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 | | Beating the heat on Legare Street during summer 1982. Leize, grandmother Aggie, and cousin Gervais. |
I may be a proud Avondale homeowner, but no matter where I live in Charleston, home will always be the streets I grew up on, in and around South of Broad in downtown Charleston.
For this month's newsletter, I decided to keep it close-to-home and South of Broad. Enjoy!
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While we can't all claim one of South of Broad's coveted addresses, there are still ways for non-SOB residents to enjoy the neighborhood. Here are a few ways to enjoy South of Broad living, even if you live elsewhere in the Charleston area.
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Along the low battery on Murray Boulevard.
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FOR YOU
Out of the gym &
on to the street
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The streets South of Broad remain one of Charleston's best walking/jogging areas for those looking to escape the gym and enjoy some sights.
One of my favorite on-foot loops takes me from the high Battery to East Bay, all the way down Tradd Street, and back around the low Battery to White Point Gardens. As you move along the Battery, be sure to watch the water--you just might spot a dolphin in the harbor.
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 | | Hirsch sculpture/water fountain at White Point Gardens. |
FOR THE LITTLE ONES
A sense of place &
a place to play
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Some of my best childhood memories are from playing on the grounds of White Point Gardens. Between scaling stacks of cannonballs, scrambling over cannons, or scurrying up low-haning oak branches, White Point Gardens offers children a chance to play while taking in those things that are inherently Charleston: history, natural beauty, and surrounding architecture.
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 | | SOB resident Lucy Gaillard, ready for a trip to the dog park. |
FOR YOUR PET
Even your pup likes a change of scenery
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Charleston residents love their dogs, and those who live South of Broad are no exception. Since many homes South of Broad have limited yard space, it's no surprise that the neighborhood boasts ample public spaces where dogs are permitted to run off-leash. Three spots that come to mind are the fenced dog-run at Hazel Parker Playground and unfenced areas at White Point Gardens & the Horse Lot.
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William Means is honored to represent Historic Charleston Foundation in the sale of 35 Legare Street, listed in July 2014. The Elizabeth Williams house (circa 1790) offers a rare opportunity for a full historic restoration on one of Charleston's most coveted residential blocks. Here's a quick look at some of what makes this home so special.
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Exterior view from Legare Street.
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Architecture
The Elizabeth Williams House features a three-story wood frame main house, a two-story brick dependency, and Loutrel-Briggs garden. The main house, a classic Charleston single house, features interior architectural elements that suggests it was originally constructed prior to 1800; the front bay windows and mansard roof were added later and reflect the changing
architectural fashions present in late nighteenth-century Charleston. The Loutrel Briggs garden was commissioned in 1961, later in Briggs' landscape architecture career that spanned much of the 20th century.
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Fun fact: My grandparents rented the dependency at 35 Legare Street as newlyweds.
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History
In preparation of listing this home, Historic Charleston Foundation conducted extensive research into the history of 35 Legare Street, successfully tracing ownership of the property from the late 17th-century to present day. One of the most interesting themes uncovered in researching the home's history is that of female-ownership: Six women independently owned and operated the property over the years, accounting for nearly half of the property's 360-year history. Click here to learn more about the history of 35 Leagre Street from HCF. A special thank you to HCF's Preservation Intern, Shannon Delvin, for her thorough research on this property.
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 | | HCF has provided a diagram of the home's easement protected elements. To to view a larger version, click to visit the listing online or request a pdf copy via email. |
Preservation for the Future
This home was purchased by Historic Charleston through the Frances R. Edmunds Revolving Fund, an initiative that allows the Foundation to purchase, stabilize, and resell historic Charleston properties to preservation-minded individuals. HCF has placed protective easements on the property's exterior, significant parts of the interior, and the Loutrel Briggs garden; the new owner will work with HCF to ensure that the home's rehabilitation meets standards of historic restoration, protecting the home's historic elements for generations to come.
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A big thank you to my cousin, Gervais, and my grandmother, Aggie, for posing with me for South of Broad Living! Photo by Libby Williams. |
Starting in August 2014, I will be contributing to South of Broad Living, a community news magazine distributed to homes South of Broad and in parts of the French Quarter. Each month, I'll be interviewing individuals
living and/or working South of Broad who have found jobs they love. I'm thrilled to be able to highlight professionals and entrepreneurs who are doing what they love AND loving where they live.
For my inaugural article, the powers-that-be at SOBLiving suggested that I do an introductory personal profile to introduce myself to readers. Me being a little (ok, a LOT) nervous about posing for a photo alone, I turned to my cousin Gervais, another SOB native living and working in Charleston, and my grandmother, Aggie, who has been a South of Broad resident for decades (though I won't say how many so not to reveal a lady's age). Gervais and Aggie were gracious enough to join me in the feature--between Aggie's days modeling for Krawcheck's in the 50's and Gervais' broadcast news experience, the two of them were very comfortable in front of the camera and made the photos shine.
I'm currently gathering ideas for individuals who might want to be featured in a future South of Broad Living article. If you know someone from, living, and/or working South of Broad who loves what they do, shoot me an email, and I can share more details.
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