OTMJ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL u OTMJ.COM
SOCIAL
SPORTS
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2018
L
ondon Bridge eventually had to fall, and so does Homewood’s historic Bridges Home, it appears. The Homewood Planning Commission on June 5 paved the way for the historic home, built in 1921, to be torn down to make way for newer houses. Developer Pat O’ Sullivan, who owns the property, plans to subdivide six lots at 214 Edgewood Boulevard to accommodate five new houses, but not for at least another year, he told commissioners. Residents interested in preserving the historic home and those who appreciate the lush garden that surrounds it sought to delay the vote, but to no avail. Commissioners voting in favor of O’Sullivan’s request said that, despite their
‘If anybody wants to get with us between now and the end of January 2019, we’ll be happy to sit down and talk about any other issues or possibilities. If somebody wants to buy it from us, we would certainly entertain any kind of offer.’ DEVELOPER PAT O’ SULLIVAN
Bringing Down the House
Journal photo by William C. Singleton III
sympathy, O’Sullivan met all the rules and regulations required to move forward with his plans. Because the case was a subdivision of property, it doesn’t have to go before the City Council for approval. The pink stucco home admirers say reminds them of an Italian villa originally belonged to Georges and Eleanor Bridges, artists who roamed through Europe in the ‘20s before settling down with their daughter, Mary Eleanor, who was called “London.” During those days, the house played host to prominent American writers such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald alongside Birmingham’s socialites. Georges was known for his sculptures, including statues of Brother Bryan and Thomas Jefferson that have become local landmarks. Eleanor was a prolific painter who
Historic Homewood Residence Likely to Be Torn Down By William C. Singleton III
See HISTORIC HOME, page 10 INSIDE
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FATHER’S DAY For the Humphrey kids, Bobby was just ‘Dad,’ but they followed in his footsteps. PAGE 12
FROM THE MAGIC CITY TO THE MAGIC KINGDOM Over the Mountain bride weds fellow software engineer at Walt Disney World PAGE 23