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The Accidental Preservationist

An unexpected journey

From Shopping

12.01.2018

Holiday Guide to Gifts that Give Back – Supporting Historic Preservation in Charleston, SC

Finding the perfect holiday gift for everybody on your list can be a challenge. To help with this endeavor, I complied this holiday gift guide – best of all, these gifts support the preservation and research work being done by three of my favorite organizations here in Charleston, SC: Drayton Hall, The Charleston Museum and…

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What is The AP?

Join me on an unexpected journey in restoration and research at the circa 1810 Simon Jude Chancognie House in Charleston, South Carolina and beyond.

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I never know what will turn up at the Chancognie House - quite literally. During a site visit with @unrepentantclassicist and @simonsyoung_associates this morning, I found this bone toothbrush lying on the ground behind the new addition. In over three years of digging out the privy area, I found dozens of broken toothbrushes, but only two intact ones, so you can imagine my surprise when I came across this one just lying on the ground. This is why I am always looking down! #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

On the left is one of the modillion blocks recently installed on the north cornice of the original house (see previous post). They were copied by @unrepentantclassicist in mahogany from the original modillion block pictured on the right. #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Since the previous c.1988 addition to the Chancognie House was three stories and the new addition is only two stories, the cornice on the north side of the house had to be recreated. Thanks to @unrepentantclassicist and Jon for meticulously matching the original details - the craftsmanship is simply superb! #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Congregation Mickve Israel, the oldest congregation now practicing Reform Judaism in the United States, was founded in July 1733 five months after the colony of Georgia was established. After worshipping in a variety of temporary locations for almost a century, in 1820 the Congregation built its own synagogue, the first in Georgia, at the northeast corner of Liberty and Whitaker Streets. The current Synagogue on Monterey Square was designed by New York architect Henry G. Harrison in the Gothic Revival style and was consecrated in 1878. #theaccidentalpreservationist

Isaiah Davenport was a builder and he designed his home to showcase his talents with lots of exuberant plaster work throughout the house. @davenporthousemuseum installed period wallpaper from @adelphipaperhangings which compliments the rich details of the c.1820 house. Sadly, Isaiah did not have much time to enjoy his fine home as he died of yellow fever in 1827. The house is interpreted with an emphasis on the years in which he was in residence. #theaccidentalpreservationist

The Davenport House was the impetus for the establishment of the historic preservation movement in Savannah. Constructed c.1820 by builder Isaiah Davenport, when it was threatened with demolition in 1955, a group of women led by Anna Hunter established the Historic Savannah Foundation to preserve not only the Davenport House, but other historic properties in the city. Similar to the Revolving Find established by @historiccharlestonfoundation in 1957, @myhsf raised money to buy, rehabilitate and then resell historic properties to preservation minded new owners. One of the oldest brick structures in the city, the Davenport House will soon embark on a $2 million project to relocate offices and the gift shop from the lower level so that the area can be reinterpreted as the kitchen, storage and workspace for the enslaved members of Davenport’s household that it was originally. #theaccidentalpreservationist