Steve and Sally Gudas Honored for Preservation Efforts
It would be hard to imagine a better day for the Southern Shores Historic Flat Top Cottage Tour than we had yesterday. With temperatures in the mid 70s, a light breeze and bright sunshine, the day was made for being outside on the Outer Banks.
Icons of the early days of Outer Banks tourism, the simple cottage design of Frank Stick once numbered in the 100s, with flat top homes built as far south as Kill Devil Hills. There is still a small enclave of flat tops in that town, but most of Stick’s design were a part of the town he created.
They have become a rare breed in Southern Shores; there are only 25 left, treasured family heirlooms that many are trying to preserve.
The homes are distinctive. Stick based his design on a home he saw in Florida, but the final look and feel of what he created is distinctly Outer Banks. He and his son, David, were the initial investors in Southern Shores and when they went to build the homes they had to do it as cheaply as possible.
Sand from Outer Banks beaches was used to create the cement block. When framing was needed juniper was the wood of choice. In interviews and in his own notes on the project, David noted that when the homes were being built, juniper was being harvested locally and was the cheapest wood they could find.
That has given the homes part of their distinctive look, with tongue and groove beams running the length of the ceiling in many structures. It is also one of the reasons the buildings have aged so well. Juniper is now an expensive wood, but its natural resistance to rot and mildew are well known.
Southern Shores Historic Flat Top Cottages, in cooperation with the Outer Banks Community Foundation, has been working to preserve the cottages. The Flat Top nonprofit’s mission is to, “Promote the preservation of Historic Flat Top Cottages located in Southern Shores…built from Outer Banks materials by developer Frank Stick in the 1940s-early 1960’s.”
They have had some success at that, working with the town of Southern Shores to designate some of the homes as historic landmarks. According to the homeowners who have participated in the program, there are significant tax advantages in having their home designated as a History Landmark. Only the outside of the structure is evaluated for architectural integrity.
The effort to preserved the Southern Shores flat tops is due in large measure to the efforts of Sally and Steve Gudas who own one of the historic landmark homes.
Town Mayor Tom Bennett acknowledged the efforts of the Gudas in a ceremony on Saturday.
A little over 400 people toured the homes during the event, generating an additional $2600 for the Flat Top Preservation Fund.
Content and images provided by Kip Tabb.