QuarterlyJfews

VOL. 24, NO. 3 PUBLISHED BY LONGYEAR HISTORICAL SOCIETY AUTUMN 1987

FAMILY: THE CAROLINA GLOVERS PART II of buildings are being erected [in] the The undersigned having fonned a Copartner­ burned district . . . [it is] rapidly 1 ship underth~firmofGLOVER& THWING, improving. " for the purpose of carrying on the Car· However, he complains that busi­ • ness is not as good as one might have penters business in all its branches, are prepared to con- expected. That while there are a "great tract and build to the satisfaction of all who may favour number of workmen from all parts of the1n. the country," and although there is GEORGE W~ GLOVER. plenty of work, prices are very low, he EDWD.F. TH\VlNG. is "making not much more than enough to pay expenses." Further­ They tnay be found at No. 17 State-street, or at their more, he writes, he cannot get his pay temporary Work shop, King-street,: where they are from the man for whom he just built a building. thsn16 June 7 house. William Brown finishes his letter Charleston Mercury June 7, 1838 with the statement that he is grateful for his good health, and hopes that his life will be spared. The last statement refers to the dread "strangers fever." It Jewel Spangler Smaus is author of the George Glover's swift emergence as was hoped that after one became biography Mary Baker Eddy: The a contractor in the reconstruction of acclimated, and no longer a "stranger," Golden Days, published by The the city is notable. Three weeks after that one would be immune. Christian Science Pl!lblishing Society his arrival, he advertised in The Mer­ Brown, Glover, and many others in in 1966. More recently she wrote a cury the forming of a partnership with the building trade, could not always series of eight articles titled "Family: an Edward F. Thwing" ... for the pur­ collect on their bills, as indicated by a From New England to the Black Hills" poses of carrying on the Carpenters lawsuit Glover brought against a J. J. for tihe Quarterly News. In this second business in all its branches .... " Walter. There were many such notices article on the Carolina Glovers, Mrs. There were numerous announce­ in the papers filed against persons for Smaus continues to share her most ments of partnerships in the news­ non-payment of bills who were recent research. papers indicating an influx of persons "absent from and without the limits of desirous of rebuilding the city. How­ the state." There was obviously as ever, Glover's announcements, unlike much "going from" as "coming to" Rebuilding Charleston, South Car­ the prosaic one-inch advertisements of Charleston at this time. olina, after the disastrous fire of 1838, his competitors, were larger and were The general depression in the began with promptness, if not always embellished with a woodcut. country would have had something to with efficiency. There was an outcry Soon after the first announcement, do with this situation. But the ease for the prohibition of wooden build­ Glover ran another and similar adver­ with which loans were made available ings in new construction. This was tisement dissolving the partnership may have been a more important fac­ debated heatedly, along with other " ... by mutual consent. All persons tor. After the fire, the state legislature differences of opinion that usually indebted ... will please make settle­ had appropriated two million dollars arise under such circumstances. Brick ment with G. W. Glover, who has full for rebuilding. Anyone with a lot in the construction won out generally, and authority ... [and] will continue the city ordinances controlling new business as contractor and builder ... THE COPART.NERSHIP heretofore Psiatiog UDder tb.s firm ofGlo.-er & building filled many columns in the at his Workshop in Wentworth Street Tbwiog, is thia day diuolYed by mutual coo· Mot.D All JHlnGDs indebted to or bniq demand• a­ Charleston Courier and Mercury. near Bennetts Mills." l:'llin•t 110id firm, will please make Rtdemeat with G. W. Glover, who bu full authority. There were other young builders in GEORGE W. GLOVER, EDWARD F. THWING. Quarterly News Autumn 1987 Charleston in much the same situation N. B.-The undeniped w.ill c:omiaae the busineu •• contractor and baililer; a r&d will be found at No. 33 OLongyear Foundation 1987 Vol. 24, No.3 as George Glover. William Brown, a Broad-at. orathintatioa..., Worlubopin Weot,.orth builder from New Hampshire, in let­ atreet, near BellDelbl Milia. Sent without charge to July 17 tuths3 GEO. W. GLOVER. Members of Longyear ters to his mother, describes the city as " ... a pleasant place ... a great number Charleston Mercury July 17, 1838 371 burned area could borrow in propor­ tion to the value of the lot and the house or building to be erected. Installments were given as the work progressed, and the loan was to be repaid in ten years. Because Glover and his business partner, George Logan, were caught up with the others in this type of financ­ ing, the comment of the Masonic his­ torian, Albert G. Mackey, on the subject is of interest. It sheds some light on Glover's later complicated financial situation. "The facility of borrowing money in this way," Mackey stated, "gave rise to The Charleston Hotel c. 1839 many bold speculations, and what was intended to afford relief was in some designing his own buildings. One of sea breeze and usually looked out instances the ultimate cause of ruin. Glover's buildings on Wentworth upon a beautiful and private garden. Several persons purchased lots in the Street (no longer standing) was fronted There are about three thousand of burned district and borrowed large with columns. It was classified as these Single Houses today in Charles­ sums for the erection of buildings, the "notable" in a recent architectural ton, some beautifully restored and rent of which did not pay the interest survey. 