PlaceMattersSP: The Historic Williams House

The Historic Williams House

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

The John C. Williams House and C. Perry Snell House have both stood as stoic reminders of St. Pete’s past ever since they were relocated to the USF St. Petersburg campus in the 1990s.

Join Preserve the ‘Burg and the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library for a look at the history, restoration, and future of the Williams house with preservation architect Paul Palmer and USF staff member Sudsy Tschiderer during the the next PlaceMattersSP Lecture, Wednesday, March 27 at 6 p.m.

The Williams House is one of the oldest surviving homes in St. Petersburg. Constructed in 1891 for city co-founder General John C. Williams, the 15-room building served as a hotel for nearly ninety years at its original location on 5th Ave. S. before being relocated to the USFSP campus in 1997.

About the presenters:

Sudsy Tschiderer is a long-time staff person at USF St. Petersburg, currently working part-time in University Advancement. Her office has been located at the Historic Snell House since its arrival on campus in 1997.  A dedicated historic preservation enthusiast, she has given tours of the Snell House and Historic Williams House since 1998 - sometimes in costume as Sarah Williams. Additionally, she assisted in procuring the initial State preservation grants for renovations of the Historic Houses.  

Paul Palmer is a principal of Renker Eich Parks Architects located in St. Petersburg, with 35 years of experience in architecture, specializing in Educational Facilities, Historic Preservation, and Sustainable Design. He has worked on many St. Pete landmarks, including Jordan Elementary School, the Open Air Post Office, and City Hall.

PlaceMattersSP is presented by Preserve the ‘Burg and USF's Nelson Poynter Memorial Library. 6 p.m. presentation.