A local's eye view
This beautiful door, accessorized for the season, belongs to the Col. John Stuart House on Tradd Street — a wonderful Colonial era house (c. 1767). Col. Stuart, a native born Scotsman, had been appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the southern British colonies in 1762, but in 1775 had to flee Charleston for stirring up the Native Americans against the colonists in the early stages of the American Revolutionary War.
While normally found haunting the Old City Jail, Lavinia Fisher — believed to be America’s first female serial killer, has been spotted around Charleston during the Halloween season. In this rare photo of her, you can see her taking in the view from a piazza on Legare Street.
A pretty Charleston autumn scene featuring a crepe myrtle tree on Tradd Street. The crepe myrtle holds the distinction of being the longest flowering plant in Charleston.
While the lake was not bounded by its cement sides until 1885, the land and area around it was designated for public use by an Act of the Commons House of Assembly in 1768.
Fall in Charleston, as seen in the amazing garden at 29 Legare (Luh-gree) Street. The fountain is home to a family of turtles — you can spot a couple at the far side of the water.
This beautiful gate and wall serve the Parker-Drayton House on Gibbes Street. The owners used to have roosters loose on the property, which accounts for the mesh covering the gate.
It takes a big effort to care for some of Charleston’s amazing houses. This one was built in 1857 on Legare Street from land subdivided from the Miles Brewton House — which is located on King Street.
This angular antebellum Charleston house, built in 1860, is located at the corner of Meeting and Water Streets.
This is all that remains of the “old” Charleston Museum in Cannon Park. Fortunately, the contents were moved to the museum’s new location before it was consumed by fire. As it did in the old museum, the skeleton of a 40’4″ right whale hangs in the entry. In 1880, the whale had the misfortune of entering Charleston harbor where it was pursued and ultimately captured and brought ashore.
The sun going down behind the James Island Connector along the Ashley River. Coming from JI, the Connector feeds into Calhoun Street. When it was first conceived, it was supposed to feed right into the heart of the historic district on the significant colonial era Broad Street. Citizen outrage caused it to be moved to the more appropriate current location.