609 West Richardson Avenue | Late 1880s–Early 1890s | Current Owners: Tim and Rachael Pye
Constructed in the late nineteenth century in Queen Anne and Victorian style, the Huger House carries both prominence and perseverance within its walls.
The property conveyed to Thomas Bee Huger and Carolina Banks Huger in the 1880s and later to John and Letitia Russell in 1920. Over time, the home transitioned into boarding houses and inns, bearing names such as The Westbourne and Riggs Lodge in historic photographs.
When Tim and Rachael Pye purchased the property, it had fallen into significant disrepair — broken windows, wood rot, moisture damage, termite issues, and unlivable cottages. Beginning in 2018, they undertook a restoration aimed at returning the property to a single-family home while preserving as much original material as possible.
Original doors, hardware, fireplaces, staircase banisters, hardwood floors, and antique wavy-glass windows remain. A kitchen table crafted from reclaimed fourteen-foot attic floorboards reflects the owners’ commitment to honoring what was already there.
Today, the property includes three restored cottages — collectively known as Camellia Cottages — and gardens filled with historic camellias, magnolias, and azaleas. The Pyes’ work represents restoration not only of structure, but of story.
This home is part of the 2026 Summerville Historic Homes & Gardens Tour. Explore all five featured homes in our Legacy in Bloom series.
Photography by Bianka Lamb
By AZALEA Magazine
