By Jeweliana Curtis
Have you had the chance to experience the magic that is White Springs? The historic structures, gorgeous scenic views and small-town feel all give way to a feeling of nostalgia and comfort. All of these details make this a special place to live and visit, and that is what drew Scott Gay and Julie Williams to the area. The couple is passionate about preserving the natural beauty of the area, and they have found joy in restoring old homes in White Springs over the last twelve years. In their portfolio are two historic homes that were in need of serious TLC, but with a dream and a lot of elbow grease, Scott and Julie set off to make them beautiful and functional once again. The first project that the pair tackled is one that is near and dear to Scott’s heart: the home he grew up in. “I grew up in this home with my grandmother and mother. I knew everyone in the neighborhood back then, and I have fond memories of selling Christmas cards to our neighbors. I’m in my 50s now, but my journey with this home began again when I was in my 40s,” Scott explained. “I was living in Jacksonville at the time and began to think about what was next for me. I never imagined it would be coming back to White Springs.” On one fateful day, Scott returned to his hometown to attend the annual Florida Folk Festival, and he witnessed firsthand the horrible shape that his childhood home was in. It was then that he decided he would not allow the home to continue to deteriorate. “It just seemed like the right fit for me to restore this home. I was comfortable with the idea of living in White Springs then as well. I knew a lot of people in the area and had friends that lived here, plus I loved the idea of hunting, fishing and enjoying nature here,” Scott shared. “Julie is a big part of why I moved here also. She’s interested in gardening and plants, she loves to entertain, and she has gotten into mountain biking as well. It just seemed like a good fit for us.” Julie weighed in, stating, “It fits our lifestyle as far as being outdoorsy with the biking, running and walking trails, and really just the community here fits us well. It’s not strange to go out for a walk with our dog and end up at a neighbor’s house for an impromptu visit on the porch! It’s a very casual town, and we love the community here.” When Scott stumbled upon the state of his family home in 2010, he immediately knew that he had two options: restore the house to its original glory, or tear it down. As his renovation journey began, he started by pulling up the layer of carpet in the living room that had been added by his grandparents when
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they acquired the home in the 1970s. Underneath that layer of carpet was 1940s linoleum from when his great-grandfather bought the home. “I started peeling the layers of flooring and wallcoverings back until I found wood behind them! Normally you would not find wood in such great shape like the wood I found in the living room. There weren’t any holes in it or doors cut in… It was fairly intact,” Scott said. “So, the living space now has the original floors, which are roughly 120 years old, and they have been refinished twice. The grain pattern is all virgin timber and nearly impossible to recreate today.”
