Walter Bryson lived in the Bryson-Crane House, a Spanish-style bungalow built here in 1926. This home was built in 1926 and was designed as a Spanish-style bungalow by the same architect who created Ca d’Zan for circus magnate John Ringling. It was originally the residence of Walter Bryson, the developer and partner of John Ringling in creating the Sapphire Shores neighborhood.
Notice the street name: “Brywill” blends Bryson’s name with that of the realtor, Wilson. Across Mecca, Bryson’s sister-in-law lived in the matching Spanish bungalow; the families originally designed facing entrances across the street from one another, and both houses were later converted to face Brywill Circle. By 1930 Bryson had returned to Jacksonville and the property was purchased by Harvey Crane, who acquired adjoining lots to shape the larger property you see today.
After the Cranes moved to a retirement home in 1946, several families resided here, including the Huddlestons and the Hancocks; there’s even an article about Lucille Huddleston that shares a lemon pie recipe given to her by Bess Truman. The house was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on June 1, 2005. Notice the façade and the sweep of Brywill Circle beyond it.