City Directories and History: ALSTON HOUSE – Constructed circa 1817-19
“This dwelling is an extraordinary survivor of small suburban villas built by wealthy rice planters in Cannonborough and Radcliffeborough in the early-nineteenth century. An advertisement from the Charleston Courier in 1818 described a building that may be the house or a dwelling similar to that at 141 Ashley Avenue:
For Sale/ A healthy Summer Residence. THE LOT and BUILDINGS at Cannonsborough, formerly occupied by the subscriber; and lately by Judge Cheves and Mr. Alston. The Lot is 100 feet in front by about 3×0 deep on two streets: The Dwelling House has ten rooms, one of them 31 feet by 16, with a cove ceiling, a kitchen and pantry, paved with Flag Stones; large room for servants, and every convenience for a genteel family; handsome Garden and Pigeon House on a large scale, & c. The situation for health is unexceptionable, and for a Southern Planter a most desirable one.
The house originally sat back from Calhoun Street one block to the east with its piazza garden side looking out over the Bennetts’ rice mill pond. Its entry faced Mill Street. The house has been moved three times in the twentieth century by St. Francis Xavier Hospital, occupants of a portion of the original lot by 1881, and the Medical University of South Carolina. The most important feature of the building is its surviving ornate ceiling plaster work, including medallions and cornices. One of the second-floor rooms also has a barrel vaulted ceiling.”
Information from: The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston – Author, for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997
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
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
Thanks!