City Directories and History: INGLIS ARCH HOUSE
Constructed circa 1778, circa 1782; restored 1938
“This has been called the “Inglis Arch House” for many years because it is on the site of a pre-Revolutionary building leased by George Inglis and possessing an arch-way leading to an alley; the original dwelling burned in the fire of 1778. After the Revolution the mercantile firm of Leger and Greenwood rebuilt on the site. Leger and Greenwood are famous as importers of tea in the years immediately before the Revolution; it was their tea seized by Charleston citizens in the Charleston Tea Party of 1775. Briefly owned by Nathaniel Russell, the structure was sold to Frederick Kohne, who prospered at this site and willed the building to the Charleston Orphan House. Remodeled in the Greek Revival style, probably by Charles West, who operated a ship chandlery on the ground story, the building received extensive damage the siege of the city in 1864. After several commercial uses the house was restored in 1938. The Greek Revival facade with its storefront and parapeted roofline was replaced with the current ground story and the upper pediment with a bull’s-eye opening.”
Information from: The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997
Other sources: Charleston Tax Payers of Charleston, SC in 1860-61, Dwelling Houses of Charleston by Alice R.H. Smith – 1917, Charleston 1861 Census Schedule, and a 1872 Bird’s Eye View of Charleston, S.C. The Hist. Charleston Foundation may also have additional data at: Past Perfect
Preservation Art at Work: Courtesy of Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art: Rick Rhodes – photographer, Ronald Ramsey artist – preservationist, 2017. (For the last several decades, native Charlestonian Ronald Wayne Ramsey has focused on meticulously documenting historical buildings—particularly those slated for demolition—in his hometown. As old buildings in the historically-minded city become condemned and readied for demolition, he secrets himself inside and liberates various seemingly mundane objects from their impending destruction. Such objects, like hinges, shutter dogs, decorative ironwork, doorknobs, and other ubiquitous building artifacts gain new relevance once they become part of his salvaged collection, which traces architectural styles from Charleston’s rich architectural legacy. Along with these objects, Ramsey creates fastidiously detailed drawings of old building facades in the city. Text from the Ahead of the Wrecking Ball Exhibit – 2017)
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