The large historical homes face the street in Charleston. Few have any space at all along the sidewalks.
Behind these homes were carriage houses, enslaved quarters, laundries, and kitchens.
If you live here you know exactly why the cooking was done in another building. It’s hot !
These photographs were taken in the kitchen area of the long buildings behind the Aiken-Rhett House.
The only light available was from two court yard windows.
Charleston, South Carolina.
The theater was closed, and dark however they will allow visitors to wander a little bit.
The stage back drop was set for a holiday production.
It’s very much an old style design, especially the balcony. There were renovations in 1935 and again in 2010 for updated lighting. However the building is still very much the old civil war hotel / theater.
The balcony box with old velvet drapes is my favorite here.
The B&W images were created using AGFA APX 25 35mm film filters.
Dock Street Theater, Church Street, Charleston, SC.
Stones, head stones, found on a walk.
I thought it best to let the old markers do the commentary here.
I walked by and of course had to grab the shot.
Both were fairly large, most likely males due to their size.
This marker was found along the back wall of the First Scots Presbyterian Church, Charleston.
James Ross was a ships captain out of Charleston for 30 years, and then became the chair of the port wardens in 1840.
This grave yard is one of the many right in town. Charleston has hundreds of churches and all old churches have grave yards. Historical facts and little side pieces of information found are fascinating.
Cpt. Ross was from Lerwick in Britain’s Shetland Islands, which is the farthest north you can go in Britain. How did he ever get to captain ships from Charleston harbor ?
Found in the First Scots Presbyterian Church yard, Meeting Street, Charleston.
Walking by the other day I noticed the church was open midday. Most are open for tourist visits but it’s not really the season now.
It is the season to be decorating so there was a lot going on, most in the places I wanted to shoot.
This building is from 1835, the first of 1723 burned… they all do at that age.
The spire is the tallest in Charleston, a city of hundreds this one stands out as a landmark. Like most churches in town the history runs deep through wars and the founding of the US.
Dock Street theater is the oldest troupe in the US. The first dedicated theater building, performance, and opera, are all part of the Dock Street history.
The location Dock street is gone, the theater building itself is now in the old Planters Hotel.
Above is the hotel, and now theater, sitting room.
The front door was open to visitors so of course we wandered around.
Much of the hotel had been opened up for a stage and seating. The men’s salon (pub) and sitting are the original hotel guest section.
The civil war, and following earthquake, damaged this area. The hotel was repaired for a theater since guests from plantations and trades were no longer viable.
Dock Street Theater, Church Street, Charleston SC.
The large homes and their manicured front were much different in the rear. Outside kitchens, quarters for enslaved people, storage and even laundries were hidden here.
The following photographs were shot inside the rooms and common areas. Old film filters, in B&W, were used to keep the dark feel of the rooms.
The buildings here are maintained in their original state from around the late 1800’s.
The only light here was from the outside court yard. Of course for this style of photography was just about perfect.
Long halls ran above the stables connecting the living quarters.
The Charleston Historic Foundation owns the this, and several other properties, taking great care to keep this a true snap shot in history.
Elizabeth street, Charleston, South Carolina.
