Martin County features Captain Sewell house tour for Historic Preservation Month

Martin County highlighted the Captain Henry and Abby Sewell house during Historic Preservation Month, noting the home’s original features and its relocation to Indian Riverside Park in 02/2006.

Why it matters: The house is a physical reminder of the area’s early settlement and the Sewell family’s role in local history; preservation involved local historians, county officials and private donors.

A presenter speaking in character as Captain Sewell described the house’s origins: originally located at the southeastern tip of Sewell’s Point, the house contains Dade County pine floors, original walls and much original glass. The presenter said Henry Sewell’s family came from Wiscasset, Maine, and that the family later formed the Sewell’s Point Land Company to subdivide the property.

The podcast credited County Commissioner Doug Smith and local historians with efforts to relocate and preserve the house, and identified Fred Ayers as a donor who helped fund the barge move from Willoughby Creek to Indian Riverside Park. The presenter also credited Sandra Thurlow for organizing community support to save the structure from demolition.

The hosts noted that tours were available and that a video of the Captain Sewell house would be included in the episode’s show notes. The segment was descriptive and historical; no official county policy or vote was discussed on the podcast.