Peermont: Then and Now

Built on Railroad Avenue by Enos Williams in 1889, this train station was eventually replaced in 1926 by the station on 21st Street. Railroad Avenue now runs behind the Avalon Post Office (shown here), but the remains of the Peermont Train Station were later relocated behind the Ridley house on 33rd Street.

Built in 1892 as a Union church, the Peermont Methodist Episcopal Church was rechristened in 1893 before changing twice again in early 1960s, then closing as a church in 1965. Today, the building is a private residence known as the "Belfry house."

The development of Peermont included construction of large, ornate "cottages" for executives and stockholders of the Avalon Beach Improvement Company (ABICO). All three of the buildings featured here still exist today as private residences. 

Built in 1901, the Sealark served as a guest house in the 1940s. It was owned and operated by William Pancoast, who also provided the name. The building continues to serve as a bed and breakfast to this day.

Built in the 1890s by John Berner, this house was originally owned by the Weintraub sisters - Sarah Louise, Georgine, and Helen - who were prominent local advocates of healthy living and woman's suffrage. Today, the house is known as "Sand Spur."

Want to see more of historic Peermont? Visit the Avalon History Center for a tour map featuring nineteen historic buildings and landmarks. Also, be sure to check out our exhibits on early Avalon - including the railroad and the island's first hotels!