Mark P. Finlay Architects, AIA Awarded for Historic Restoration Project
November 10, 2008 – Southport, Conn. firm, Mark P. Finlay Architects, AIA received The Historic Preservation Award from The Historic Savannah Foundation for a complete historic restoration and addition to the The Olde Pink House Restaurant & Tavern in Savannah, Ga. The award honored Finlay in grateful recognition of outstanding accomplishment in preservation and protection of Savannah’s distinctive heritage.
One of the oldest buildings in Savannah, The Olde Pink House is a brick Georgian mansion that was constructed in 1771 as the primary residence of Revolutionary War hero James Habersham, Jr. and his family. The original plan for the home called for a red brick exterior. During construction however, the brick was plastered over and in a short time the bricks bled through creating a pink exterior. To correct this, Habersham, as well as the following owners, painted white over the plaster. This corrected the color temporarily, but the pinkish color always seemed to seep through. This battle continued for many years during which the residence was converted into the first bank in Savannah in 1789 and then adapted for various other uses including a residential boarding house. It was not until one woman opened the residence as a tea lounge that this battle seized and she decided to paint the building pink, thus giving it the name The Olde Pink House. In subsequent years, the building served as an antique shop until it was transformed into a restaurant in 1971.
The current restoration project included a renovation to the existing building and an addition on the back side of the property, designed to appear as a carriage house for the main residence. Finlay’s design completely refurbished the building while adding essential spaces including a second bar that opens to the street and a ballroom to be used for large parties and functions. Today, The Olde Pink House, located at 23 Abercorn Street, one block east of Savannah’s Financial District, is said to be haunted by the original owner, James Habersham, Jr. and several others who passed away in the home over the years.
“I am excited to be a part of such an important transformation for historic Savannah,” said Finlay. “The new design adapts to modern conditions while retaining its roots in the rich history of The Olde Pink House.”