In this old cemetery it’s not often people visit any grave sites. I think there are more photographers and raccoons on any given day.
There is still color here, the small blooms in spring cover much of the old graves.
I prefer this to a bunch of hot house flowers wrapped in string.
This house was built by Charleston merchant John Robinson who, with the fickleness of early nineteenth century fortunes, lost it soon afterwards. Several trading ships he owned were lost at sea. The house was sold to cover his debts though he was not legally responsible.
During the bombardment of Charleston, many of the grand houses were pounded into rubble, but this house escaped due to its placement further up Charleston’s slender peninsula. However, when Charleston fell to Union forces in 1865 the house was looted and William Aiken arrested and taken to Washington for trial. He was later released due to the intervention of northern politicians he’d made friends with during his political heyday.
Unlike many of the old houses here there was a large parcel of property. Behind the main house there are stables and quarters for a large number of enslaved people.
Prior to the US Civil War William Aiken was not only a wealthy planter/merchant he was also the states governor.
Though their house had been looted, abused, and most of its valuables stolen, the Aiken family managed not to lose their home to federal taxes like so many did. They hung on and stayed on, as did most of the old families in Charleston. Too poor to paint and too proud to whitewash, as the saying goes. In the Aiken’s case, this meant wallpaper peeled, and carpets grew threadbare. It meant fabrics and plaster began to disintegrate, and in some places dry rot set in. With little money for wood or coal to heat large spaces, grand rooms were shut up entirely. It meant multiple generations lived together, paying expenses as best they could. Their descendants occupied it until 1975.
Note; much of the information above was provided by the South Carolina Picture Project.
Photograph from a corner of Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina.
Charlestons old jail housed some of the areas most notorious criminals, and many non criminals. Built in 1802 it was not a place meant to rehabilitate, it was to punish or just lock away people as deemed necessary.
I’ve been told the truth is people were not kept here for long periods. A solution was determined, permanent or otherwise, as quick as possible.
The first floor was for people of means, death row, or other temporary needs. These images are of the second floor.
This was a difficult place, for criminals, debtors, or poor individuals waiting for trail.
Above is from inside one of the ‘cells’. Basically a cage that can house 11 – 15 people. Age and sex did not matter. Large rooms looked to hold about 4 cages. A single fire place in the corner could provide some heat.
There were windows for air. Also if a prisoner did have any money items could be purchased, and retrieved by rope, from outside the jail.
John and Lavinia Fisher, as well as members of their gang, were imprisoned here. They were famous highwaymen of the era (Lavinia was at one point wrongly accused of being the first female serial killer). Also Pirates still roamed the seas, once Black Beard the pirate closed the harbor and demanded ransom… or something. That story grows in details almost weekly. However, pirates were caught and executed in this jail.
Note; The old Charleston Jail is being renovated to be used for commercial purposes. A small group was invited to visit and photograph the historical site before it is gone. This is part of that project.
From inside a carriage house, circa 1820.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina.
Of course the land here was first a plantation. This was originally the Magnolia Umbra plantation.
Being a plantation in the Lowcountry means this was marshes. Now the rice fields are back to marsh and slowly reclaiming the land.
The ‘public’ face of these old homes, now and then, were large room, chandeliers, and ornate furniture.
The back hidden rooms, not so much.
This is a place where food was prepared. The cooking was done out back, in other out buildings by enslaved people.
Spaces here are dark and utilitarian.
This project, and the group invited, was asked to photograph the old jail as it is now. Renovations will begin soon and the structure will be completely changed for commercial purposes.
I began inside by capturing the first things a person would see upon entering the jail. You are immediately enclosed in heavy walls and steel bars.
No place like this exists without tales of strange happenings. We were lucky to have people who are there all the time to explain experiences without the drama of a ‘ghost tour’.
The entrance here is a busy location for temperature changes. Usually sudden cold. No spirits descend on people. Workers have seen a person go by and realize they were the only one in the jail.
The jail has had work and repairs over the years, even an industrial technical school trained here during off hours. The building itself has sensors, alarms, and electronic locks at night. This brings the question of how are there so many foot prints, different sizes, through the fresh plaster and saw dust in the morning. It’s common so the prints are just swept away.
This part of the jail has a strange history for condemned prisoners.
The prisoner was kept here in a large empty cell for a period of time. After a while his executioner joined him here, locked in for a while. Finally the minister attending to the prisoner joined them. All were locked together for (I forget how long) a time. I recall the time being weeks, not hours. How creepy is that.
Note; The old Charleston Jail is being renovated to be used for commercial purposes. A small group was invited to visit and photograph the historical site before it is gone. This is part of that project.
