City Directories and History: The house at 20 Kenilworth Ave. sits on what was designated Lot 116 on the first tract of land planned for subdivision as part of Hampton Park Terrace by Charleston Building & Investment Co. Purchasers of the lot included George W. Bacot on April 20, 1914 and Mr. Benjamin Olasov on August 24, 1917.
On July 9, 1919, Mr. Olasov sold the property to William and Anna B. James for only $1750, indicating that no house had yet been built. In January 1920, the federal census did not record a house at the location yet. It seems that the house was built during 1920 since the first reference to a house in the city directories occurred in 1920 when it appeared as a vacant house listed as 22 Kenilworth Ave. Moreover, when the Jameses sold the house to Eva Goldsmith on August 7, 1920, the sale was subject to two mortgages, indicating that the house had been built during the Jameses’ ownership.
By 1921, Mr. Momar Goldsmith, who was the president of the Carolina Transport Co., and his wife had moved to their new house, but it appears that the house was meant to be an investment. On September 7, 1920, Mrs. Goldsmith gave the house to a trust, subject to mortgages totaling $7000, to be managed for the benefit of her and her children.
Momar Goldsmith died on October 13, 1921, and in 1922, the house was occupied by Texas Co. agent George H. and Edith H. Nickles. They stayed in the house only a very short time. By 1923, they had been replaced by Charles A. and Bessie Robertson. Although Mr. Robertson was in the grocery business, his exact job seems to have changed as frequently as his address. He worked as a manager for the Great A&P Tea Co. and for the Cash & Carry Grocery. By 1924, however, he was the president-treasurer and general manager of Piggly Wiggly Charleston Co., perhaps the first Piggly Wiggly owner in Charleston.
On February 19, 1925, Mrs. Goldsmith, who was living in Selma, Alabama sold the house on behalf of the trust to Mr. James Allan for $10,500. James and Marion Aley Allan moved to the house from 497 Huger St., and lived in the house at least until Mr. Allan’s death on June 6, 1930. Following her husband’s death, Mrs. Allan retained the house, but apparently began renting it again. In 1932, the house was rented by Navy dental officer Lt. Com. William F. Murdy and his wife, Marie L. Murdy. In 1934, the house was occupied by Citadel professor Major Eugene and Abigail Villaret.
On January 17, 1938, Mrs. Oertel (previously Allan) sold the house to Mr. Raymond M. Killey for $4,280.50 and the assumption of a mortgage with a balance of $5919.50. Mr. Raymond and Mrs. Gertrude Parkhurst Killey lived in the house with their children that year. Mr. Killey worked as the district manager for Koppers Co., Inc. a business engaged in the creosoted and salt treated timber product trade. The house remained with the Killey family until 1968 when Mrs. Killey, then a widow, moved to 2 E Ashley House.
She sold the house to Mr. Benjamin J. and Mrs. M. Brown for $23,500 on December 12, 1968, and they moved to the house. Mr. Brown worked at the Air Force Base, and his wife worked in child care centers such as Gage Hall Child Care Center and the George Legare Child Development Center. Mrs. Brown continues to live in the house today, 2001.
***20 Kenilworth is an unusually arranged brick house of two floors. The house originally had a tin roof. (Written and submitted to R&R by Kevin R. Eberle – 2015)
Also see the National Register District data on Hampton Park Terrance
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
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