Estate with ties to Miss America winner from Alabama on sale for $26.5 million

Estate with ties to Miss America winner from Alabama on sale for $26.5 million

A showplace estate in Washington, D.C. — part of which was formerly owned by Alabama’s first Miss America winner — is on sale for $26.5 million. The property in Georgetown, which now combines three addresses at 3017, 3009 and 3003 N St. Northwest, includes a primary residence that once was the home of Yolande Betbeze Fox, a Mobile native who won the Miss Alabama title in 1950 and went on to become Miss America 1951.

Betbeze famously broke with tradition after winning Miss America, declining to pose in a swimsuit during public appearances around the country. Betbeze married Matthew Fox, the former president of Universal Pictures, in 1954. She was a singer, model and theatrical producer as well as a social activist, championing feminism and civil rights, among other causes. She died in 2016 at age 87.

A listing from Sotheby’s International Realty confirms that the home at 3017 N Street Northwest was owned by Fox at one time, although the timeframe isn’t mentioned. It’s the focal point of the estate, which was connected to two nearby residences in 2017, the listing says. (See photos and a video of the property here.)

Previous owners of 3017 N St. Northwest also include Jackie Kennedy, who evidently lived there during the 1960s after her husband, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated. According to a report by Washingtonian magazine, Fox moved to 3017 in 1976, and said “the basement still has bolts of fabric that Kennedy decorator Billy Baldwin bought to use throughout the grand home.”

Former Georgetown Mayor Thomas Beall (1748-1819) and U.S. Secretary of War Newton D. Baker (1871-1937) also owned the historic home at the center of the estate, the Sotheby’s listing says.

David Wayne Hudgens, founder of a company called Accu-Crete, bought the home at 3017 N St. Northwest in 2017, according to The Washington Post. Hudgens, who owned two other houses on the street, presumably connected the three residences. He died in 2022.

The estate’s interior now covers 15,364 square feet and boasts 13 bedrooms, 13 full baths and five partial baths, the listing says. There’s also a garden and a three-car garage. Sotheby’s International Realty featured the property on its Facebook page, as well, calling it “Georgetown’s most iconic estate.”

“The classic facade of this timeless estate introduces one of Georgetowns most important estate residences,” the listing says. “The focal point of this storied estate is a grand Federal style home built in the late 18th century which has been home to several prominent Americans including most notably First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. The home has also served as the residence of Georgetown mayor Thomas Beall, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker, and former Miss America, Yolande Fox. As a result, the centerpiece of the estate at 3017 N Street, NW is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

“While retaining its historic elegance, the estate has been meticulously transformed to a modern showplace embracing the highest quality design, fixtures, and finishes. No detail was overlooked in the impressive renovation of this historic residence. Throughout, the rooms are elegantly proportioned. Notable features include a grand main reception hall, original fireplace surrounds, and elegant moldings.

“The spacious primary suite on the second floor features parquet flooring, a private balcony overlooking the rear gardens, and a spa-quality bath. Four additional bedrooms all with ensuite baths and the lofted observation deck encompass the third floor. In 2017, this home was seamlessly connected with 3009 and 3003 N St NW, creating a truly unique estate spanning over 16,000 interior square feet, with 13 bedrooms, 13 full baths and 5 half baths.

“3009 N St NW was built in 1950 as a modernist brick and concrete home, and features 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms and 3 half baths, as well as a grand Italianate entertaining room on the main floor. 3003 N St NW was built in 1880 and features 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths and 1 half bath. The home features oak herringbone flooring, gourmet kitchen, and elegant moldings throughout. A garage and tunnel connect 3009 N Street with the lower level of 3017 N Street to create 3 car garage parking.

“All three homes have been meticulously reinvented with obsessive attention to detail and the finest materials, while still retaining their character-defining features and sense of place and history characteristic of Georgetown. The result of the timeless details and high-quality craftsmanship is a true masterpiece. Unparalleled in history, design, and execution, 3003-3017 N St NW is a home for the most discerning buyer and is undoubtably one of Georgetowns most storied estates.”