Life on Broad Street: Archaeological Survey of the Hollings Judicial

ILilIFIE (())N IBJF$.(())AJD) §1I'JF$.IEIE1I'~ All<$. <CJHIAJE((J) JL((J) G Il <CAIL § 1LJJF$.VJEY (())IF 1I'IHIIE JHI(())JLILilNG§ .]f1IJJD)Il<CJIAIL <CIEN1I'IEIF$. ANNJEA\9 <CIHIAIF$.ILIE§1I'(())N9 §(())1IJ1I'IHI <CAJR(())JLilNA ClfUCOJRA RJESJEARCH CON'fRillBU'fllON l92 © 2001 by Chicora Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or transcribed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherWise without prior permission of Chicora Foundation, Inc. except for brief quotations used in reviews. Full credit must be given to the authors, publisher, and project sponsor. ILIIJFJE ON JIBJROAJDl §'ll'JRJEJE'll': AJRCJHIAJEOILOGIICAIL §1UJRVJEY OlF 'll'lH!lE JHIOILILIING§ .]"1IJlOJIIClIAIL ClEN'll'lEJR ANNJEX, ClHIAlRILJE§'ll'ON, §01IJ'll'JHI CAJROILIINA Prepared for: Mr. Thomas Moore Moore Development Company 3103 Devine Street Columbia, South Carolina 29205 Prepared by: Michael Trinkley, Ph.D. Debi Hacker Chicora Research Contribution 192 Chicora Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 8664 a 861 Arbutus Drive Columbia, South Carolina 29202 803/787-6910 Email: [email protected] August 16, 1996 This report is printed on pennanent paperCX1 AIBS'fRAC'f This study provides the results of an the dense development of the block. Very few archaeological and historical sutvey of that portion areas were available for sntvey, with most of the of Broad Street in Charleston, South Carolina ground covered by buildings slated for demolition proposed for the construction of the federal during the latter phases of the project. Hollings Judicial Center Annex. The historical Consequently, survey efforts focused on four areas research and field investigations were conducted identified as suitable for backhoe trenching. In during late June and early July 1995, intmediately these areas cuts, about 4 feet in width and 6 feet in prior to the anticipated construction start date - length, were n\ade to sterile soil. Samples of fill necessitating a very tight investigative schedule. from approximately 1 to 2 foot thick strata were waterscreened for the recovery of artifacts. These The study area is bounded to north by remains, coupled with the stratigraphic evidence, Broad Street, to the east by the current Hollings setved to identify the data sets present in the block Judicial Center and the Charleston Post Office at area. 81-83 Broad Street, and to the west by the property at 103 Broad Street. The tract extends The archaeological investigations reveal 2 southward about 125 feet to 230 feet - essentially to 3 foot thick deposits of archaeological remains one lot in depth. from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Especially noticeable were the relatively dense Throughout its history the study area was deposits of fauna] remains and sheet middens on either the western edge of Ward 1 or the associated with several of the lots. Intact features, eastern edge of Ward 2. The area began including architectural remains, were found in developing during the second quarter of the several of the units. None of the units revealed eighteenth century and by the turn of the century extensive, or widespread, damage. the frontage on Broad Street was intensively occupied. It is likely that these deposits have the potential to help us better understand the changing City directories provide reliable character of Charleston and this particular portion information on occupants in the study area after of Broad Street. The data sets are appropriate for about 1830. Prior to this period the house numbers the study of several of the upper status owner cannot be correlated with those in use today but occupied dwellings in the late eighteenth and early there seem to have been primarily owner nineteenth centuries. In addition, it is possible that occupants. During the antebellum the block deposits from the more middling status deposits includes an interesting mix of owner-occupants, can be isolated and examined. As a consequence, several of whom operated businesses on their the site, defined as the study block, is eligible for property, living on upper floors, and rental inclusion on the National Register of Historic property, largely used by clerks, accountants, and Places. wharfingers. During the post bell um the block continued to attract renters and borders,, although several properties tended to be owner-occupied, especially 89 and 93 Broad Street. Archaeological sutvey was constrained by 'fABlLJE OJF CON'flEN'fS List of Tables iv List of Figures v Acknowledgements vi Introduction 1 Development of the Project 1 Goals and Research Objectives of the Project 4 Evaluation Process Sites and Dishubance in Urban Archa.eology Research Questions The Natural Setting 10 Physiography, Geology. and Soils Health and Clirnate Natural History of the City Curation 16 Previous