Glimpses of Charleston

A local's eye view

Just Another House

This handsome house on Lamboll Street may look like it should be historic, but it is relatively new for Charleston having been built in 1908.

This handsome house on Lamboll Street may look like it should be historic, but it is relatively new for Charleston having been built in 1908.

Longitude Lane

This beautiful alley, Longitude Lane, was created in 1788. It was developed to cut through some larger blocks of land, thereby opening them up for future development. Today, from East Bay a car can make it about halfway through, and then if you want to get to Church Street, you have to be on foot.

This beautiful alley, Longitude Lane, was created in 1788. It was developed to cut through some larger blocks of land, thereby opening them up for future development. Today, from East Bay a car can make it about halfway through, and then if you want to get to Church Street, you have to be on foot.

Presidential Porches

After a meeting citizens of Charleston during the 2008 presidential election campaign at 21 King Street, the Patrick O'Donnell House, Barack Obama was so impressed that he directly referred to the house's amazing piazzas in his election night acceptance speech: Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and on the front porches of Charleston. Pretty cool

After a meeting citizens of Charleston during the 2008 presidential election campaign at 21 King Street, the Patrick O’Donnell House, Barack Obama was so impressed that he directly referred to the house’s amazing piazzas in his election night acceptance speech:

Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and on the front porches of Charleston.

Pretty cool.

The Wall

Charleston is one of the few cities in North America to ever have been a walled city. In the early 1700's, the wall protected the residents from everything from pirates to the Spaniards and French. While the wall has been mapped, there are only a few spots where you can actually see its remnants. The brick line here, across the cobbles of North Adgers Wharf, represents where the wall crossed at that point -- and if you dig down you will find it (but do not do that without permission and proper archaeological processes!)

Charleston is one of the few cities in North America to ever have been a walled city. In the early 1700’s, the wall protected the residents from everything from pirates to the Spaniards and French. While the wall has been mapped, there are only a few spots where you can actually see its remnants. The brick line here, across the cobbles of North Adgers Wharf, represents where the wall crossed at that point — and if you dig down you will find it (but do not do that without permission and proper archaeological processes!)

Fire!

This beautiful gate, walk and door can be found in an impressive house on Broad Street. The house, built c. 1870, replaced an earlier one owned by the same man which burned down in the Great Fire of 1861 (which claimed over 575 other houses and more).

This beautiful gate, walk and fire-red door can be found in an impressive house on Broad Street. The house, built c. 1870, replaced an earlier one owned by the same man which burned down in the Great Fire of 1861 (which claimed over 575 other houses and more).

The Bell Tolls

During the Civil War, the bells in the towers of First Scots Presbyterian Church were donated to the military effort. It was not until 1999 that a new bell was installed in the north tower, seen here. (It's actually a bell made in 1814, but new to First Scots.) The south tower still does not have bells, as it is not structurally sound enough (no pun intended) to bear their weight.

During the Civil War, the bells in the towers of First Scots Presbyterian Church were donated to the military effort. It was not until 1999 that a new bell was installed in the north tower, seen here. (It’s actually a bell made in 1814, but new to First Scots.) The south tower still does not have bells, as it is not structurally sound enough (no pun intended) to bear their weight.

A Room That Used To Have A View

The Parker-Drayton House on Gibbes Street was built in about 1806 and had a water view for about 100 years. In the early 1900's land was reclaimed from the Ashley River and its marshes to form the current Charleston peninsula -- placing two blocks of land and houses between Gibbes Street and the Low Battery. While the house has beautiful gardens and Gibbes is a great street, the water view is no more.

The Parker-Drayton House on Gibbes Street was built in about 1806 and had a water view for about 100 years. In the early 1900’s land was reclaimed from the Ashley River and its marshes to form the current Charleston peninsula — placing two blocks of land and houses between Gibbes Street and the Low Battery. While the house has beautiful gardens and Gibbes is a great street, the water view is no more.