About
Who uses Alice’s House?
Individuals, families, and groups are welcome at Alice’s House to heal, rekindle a relationship, or renew themselves emotionally, spiritually or creatively. Some come for solitude, others to share collective experience in a sanctuary by the sea. Sustained by the income from summer rentals, the house is available for respite and sanctuary throughout the rest of the year. Mission based needs are considered a priority in determining availability.
The Story of Alice’s House
For more than 50 years, Alice’s House was a gathering place for countless individuals, families, and small groups who sought healing, renewal, reflection, and quiet space by the sea. John and Alice Feeney lived in this warm and welcoming Humarock Beach south of Boston for 40 years, always opening their home and hearts to those who had no place to go or needed support and comfort. In 1997, after Alice died, Janet Gibson, Alice’s friend, created a non-profit organization to buy this humble home, officially naming it Alice’s House and perpetuating its spirit and gentle healing power.
In 2012, a catastrophic fire driven by 50-mile-an-hour winds swept through Humarock village, destroying the house, but not its inner essence. Within days of the fire, hundreds of people wrote, called and blogged to share their experiences at Alice’s House and the benefits they had gained during their stay.
The Rebirth of Alice’s House
Most asked whether a new Alice’s House would rise from the ashes. In 2015, the non-profit organization launched an initiative to raise money, create architectural plans, and re-build Alice’s House. A ground-breaking ceremony occurred in the Spring of 2016.
The new Alice’s House has four bedrooms and baths, a wide-open first-floor gathering space and kitchen, and a wrap-around deck leading to the beach. Although new, the design maintains the original house footprint and comforting embrace, enhanced by the majesty of the waves just a hundred feet across the sand. Now rebuilt, the capital campaign continues. Once the construction loan has been repaid, the new Alice’s House will be financially self-sustaining. Summer rentals will provide an economic base for operations, augmented by year-round guest donations.
Tour
Although difficult to encompass the true essence of Alice’s House without experiencing it yourself firsthand, please take a moment and view a brief snapshot of the house and its unique amenities. Alice’s House has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, three different decks and a fully open kitchen and living space. The house has a light and open feeling with a whimsical and energetic vibe. Unique art installations donated by individuals in our community add to the heartbeat of Alice’s House. We invite you to visit our menu above to enjoy each room.
Contact
We are grateful for your interest in Alice’s House and happy to continue the conversation about what Alice’s House means to our community. To learn more about Alice’s House or to contribute, please complete the following:
Reflections
“Alice’s House is where the idea was generated for one of my signature stories, that later became a full-length concert and audio CD for families. While sitting in that amazing space, looking out over the ocean, laughing with fellow workshop participants, I felt free to play and create. It was a luxury to then be able to walk along the shore and speak my story to the waves, then come back into the house and share it with other participants. I can’t wait to see this special place recreated, and hope to visit again in the near future.”
Warm regards, Antonio
“Moira passed along the request for special memories from Alice’s house. A couple items stick-out for me. My favorite was the time Mary, Christen, Ed and I stayed there a night or two. It was a sad event that pulled us there, Chip’s funeral, but it was the first and only time since we all went our own way that we four siblings were together without our respective families. There were no kids or spouses and I couldn’t help but think how special a moment it was that we four were together again. It really shouldn’t be difficult for four siblings to get together and re-experience an earlier time in life but, in actuality, it’s a rare event. Our own lives pull us in different directions. Alice’s house for 1 or 2 days was one time that our lives intersected in such a way that we four were together again as kids. My other favorite time was when we stayed there with more family representation for Laura’s wedding. I recall Moira and I brought our 3 boys. Christen, Scott, Ed & Allison, and Bob & Mary (but I think they flew out that night). We stayed up late, talking on the beach in front of a fire. If I recall correctly, you, Laura, and Linda popped over too. Of course, the whole fire element may make this memory inappropriate!”