4-8 St. Michael's Alley, a

4-8 St. Michael's Alley, a

c. 1956-1957

11/22/2016 (date digital)

Back of photograph: "(c) Henry P. Staats / 4-8 St. Michael's Alley" Susan Pringle Frost, one of Charleston’s preservation pioneers and cofounder of the Preservation Society of Charleston, purchased several slum houses along St. Michael’s alley and began restoration prior to World War I. George Dingle, a tradesman, built the small, two-story gabled roof structure at 6 St. Michael’s Alley in 1850, to be used as a tenement. It was built most likely at the same time as the similarly fenestrated house next door at 4 St. Michael’s Alley. 8 St Michael’s Alley, the James L. Petigru Law Office. Designed by architect, Edward Brickell White, this law office was built by the famed jurist James Louis Petigru before 1849. A staunch unionist, Petigru was attorney general of South Carolina and served as a member of the House Defender of the liberties of the weak, particularly slaves and free blacks. The law office displays Neoclassical brownstone window lintels and central pediment with a lunette window in the tympanum. The wrought iron balcony with cast iron panels was salvaged from a demolished building and installed by Susan Pringle Frost during her early twentieth century restorations of St. Michael’s Alley. This photograph actually shows 2 St. Michael’s Alley, as well, currently (2016) the home of Rev. William Rhett, and home of the Egret Gate, one of Philip Simmons' most photographed works. Poston, J. H. (1997). The Buildings of Charleston. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press.

visible image 12 x 12 cm

Donated to CLS by Henry P. Staats.

Vories, Dylan (digital assistant)

Young, Sarah (digital assistant)

This item is in copyright but can be used for educational purposes. Please contact Charleston Library Society for more information for any use not qualifying as educational use.

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Hinson Audio/Visual Collection

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