City Directories and History: Constructed 1889; altered 1950s, 1980; exterior partially restored and interior rehabilitated 1995 – S. W. Foulk, architect; Henry Oliver, contractor.
“Victorian America’s leading designer of YMCA’s, S. W. Foulk of Newcastle, Pennsylvania, designed this pressed-brick, three story building in the Richardsonian Romanesque style to house the Charleston YMCA, which had been organized in 1854. (The 1888 Sanborn Map shows the YMCA housed at the Mill’s Hotel on Meeting Street), With the Charleston business magnate George Walton Williams as chairman of the building committee, Foulk was selected as the architect and funds were raised locally for the construction. The building retains much of its fenestration despite severe mid-twentieth-century alterations. The shop spaces on the ground story are divided by banded, rough-cut stone that also appears in the detailing of the base of the north tower and the arches above the bands of windows. In the twentieth century the roof of the tower and the peak of the central gable were removed and the extensive glass of the large arch was infilled. These exterior features have not been restored.”
Information from:The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997
Also see the Kitchen208 Company.
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.
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!