6 Another contemporary often included in the house and garden on the loan, and they finally sold on a architect, Cyrus L. Warner of New tours for which Charleston has become foreclosure of mortgages at prices far York, was given the commission to famous. below original cost.' '2 design the Beth Elohim Synagogue on A recent article in American Heri­ Although no formal partnership Hasell Street, across from where tage notes that, " ... from its founding, agreement has been found between Glover was building. It replaced a Carolina based its economy on the Glover and George Logan, it is evident structure destroyed in the fire, and "is slave trade and its well-being on slave that they soon began working together a beautiful and stately example of labor.... A man building a house for in construction, and other activities Classic Revival, with an imposing his family and a contingent of servants such as the ill-fated voyage of their portico and domed ceiling ... ranks builds a different house from that for schooner the Ashepoo.3 among the [finest] buildings of his family alone ... servants in bon­ Because of Logan's prominence the city. " 7 dage had to be contained .... This may in both the New Theater and the Beth Elohim Synagogue is still account in part for the walled gardens Charleston Hotel companies, he was standing, as is the one remaining of Charleston, the discreetly locked well acquainted with Charles F. Rei­ Single House built by George Glover. gates ... [yet] the Single House can be chardt, one of the city's outstanding This Glover Single House is situated poor or grand ... thus it cuts across architects. Reichardt was a member of across the street from the synagogue. class lines.'' the American Institute of Architects, Although perhaps influenced by George Glover's surviving Single and architect of the New Theater" ... architects, none of Charleston's houses House is of the more modest variety, an ambitious structure [showing] the of this period were designed by a yet it combines all of the notable fea­ influence of Schenkel's Royal Theater professional architect, so far as is tures of this style, including the front at Berlin." The Theater was designed known. with four Ionic columns on the por­ The Charleston Single House has tico, approached by side steps between been the city's most popular style since abutments, built of brick stuccoed to the early 1700's- a unique form of resemble freestone. 4 house plan. American Heritage refers Reichardt was also the architect of to the Single House as " ... the quin­ the impressive new Charleston Hotel, tessential Charleston house . . . one rebuilt after the fire on its old foun­ room wide and three rooms deep, with dation. It faced Meeting Street with a its narrow end toward the street and colonnade front featuring fourteen usually (but not always) with a one or Corinthian columns. Daniel Webster, two-story piazza on the side. It is Jenny Lind, and other notables, almost a row house, sitting a few scant including some royalty, stayed at the feet from its neighbors but turning a hotel. Reichardt also designed other blank wall toward them .... " 8 structures, including the Guard House, From the street, it appears that the the latter built with a portico contain­ front door of the Single House opens ing six Doric columns in front, and a into the interior of the house. But no, colonnade on the side. It is also it simply opens onto the porch. The thought that he may have designed the "real" front door is then approached graceful wrought iron "sword gates," from the porch, often referred to as the now at the Legare Street house "and piazza. This opens into a center hall beloved of tourists. " 5 with single rooms on either side, and It is possible that Glover was influ­ a stairway leading to the other floors. Photo by Louis Smaus enced by Reichardt as he began The piazzas were designed to catch the Typical "Single House" in Charleston