Archaeological and Historical Research 19 Cha.rleston's Historic PreseTVation Plan 19 Archa.eological Research · 19 Archaeological Presen•ation Plan Recommendations For the Project Area 24 A Historic Synopsis 27 An Oven1iew of Cha.rleston History 27 Maps and Plats Showing the Project Area 34 Photographic History of the Block 49 Architectural and Historical Observations 51 Sunzmary 61 The Archaeological Survey 63 Strategy and Methods 63 Archaeological Units 71 Arlifacts 73 Summary 86 Site Assessment and Proposed Data Recovery 89 Ove1View and Site Assessment 89 Proposed Data Recovery Plan 91 Archaeological Data Recovery Site Interpretation Analysis of the Collections Report Production Integration of Data Recol1ery Ejforls Into the Proposed Constrnction Schedule 96 Developer and Contractor Responsibilities 96 Equipment and Facilities Work Stipulations Sources Cited 99 iii lLIS'f OIF TABJLJES Table 1. Major Charleston hurricanes 15 2. Dwellings houses as revealed in the 1848 census 31 3. Charleston water supply in 1848 31 4. Correlation of changing Broad Street addressed in the project area 51 5. Sampling of excavation units 70 6. Mean ceramic dates for the Broad Street units 84 7. Artifact patterns for excavation units 84 8. Comparative archaeological patterns 86 iv lLKS'f OJF' FKGUJRJES Figure I. Area location map showing the Charleston vicinity 2 2. Site location in downtown Charleston 3 3. Man-made land in Charleston 11 4. The project block showing current conditions 12 5. 1886 earthquake damage areas in Charleston 12 6. Excavated sites in the project area 23 7. "A Plan of Charles Town from a Survey of Edward Crisp, Esq." in 1704 35 8. "A Platt of Charleston Town," showing the project area about 1725 35 9. "The Iconography of Charles Town at High Water11 in 1739 37 10. "A Plan of Charles Town," dating from 1780 37 11. "The Plan of Charles Town." in 1789 38 12. Portion of plat showing 97 and 99 Broad Street in 1791 38 13. Negrin's "Plan of the City of Charleston, S.C." in 1802 39 14. "Plan of the City of Charleston, South Carolina,'' dated 1805 39 15. "Plan of the City and Neck of Charleston" in 1844 40 16. "An Original Map of the City of Charleston" in 1852 40 17. "The City of Charleston" in 1855 41 18. Portion of an 1851 plat showing Cohen's structures 43 19. Drie's "Bird Eye View of the City of Charleston" in 1872 44 20. 1882 City of Charleston Block Map for the project area 45 21. 1884 Sanborn Insurance Map for the project area 46 22 1888 Sanborn Insurance Map for the project area 47 23. 1902 Sanborn Insurance Map for the project area 48 24. Zoning map for the project area in 1931 49 25. 1955 Sanborn Insurance Map for the project area 50 26. Project block showing proposed construction 64 27. Project area from 101 Broad Street east 65 28. Project area from 93 Broad Street east 65 29. Interior courtyard of 85-87 Broad Street 67 30. GSA parking area looking northeast to 85-87 Broad Street 67 31. GSA parking area looking north to the failed side wall of 93 Broad 68 32. Waterscreening at the rear of 93 Broad Street 68 33. Location of backhoe cuts in the project area. 69 34. West profile and base of Unit 1 71 35. Unit 1 plan and profile 72 36. West profile of Unit 2 73 37. Unit 2 plan and profile 74 38. North profile of Unit 3 75 39. Unit 3 plan and profile 76 40. West profile of Unit 4 77 41. Unit 4 plan and profile 78 42. Kitchen group artifacts 79 43. Kitchen group artifacts 81 44. Kitchen and other artifact groups 83 v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We want to thank Mr. R. Thomas Moore sharing several reports on previous archaeological for his support of Chicora Foundation and for research in Charleston. allowing us to participate in this project. It is always a pleasure working with a group, such as The staffs of a number of research Moore Development Corporation, which is so institutions have provided exceptional support and committed to the preservation of Charleston's assistance on very short notice, including the heritage. Charleston City Archives, the South Carolina Historical Society, the South Carolinians Library, We want to thank all of those with the and the South Carolina Department of Archives City of Charleston who have worked so hard to and History. Ms. Mary Giles with the Charleston bring this project to a successful conclusion. Tue Museum assisted us in obtaining information South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office concerning their photographic holdings. has also worked diligently to ensure that the resources of Charleston were protected, while We also want to thank Mrs. John Ragsdale recognizing the significance of this project to the for her kindness (which extended to allowing us to continued development of Charleston's economic use her water supply for waterscreening) and base. Project review was provided by Ms. Nancy interest in our work.

Load more