The Walker–Pyke House, Jewel of Southport’s Waterfront
Majestic houses offer intriguing insights into their occupants and the times in which they lived, and Southport’s Walker–Pyke house is no exception. This is not to say that less remarkable homes do not have their own stories, but history is written by the winners. Thus, the imposing mansion endures thanks to loving preservation, while the more modest dwelling crumbles into obscurity.
The “Color Me Southport” Zoom presentation by Southport Historical Society President Bob Surridge and former resident Juli Ghiselin, offered a view into the lives of several “movers and shakers” who left their mark on this stately home.
The Walker–Pyke house was built circa 1800 by Captain Jack Walker, an aide to General George Washington in the Revolutionary War. Captain Walker became a wealthy landowner and there was talk of creating a town named Walkersburg between Ft. Johnston and the site of today’s Deep Point Marina. While that did not come to pass, his home remains a fitting memorial, inspiring residents and visitors to dream of living in such splendor.
In 1889, William Pyke purchased the home. Had LinkedIn existed at the time, his profile would have been a thing to behold. He was a titan of real estate, banking, and local
government with a grand vision for turning our modest city into a major East Coast port. A rail line would link Chicago and its grain and supplies, to Southport, picking up Tennessee coal along the way to fuel steamers.
Juli Ghiselin – daughter of famed Southport photographer and artist Art Newton – recalls the Walker–Pyke house as a “drafty old big house on the waterfront” during her time there as a child from 1957 – 1968. This is the sad truth of landmark homes: maintaining them is an eternal project. Nonetheless, this home has withstood the ravages of coastal life and time to delight us today and – we hope – for generations to come.