The next few posts will concentrate on several of our oldest buildings in Charleston, and we will begin with the John Lining House at 106 Broad Street, on the northwest corner of King and Broad Streets. Immediately outside of the original walled city, the Lining House was constructed before 1715. We don't know how long before 1715, but we do have documentation that the dwelling existed in that year.

This week we focus on 55 King Street, built around 1762 by a German immigrant Frederick Grimke. Grimke originally built this structure as a double tenement, and it has since been converted to a single-family residence.

This colonial-style brick house was built on a large lot that Grimke purchased in the 1740s. The house would have been divided in the middle of the six windowsin front with a large grate at the bottom outside corner of each tenement.

Notice that the brick is laid in the design called "Flemish Bond," which is comprised of alternating...

This week we'll take a few steps up King Street to the Miles Brewton House at 27 King. After the high Italianate ornamentation we saw at 21 King Street in the last post, we run into the clean and harmonious lines of one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the Southeast at 27 King.

Built around 1769, the Miles Brewton House has no need of exterior ornate decoration to catch the eye of the serious tourist or the casual dog-walker. There is an air of refinement that...

From 8 Legare Street (last week’s post), we’ll proceed south and take a left on Lamboll Street, and another left on King Street.  21 King Street is the second house on your left after the corner. Or you could just look for the largest, tallest, most ornate house within sight - that would be 21 King.

Patrick O’Donnell, the Irish contractor mentioned in last week’s post, built this house for his fiancée. O’Donnell chose the ornate Italianate style for their home, and he surely wanted everything to be as perfect as possible for her – it took him approximately twelve years to complete...

Continuing on Legare Street, we’ll stop at Number 8, a house that resonates with Charleston history.

Built in 1857, 8 Legare was first owned by Charlestonian Cleland Kinloch Huger (pronounced “U-gee”).  Patrick O’Donnell, an Irish immigrant, was the contractor for this imposing structure which was built in the Italianate style.  Here we are greeted by another pair of grand gateposts with a wrought iron gate. This gate with the elongated harps is thought to be...

As we continue up Legare Street, we will stop at Number 14, known as the Simmons-Edwards House, but more famous for its “Pineapple Gates.”

Francis Simmons built 14 Legare Street around 1800. The brick single house, made taller due to the raised basement, is a good example of the Federal style of architecture.  Federal style was born out of and is similar to...

We know a wall existed in 1818; over the ensuing years, the house has been modified and enhanced several times. The garden is a treat, and sometimes is open to the public during fall or spring tours. And, if you've got money, 32 Legare is currently on the market - for $19.5 million...

No matter who buys it, 32 Legare will forever be associated with...

For my second diary post on the Heyward-Washington House, we'll be investigating 87 Church Street's connection to President George Washington and the building's history to present.

During President Washington's Southern Tour in 1791, the City of Charleston leased 87 Church for the President and his retinue (which was far less than the number required to travel with presidents now) for one week. That single week seared Washington's stamp on both Charleston and 87 Church Street.

Part I - Thomas Heyward

We get a double portion of Founding Fathers with the Heyward-Washington House at 87 Church Street, as this building is associated with both Thomas Heyward, one of South Carolina's four signers of the Declaration of Independence, and George Washington, General of the American forces during the Revolutionary War and the first President of the United States. In 1770, the rice planter Daniel Heyward bought the property at 87 Church Street and later sold it to his son Thomas...

My last post addressed the John Rutledge House; I return to the Rutledge family in this post, highlighting the house across the street which John’s younger brother, Edward Rutledge, owned and lived in.

117 Broad Street was built around 1760 by James Laurens. This land was once part of an orange grove (which is why the next street over is called “Orange Street”). Even though the house is pre-revolutionary, Edward Rutledge did not live there before or during the American Revolution.