City Directories and History: ROBERTSON-PICKENS HOUSE; Constructed circa 1855; restored 1990s
“George Robertson, a prosperous Scottish merchant, built this large Italianate style “villa” on the northeast corner of Beaufain and Smith Streets in about 1855. The house descended to Anna Ingraham Pickens, wife of a Citadel cadet who fired one of the first shots of the Civil War. By 1902 the Pickens family, through their trustee, sold the house to Julius Janhz, a partner in the C. D. Franke Company as well as a bank director. Serving as chairman of the Commission for Public Works, Janhz was responsible for a diversion of the Edisto River that still provides much of Charleston’s present-day water supply.
The house’s central pedimented pavilion, with arched windows and a balustrade bay, dominates the Smith Street side. The principal entry is on the north, approached by a flight of red sandstone steps. A masked piazza is on the south side. Used as apartments for several decades, the house was recently restored as a single-family residence.”
Information from: The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston – Author, for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997
“This italian villa was built c. 1855 for George Robertson, who also built the similar house at 1 Meeting St. Robertson was a wealthy merchant of Scotch origin. He and his wife, Lucy, left the property to their niece, Anna Ingraham Pickens, wife of Samuel B. Pickens (1839-91) . A member of a family notable in South Carolina history since the Revolution, Pickens was born in Pendleton and was a member of The Citadel Class of 1861, and of the cadet unit which fired the first shots of the Civil War, two warning shots at the Federal supply ship Star of the West, to prevent it from relieving Fort Sumter. Cadet G.E Haynsworth fired the first shot; Cadet Pickens fired the second. After the war Pickens worked for the South Carolina Railroad and was a rice planter on the Cooper River. After 1902, this was the home of Julius Jahnz, a prominent businessman and banker who, as chairman of the Commissioners of Public Works, was instrumental in diverting the Edisto River to supply the city water system.” (Thomas, DYKYC, March 7, 1970) – CCPL
Italian Revival style was very prevalent within its period of popularity, more so than the Gothic Revival Style. It was especially dominant in the period from 1855 – 1880. Since it was easily adapted to numerous building forms, it became a popular style for urban and rural residences. The Italianate style is especially identified as the common architectural theme of mid-to late-19th century commercial buildings that lined the main street of many American cities and towns. Italianate buildings display the cornice under widely overhanging eaves, while contiguous Italianate rowhouses or commercial buildings have a bracketed cornice on the front façade. Other markers of the Italianate style are tall, narrow windows, some with elaborate hoods. Most Italianate buildings have columned porticoes or porches, sometimes extending across the full width of the front façade. Courtesy of the Penn Arch. Field Guide – Website
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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