint and not build something giant and monstrous.”

“We salvaged the old floors, doors, planters — whatever we could salvage we did to keep the charm of the old house,” Caswell said.

Old flooring and doors were repurposed within the house, which is also filled with artisanal woodwork that retains the home’s historic feel.

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The work was completed in 2017, Caswell said.

“I think people fall in love with New Smyrna because of its warmth, its charm, its history,” she said. “There’s something living, breathing, warm about respecting the history and loving it and trying to work with it.”

Surfer Shack turned into house

Another highlight of the tour was Kathy Shute’s home on North Indian River Road.

The 1950s structure originally belonged to a local surfer and was used as hangout for fellow surfers. The original 986 square feet are now over 2,000 square feet as owners have added to the house.

But the home’s history of being a surf shack wasn't washed away by the expansions.

In the breakfast nook, Shute hung a wood-carved sign reading “Blue Wave Surf Shack.” The previous owner used to have neon blue wave on the outside of the house.

“I feel like we are taking the (previous owners’) vision that they had for keeping the tradition of the surf shack and bringing it to the next era, making it more refined,” said Shute, who has owned the home since 2020.

Parts of the house have been repurposed, like one of the bedrooms that used to be a surfboard shed. For other parts of the house that have been expanded Shute, with her artistic background, tries to maintain its historical “vibe.”

“I’m super happy to share because I care about historic preservation,” she said.

Shute said she is planning to “get more active” with the coalition.

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“I feel like we are really strong grassroots people that care about preservation, and it helps to offset some of the inevitable that’s going to come in around us anyway,” Shute said.

Another home on Indian River Road, two on South Pine Street and one on Columbus Avenue were featured on this year's tour.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NSB Charming Homes Tour gathers hundreds to celebrate city's appeal