City Directories and History: Image taken in ca. 1965 of houses being demolished or moved, part of the Gaillard Image Collection shared by Kevin Eberle – 2023.
The Gaillard Center in Charleston was built in 1965. A committee of citizens and City representatives discussed options to keep the center near the hotels near Marion Square before, in May 1964, recommending a 6.75 acre area bounded by Calhoun St. (north), Alexander St. (east), Minority (now George) St. (south), and Anson St. (west). That area at the north end of Ansonborough was historically known as Middlesex. While the nearby houses in Ansonborough were starting to attract attention of preservationists for restoration, Middlesex did not. Indeed, the committee noted the location would result in the removal of much substandard housing without also damaging historic buildings: “This area contains one or possibly two small buildings of minor historic value, and both of them are in a terrible state of disrepair.” That justification remains part of the often told history of the Gaillard Center during tours.
The scores of parcels were condemned and scraped clean of any buildings. Only four survived, including three that were relocated by the Historic Charleston Foundation.
In 2023, a set of the appraisal reports for the condemnations was located in the archives of the Charleston Housing Authority. Each property being condemned was photographed as part of the appraisal. The photos reveal that the situation in Middlesex was not nearly as dire as the committee reported. Rather, many of the buildings appear to have been built in the early 1800s. They include both brick and wooden houses with some three-story examples. While some show wear and tear, none approached anything like a condition that would justify demolition today. Almost all of them were actively being used as housing. Courtesy of Kevin Eberle – 2023
Other sources of interest: Charleston Tax Payers of Charleston, SC in 1860-61 and the Dwelling Houses of Charleston by Alice R.H. Smith – 1917 The HCF may also have additional data at: Past Perfect and further research can be uncovered at: Charleston 1861 Census Schedule or The Charleston City Guide of 1872
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