Enjoy the sentimentality and old-world allure of this Cirque, 1907 home like you’ve traveled back in time. The Virginia Point Inn has four rooms, all of which feature screened-in porches where guests can relax with a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening. Have some tea in the afternoon and breakfast in the morning to round out your day.

The inn is located just a few blocks away from both the Texas cruise port and the beaches, and the lovely grounds include beautiful flower beds and a swimming pool that is heated and equipped with jets. Book your getaway today!

The home was constructed by E.W. Smith, and its initial layout called for it to be a wooden structure with a two-story wood frame, sticking wood structure, and two porches facing south. The previously metal roof was changed out for a copper one, and the old house now features arches and screened porches as its defining characteristics. The cost of the initial construction in 1907 was $5,317, and the cost of the remodeling in 1923 was three times as much as that.

According to Mr. Hawley’s instructions, the floors are quarter-sawn heartwood pine that has been “well oiled.” There was not a single element of the home’s layout that was left up to chance, and Mr. Hawley’s handwritten notes regarding the precise location of the light fixtures, the double stairwells, and the size of the large rooms with adjoining bathrooms were found among the papers in the attic. Mr. Hawley had left nothing to chance in the design of the home.

We are grateful that we still have more boxes of personal documents, letters, and photographs stored in our attic because we guard these relics with our lives and treasure the fact that they are there.

An amazing haven of escape from the sweltering heat of Texas is created by the exterior stucco and the extensive arched porches. Every bedroom has its own porch, complete with “sleeping” beds, which unquestionably serves as a delightful place to retreat and take in the delightful breezes off the Gulf of Mexico.

Mrs. Sarah Davis Hawley, an avid gardener who specialized in citrus trees, was responsible for populating the garden with plants that were common during that time period. During a recent visit to our house, her great-granddaughter reminisced about our much-loved orange trees and oleanders, both of which proudly bear Sarah’s name. I was fortunate enough to be able to find two plants that are located close to the north wall by the garage area.

The chicken coop, which I mistook for a dog run because of the chain link fence surrounding it, was situated in the southeast corner of the yard. This section of the yard has been used as a “sick bay” for plants that are on the mend, and I’m happy to report that they have all made a full recovery there! The current pergola and “secret garden” grew from the vision of a shaded retreat with a panoramic view of the garden framed by these old roses. I discovered three glorious Lady Banks roses that each have trunks that are 4 inches in diameter. They are finally starting to bloom again, but it’s only during the springtime!

Sarah and Harry Hawley both passed away in the year 1952, but their daughter Sarah Hawley Creson remained a resident of this house until the year 1983. Tom Catlow planted Tabor Azaleas at that time, which are now visible along the west wall of the garden. After the house was sold, it was purchased by the Catlow family, who operated it as a successful bed and breakfast establishment known as “The Virginia Point Inn.”

In the backyard, he planted some Bradford Pears, palms, and Crape Myrtles, and he also added some Crape Myrtle trees. Eleanor Catlow, a talented chef and gracious hostess, once used the space that is now the rose garden as a kitchen garden, planting it with various spices, herbs, and vegetables.

The year 2000 saw the completion of the second round of renovations at Ms. Sarah’s, our affectionate name for the home. The stucco has been sealed, and the cracks have been repaired with a new polymer that will allow for the stucco to contract and expand as the weather becomes more humid.

In addition to having their copper screens replaced, the shutters were also repaired and painted. We wanted to give her a little color as we sealed her old Asiatic stucco, and the Masonry Institute says that the soft citrus color “gazebo white” was popular in the 1920s when the house was remodeled for the first time.

The house was surrounded by scaffolding for the entire year that it took to complete the repairs.

Robert and Pam Fleetwood bought the house in May of 2021, and after they moved in, they repaired and improved the frozen-over gardens, as well as added new plants to the existing ones.