Atlantic City Weekly

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Visiting this opulent, 10,000 square-foot home bordering the Atlantic City Country Club is like time traveling to the Rat Pack era. Its quality, yet vintage, décor evokes "period piece." You expect to see Frank Sinatra with a jovial Ed McMahon ordering shots at the huge bar in the great room, Don Johnson lounging by the pool or Fred MacMurray sitting by the massive fireplace. In reality, you'd be correct, for this is where those entertainers and others partied during golf tournaments and other local events.

"It was built in the late '70s-early '80s," says Joyce Melso, whose late aunt and uncle owned the home. "My aunt designed and furnished it herself." Yet, even before the construction of the home, the owners entertained the golfers, including Dean Martin, at celebrity classics at the neighboring Atlantic City Country Club.

The home's owners, Art Williams and Mary Vanessa Williams, were local business owners and socialites who became friends with numerous entertainers. Mary, the owner of Vogue Beauty Salon in Atlantic City, was previously married to prominent Sea Isle City real estate agent Carmen Freda. They loved to entertain and befriended many performers at Skinny D'Amato's 500 Club. After Freda's death, Mary married Art, president of Mannington Mills flooring, who had served in the Marines with McMahon. "They were bunkmates," adds Melso.

The Williams' friendship with McMahon grew to the point where Ed and Victoria McMahon were best man and maid of honor at Mary and Art's wedding. After befriending Frank and Barbara Sinatra, the Williams' purchased a home directly across the street from the Sinatras in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Art became a participant in (and one of the largest contributors to) the Frank Sinatra Golf Classics.

The Williams' Northfield home has a private golf path that leads from a rear exit of its two-car garage onto the grounds of the Atlantic City Country Club. You can travel by golf cart directly to the links. Art, an avid golfer, also installed three separate putting areas on the property. To be undeterred by rain, he placed one within an outdoor, covered entertainment area.

Inside, a spacious mirrored foyer with a 15-foot ceiling and marble flooring offers plenty of closet space and a half bathroom to its right. To the left is an open staircase (with a amber-colored spiral chandelier and 20-foot ceiling) leading upstairs to three bedrooms and one bath.

The foyer also leads to the main living area. The den area or family room has custom cabinetry with spaces for a television and audio system, Pergo herringbone pattern floors and a wet bar sink with potential for an under counter refrigerator. Its ceiling, like those in all rooms on the first floor, is 12-feet high, providing an expansiveness not found in most homes. Plush wall-to-wall carpeting fills the first floor.

Next-door is a spacious formal dining room with a large chandelier and sliding glass doors that open to the pool area. Nearby are double doors leading to a master bedroom with prominent pink fabric cushioned walls, four mirrored glass built-in closets with drawer space, three walk-in closets and two full baths. One bathroom has a bidet and oversized Jacuzzi, while the other has a shower with nine heads.

Views include the Atlantic City skyline in the distance.

In addition to the aforementioned putting green, the screened porch has its own sound system, and a kitchen that includes a gas grill with two regular stove top burners and a down draft vent. It overlooks an outdoor heated swimming pool measuring 30 by 15 feet and two more putting green areas. A full bath makes showering convenient for bathers. There's a gas line connection for a poolside grill and, in the distance, views of the Atlantic City skyline.

That skyline may have changed since Sinatra and friends partied here, but the home is still a swinging place ready for your next party. With a few upgrades, it can serve the next generation of Rat Packers as well as it served the last.

This home, located on Casey Drive in Northfield, is listed at $1.1 million. Call Realtor Associate Lois Ridgway of Balsley Losco Real Estate, 1630 New Road, Northfield, at 872-6637 (office) or 513-2560 (cell).