As founder and owner of the newspaper, Captain Dawson was involved in civic affairs, kept abreast of national and international news and communicated the same to his readers. He was a leader in the community and uniquely positioned to have a clear picture of the issues of the day, of which there were many. After the Civil War and during the Reconstruction era, the entire South was in a major, and frequently volatile, transition. Dawson used the paper, his "voice," to bring clarity to the situations surrounding Charleston and the South. I would imagine that Dawson was aware of the good, the bad, and the ugly in Charleston; it appears he did not hesitate to confront what came his way. That boldness led to his premature death.

This week we stay on Broad Street and travel west to visit 109 Broad. The lot was owned by Martin Campbell before the American Revolution, having been purchased in 1773. There is some confusion over the actual date of the house construction, probably pre-Revolutionary, perhaps 1776, or soon after the American Revolution around 1783. In any event, we know the house was standing by 1783.

This week we stay on Broad Street and travel west to visit 109 Broad. The lot was owned by Martin Campbell before the American Revolution, having been purchased in 1773. There is some confusion over the actual date of the house construction, probably pre-Revolutionary, perhaps 1776, or soon after the American Revolution around 1783. In any event, we know the house was standing by 1783.

Love is in the air!

Expedia has just announced their list of the Best Places to Propose in the US, featuring cities that "offer idyllic settings to steal the heart of your honey," and Charleston comes in at number 8.

 Here's what writer Lily Rogers had to say about the Holy City:

South Carolina State Representatives Marvin Pendarvis and JA Moore recently sat down on Quintin's Close-Ups.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW0FPcFemnI&feature=youtu.be

This week we visit another original bank building at 50 Broad Street. This two-story building atop a raised basement was built in 1798 to house the Bank of South Carolina. Presently 50 Broad Street is no longer a bank, but has housed different businesses through its illustrious life.

Brick and marble are the prominent exterior features of 50 Broad and would seem to symbolize the solidity of the bank. Since Charleston has no stone, the imported white marble also symbolized the costliness of the building. The local brick, probably from the Boone Hall area, is laid out in a pattern known as the Flemish bond, where each row or "course" alternates a header, stretcher, header, stretcher, etc. More time and labor are required for this style of brickwork and thus Flemish bond is more expensive. It is also considered the most attractive of brickwork patterns.

Written by Kendrick Henderson on behalf of ABC News 4

Downtown Charleston has plenty of food options, but some may not know what hidden gems you can find on upper King Street.

I took a trip to Little Jack's Tavern to get a feel of the small, charming burger spot. It was recommended to me by word of mouth. The restaurant's website describes the spot as a "neighborhood restaurant and bar with all day service and timeless appeal."

Written by Emily Gracey on behalf of ABC News 4

Doors recently opened on a new luxury hotel on King Street. The land was originally part of the old Citadel. In the 1950s it became the Charleston County Library. Michael Bennett purchased the land with the goal of building the grand hotel that stands today.

Written by Emily Gracey on behalf of ABC News 4

Nothing screams southern comfort like a giant biscuit topped with fried chicken and covered with maple sausage gravy. It's one of the many palate-pleasing dishes you'll find at Vicious Biscuit in Mount Pleasant.

This week we'll go back up Broad Street to 46 Broad where South State Bank is now located. This building is new by historic Charleston standards, having been constructed less than 100 years ago.

46 Broad was built as a bank in 1929, certainly not the most auspicious year for banking since the Great Crash (of the stock market) occurred in October of that year and ushered in the Great Depression. From its beginnings to the present, banking has remained the business of 46 Broad. Built by Olaf Otto, a civil engineer who also designed the Savannah River Bridge, this building stands out with its portico of fluted columns and ionic capitals.

Written by Kendrick Henderson on behalf of ABC News 4

Charleston has great food, there's no need to elaborate on that. But a cool spot hidden just outside the downtown area is bringing variety to Charleston's food scene with a unique concept blending new tastes and dining experiences.