A house with a history . . .
Built circa 1894 in the Queen Anne style of architecture, the main house was the home of Bean Belly Johnson, caretaker of the grand Stockton Hotel. Originally situated on the corner of Gurney and Columbia Streets, the house and carriage house were moved in 1905 to their present location, to make way for a church which stands there today. The land around our house, known as “Frog Hollow,” was filled and leveled when the Cape May Harbor was dredged in 1900.
The original house has changed many times over the years. Plumbing was added in 1934 to a bathroom in the upstairs, along with a nursery that is now the upstairs kitchen. In the late 30s, the veranda was added off the dining room. In 1950, a large bedroom was added over the veranda. In 1960, The McGuire brothers decided to have their own units, so the bedroom/bathroom wing was added along with the stairway wall.
The Ryon family has owned the property since 1979 when Margaret and her husband purchased the property. They winterized and repaired the main house during that time. The old carriage house was converted into a three level Victorian cottage after George and Anne became partners. In 1994, George and Anne became the sole owners and all remaining improvements you see today were completed. Victorian exterior details have been preserved; the old doors, triple-pane windows replicated with stained glass, a large Palladian window, original mouldings, and scalloped shingles.
The Ryon family has owned the property since 1979 when Margaret and her husband purchased the property. They winterized and repaired the main house during that time. The old carriage house was converted into a three level Victorian cottage after George and Anne became partners. In 1994, George and Anne became the sole owners and all remaining improvements you see today were completed. Victorian exterior details have been preserved; the old doors, triple-pane windows replicated with stained glass, a large Palladian window, original mouldings, and scalloped shingles.
