Louis Sullivan visited Ocean Springs in 1890 during a trip to New Orleans. He designed two beachfront cottages and a guest house for himself and his friends, James and Helen Charnley. In 1897, the Charnley house caught fire, but was rebuilt by the then owner, Frederick Norwood. Sullivan was, again, the architect and reconstructed the house based on the previous building, but used the "reconstruction as an opportunity to improve on the plan based on this experience with his own cottage." (from John G. Waite Associates historic structure report) The house was rebuilt beginning in 2008 after sustaining catastrophic damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It was completed in 2013. |