Gulfport Mainstreet

The house was constructed of hand-hewn pine and cypress timbers held together with wooden pegs. The 10-foot wide galleries supported by two-story box columns were enclosed by wooden balustrades with balusters of triangular design – a Grass Lawn trademark.

The original property included 235 acres of orchards and gardens. In 1905 the property was subdivided, and John Kennedy Milner, who later became owner of the Coast Coca-Cola Bottling Co., purchased Grass Lawn. Because of political, historical and architectural significance, Grass Lawn was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Grass Lawn was an extremely popular location for weddings, receptions and various parties. It was featured as the “Hospitality House” in Gulfport for the annual Spring Pilgrimage sponsored by the MS Gulf Coast Council of Garden Clubs. The City of Gulfport, also, entertained dignitaries during their visit to the Coast.

Hurricane Katrina destroyed the 1836 original house on August 29, 2005.

James McLauren purchased the property from the United States Government in 1830, and the land was event deeded to Margaret Soria, at which point the lot and surrounding neighborhoods became known as Soria City. From 1910 to 1952, several prominent Coast families including the Pooles, Bastons and Fowlers lived in this two-story beachfront house. The Edward Sternberg Family owned the home for over forty-five years, until 1999 when it was purchased by Peter and Dix Nord.

The Nords took special care to retain the architectural features of the original home and following a year-long renovation, they opened The Chimney’s, one of the Coast’s most beautiful and best-loved restaurants. Under a canopy of stately oaks, the elegant Coastal home offered a unique venue for fine dining, weddings, receptions, lawn parties and other special occasions.

Hurricane Katrina destroyed the century-old structure and its gardens on August 29, 2005, leaving only the magnificent oak trees to memorialize its brilliant history.