Category: Preservation
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Thomas Mayhem Pinckney
December 8, 2016 marks the 64th anniversary of the death of Thomas Mayhem Pinckney, a relatively obscure yet integral, early figure in the preservation movement in Charleston. An African American craftsman, Pinckney’s life inspired the Preservation Society to name a special committee after him in 2012. The Thomas Mayhem Pinckney Alliance is dedicated to recognizing and…
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Preservation Parlance: Historic Districts
What does it mean for a property to be located in an “historic district?”
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Preservation Parlance: Preservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration, and Reconstruction
When Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) 50 years ago, it affirmed historic preservation’s importance to the United States’ cultural, environmental, and economic well-being. The passing of the NHPA also formed an official framework for what had previously been a largely informal activity, taken up in grassroots efforts like those seen in Charleston…
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Irish in Charleston
Saint Michael’s Church in 1861 (via loc.gov) Article edited August 1, 2017 re: James Hoban and footnote number 12. One reason Charleston’s history is so alluring is that it is multi-layered, complex, and flavored with the diversity of several ethnic, cultural, and religious groups. In the late-17th century, inhabitants of the nascent colony included Africans,…
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Black Craftsmen and the Built Environment
Image from the 2008 City of Charleston Preservation Plan The Thomas Mayhem Pinckney Alliance is dedicated to recognizing and promoting significant sites and places in Charleston related to African American history. As Black History Month comes to a close, it is an apt time to highlight the considerable influence African and African American labor has…
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Congratulations to our 2015 Carolopolis Award Recipients!
On January 20, 2016, the Preservation Society of Charleston held its 96th Annual Meeting and 62nd Annual Carolopolis Awards ceremony sponsored by Belmond Charleston Place and Carriage Properties. Fourteen awards, including three Pro Merito, were given.
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Starchitecture
Susan Macdonald’s article, “Contemporary Architecture in Historic Urban Environments,” discusses the complex issue of adding new layers to historic cities over time. It is critical that contemporary architecture reinforce the existing context and architectural value of a place, rather than detract from it by standing out and running counter to the finely-tuned grain of an historic…
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Love is Progress, Hate is Expensive: Esau Jenkins
On June 1, 2014, at the site of the future International African American Museum on Concord Street, the community gathered to honor an influential Civil Rights figure from Johns Island, SC as a portion of Esau Jenkins’ iconic VW van was sent to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture. The Mt.…