69 Church Street

69 Church Street

c. 1956-1957

11/15/2016 (date digital)

Jacob Motte house

Back of photograph: "(c) Henry P. Staats / Jacob Motte House / Chas. / 69 Church St." Poston: 69 Church Street, known as either the Jacob Motte house or the Motte-Capers house, is one of the larger Pre-Revolutionary homes on the peninsula as well as a home that housed many significant Charlestonians. Richard Capers and Jordan Roche owned the property in succession, so as to whom the construction of the classic double house is to be credited is a little hazy. The home was built circa 1750 and was leased by colonial treasurer Jacob Motte and his wife, Rebecca Brewton Motte, Roche's niece, from 1761 until 1770. A later owner renovated the home and altered the outbuildings to a Gothic Revival style in the early nineteenth century. In 1869, Eliza Middleton Huger Smith purchased the house, her home being burned down by Sherman's troops. Eliza Huger Smith was the grandmother of Charleston Renaissance artist and early Charleston architectural authority Alice Ravenel Huger Smith. Upon her death in 1958 the house passed out of the Smith family for the first time in nearly 90 years. In 1971 a new owner removed the piazzas and restored the central entrance to street level.

visible image 12 x 13 cm

Donated to CLS by Henry P. Staats.

Vories, Dylan (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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StillImage

Hinson Audio/Visual Collection

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