Rourke, James and Odessa, Jr., Raised Tybee Cottage
Why it's listed
Located at 702 14th Street on Tybee Island, Georgia, this two-story frame beach house was created in 1946, when James Rourke Jr. moved an older one-story bungalow to a corner lot near Tybee Creek and raised it a full story on brick piers for his new bride, Odessa. It has a hip roof, wraparound porch, asbestos-shingle siding added over weatherboards, and an open ground level with auto stalls, changing rooms, shower rooms and servants' quarters. The cottage is a well-preserved example of the raised Tybee cottage, a beach house type built for middle-class families and found only on Tybee Island, where as many as 110 were built. Many have been demolished as land values rose. The house also reflects the island's growth as a resort for Savannah residents after the Tybee Road opened in 1923, and it was among the first year-round homes in the Venetian Terrace Subdivision. Its significance covers architecture, community development and recreation from 1946 to 1960.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent, intact example of the raised Tybee cottage, a middle-class beach house type unique to Tybee Island and now increasingly rare. It also represents Tybee's resort development and is among the first year-round cottages in the Venetian Terrace Subdivision.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 10000804, listed September 23, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 702 14th St, Tybee Island |
|---|---|
| County | Chatham County |
| Listed | September 23, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000804 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1946 - 1960 |
| Architectural style | Other: raised Tybee cottage |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function is a single-family dwelling. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 31.99699, -80.85258 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 10000804.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134273041
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.