The myths and legends of a small town start as stories and are then regarded as history. Other times, stories are simply created when not enough history is known. That is the case in the legendary home that overlooks Gurlie Bayou in Moss Point, a tributary of the Pascagoula River that leads into Krebs Lake.
And so, it is time to unravel the stories of the stately home hidden behind the trees with the distinguishing characteristic of an exterior cross facing northward that indicates the interior location of a chapel complete with stained glass windows.
Around town, the home is referred to as the Al Capone House, a convent and a monastery, none of which is true. Therefore, St. Mary’s by the River and its history are a mystery to most.
The Tudor revival/Mediterranean home at the curve where Griffin Street becomes River Road was completed by 1930, and it includes a fully developed chapel. Under the roof, the home has 5,457 square feet and sits on 2.8 acres overlooking the marshes toward Krebs Lake. The home was constructed by architect Martin Shepard of Pascagoula and New Orleans for Sister Anne Christine Abercrombie (1859-1945) along with her niece and nephew, Celeste Mhoon and John Mhoon.
While the home has seen many owners, it is currently the home of Kinny and Kim Howell who discovered the historic treasure in 2019 on Zillow. Today it feeds Kinny’s appetite for woodwork and Kim’s love of history.
“Kinny and I are from Forrest County,” Mrs. Howell said. “We had looked for years for a home that would satisfy his love of the water and fishing and my love of history and old houses.”
The couple has found the perfect combination of this home where the street is named for its first resident, Celeste. Mrs. Howell said the home needed a considerable amount of work, which they have tackled themselves, and she has spent the past six years learning more about the home and its history while also correcting errors in what has been shared.
“Sr. Anne was an Episcopalian nun, and her order was The Sisters of St Mary, now known as The Community of St Mary,” Mrs. Howell said. “Prior to moving to Moss Point, she had spent her life in Memphis, Tennessee.”
In 1935, Sr. Anne deeded the property to The Society of St. John the Evangelist, ensuring that she and Celeste would have a life estate. Celeste continued to live alone in the home after Sr. Anne died, but from the late 1950s to mid 1980, Lt. Col. Cecil Mhoon (nephew of Celeste and great nephew of Anne) came with his family to care for Celeste and the home.
It was during the Mhoon residency that part of the sprawling estate was subdivided and is now property where 6 other houses have found places to call home.
“Cecile and John Stephens owned St Mary’s from 1985-2004 followed by Tim and Jo Tieslau from 2004 until we purchased it on December 26, 2019,” Mrs. Howell said. “After Hurricane Katrina, St. Mary’s was home to as many as five families who were friends of Jo Tieslau.”
The two-story home actually has two floors per story and has a network of windows and doorways that allows the circulation of air throughout the house. Nearly 100 years of paint and remodeling have changed the aesthetics of the home, the original integrity of the structure continues to exhibit a sturdy, simple appearance with wood floors, stairs and banisters, doors of various sizes and a stucco exterior of cream with dark brown shutters and trim.
The chapel that is so intriguing from the outside is equally fantastic on the inside. It includes a tabernacle, a shrine to Mother Mary and stained-glass windows featuring symbols that also honor the Blessed Mother. Adjacent to the chapel is a vestry.
“The kneelers have been stripped to the original cherry finish, and we have painted the altar for maintenance,” Mrs. Howell said. “I love to come in here for quiet time.”
The upper floor of the home has five bedrooms, a sewing room, bathrooms that connect the bedrooms, and spectacular views. This home even has a basement.
A spacious den has been added to what was a screen porch that features original beams along with meticulously crafted beams created to mimic the original. A tiled basin on the waterfront has a variety of blooming foliage, a fountain and a nearby pool complete the outdoor space next to an outdoor kitchen, bathroom and sitting space.
Mrs. Howell has brought her own touch to the home with antiques she both inherited and collected along with wood furniture made by her grandfather. Together the couple has painted and made repairs to every room, and each piece of art, furniture and even floor coverings tell a story.