372 merchant, a banker, an accountant engaged to the bachelor mill owner, (who was a member of the committee Alexander Tilton. for rebuilding the city), and a seeds­ Their marriage took place a year man.13 Suffice it to say that this was a after the engagement, which Glover heterogeneous group of men who were had attended with George Baker not active in the life of the city. Glover long before leaving for the Carolinas. himself became an active member of Although Glover would have seen the Lodge, a Royal Arch Mason and Mary Baker, the youngest sister, occa­ Junior Deacon. His friend Dr. Wood sionally since his prophetic pro­ was at the same time Junior Warden. nouncement at Samuel's wedding, he Glover appears to have made friends was probably not prepared for the girl's easily. He was described as tall, well­ blossoming beauty. She had just dressed, fine-looking and self­ turned sixteen. A resident of San­ possessed.14 Glover led an active social bornton Bridge during that period, life. In a letter to George Baker he refers later recounted that: "Oh, but there to evenings at Dr. Wood's with "the were fine-looking girls in Tilton [San­ young ladies at the pianoforte," and bornton]-and wasn'tMaryBakerone another similar evening at Judge of them?"18 It has been said that Glover Cook's, as well as attending a asked Mary to write him at this time. "Single Houses" in Charleston photo by wedding.15 George Glover would have been Mrs. Mary B. Longyear Weddings and other social functions associated with the Gilmans through in Charleston could be quite elaborate the Glover/Gilman marriage that door, opening onto the piazza, which as is documented in letters of the brought the Gilmans into the Logan/ then reveals the real front door. Glover period.16 The wedding of a Mary Glover family. Like Mrs. Logan, Mrs. may have had his office at one time in Dunkin is reported as being "quite a Gilman was devoted to the manage­ the downstairs parlor, which was often splendid affair ... the company not ment of her household and, in addition a practice of businessmen. 9 invited until eight, when they are to to this primary role as household During the rebuilding of the city have a grand ball with 300 persons manager, Mrs. Gilman was a writer, after the 1838 fire, there was naturally invited." A letter from a mother to her well-known in literary circles. Her a scramble among architects, builders daughter mentions that friends "are husband encouraged and supported and entrepreneurs for a chance to gone for sea bathing, thence to Sara­ her literary endeavors. It is logical to capture contracts for rebuilding. The toga, finishing the season at Newport.'' assume that George Glover was Masonic Hall, which was under con­ In another letter advice is given to a included in some of the social struction and almost completed at the friend, regarding her travel plans, to exchanges among the Glover/Logan/ time of the fire, was destroyed. Rei­ avoid taking a sailing vessel to New Gilman families. 19 chardt designed a hall to replace it. It York, "for you will be quarantined for The Logans attended the Unitarian was not built on the site originally thirty days on account of yellow Church; Dr. Gilman, as the minister planned, but on one in the burned fever." Finally, a letter describing a district; this was necessary in order to delightful summer retreat in New York, obtain approval for the loans that were where there are no mosquitos on being given so generously. The site of the beach! the hall was at the corner of Went­ There was a wedding in Charleston worth and King, near the area in which in 1840 of Eliza Glover's son, Wilson, Glover and Logan were building, and to Caroline Gilman. Caroline was the near Glover's shops.10 It may have been daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Gil­ because of his proximity to the man, and was about the same age as Masonic Hall construction site that Mary Baker. Wilson Glover was about 17 Glover made many Masonic friends the same age as George Glover. So and joined St. Andrews Lodge #10. this wedding may have brought One of Glover's best friends was Dr. remembrances to George Glover of a Julius Wood, a Mason who lived on wedding in New Hampshire a few King Street.11 Dr. Wood practiced a years before. After all, Mary Baker had system, founded by Dr. Samuel visited her brother Samuel in Boston Thomson of Massachusetts, which before the Glover/Gilman wedding in assumed that vegetables only are ben­ 1840, and doubtless George Glover was eficial to the human body and there­ aware of this, as his extant letters fore vegetable medicines alone should indicate that he kept in touch with the G1bbs Art Gallery. Gift of Mrs. Charles Rae be used.12 Baker family through his correspon­ Rev. Samuel Gilman The membership in the Masonic dence with George Baker. Lodge was made up mostly of mer­ Glover had gone with his friend and a friend of the family, helped Mrs. chants and professional men. A partial George Baker to Sanbornton in 1837 to Logan in her many personal charities. list of members included doctors, attend the wedding of Abby Baker, the The Gilmans had come to Charleston attorneys, grocers, tailors, a tinner, a eldest of the Baker girls. Mark Baker immediately after their marriage in tobacconist, a clothing store owner, a had moved his family from Bow to Boston, in 1819 (a marriage that united blacksmith, a Deputy Sheriff, a City Sanbornton Bridge (now Tilton) and two prominent Boston families). Dr. Marshall (a Past Master of the Lodge), Abby had lost no time in adjusting, for Gilman, already well-known in the a druggist, a mariner, a commission in a few months she had become Boston area, had been appointed

373 minister to the Unitarian Church in her husband's interest in the Sunday lisher and editor of a local newspaper. Charleston. The couple identified School children. The publication was Mary began to write for this publica­ themselves at once with the intellec­ first known as The Rose-Bud or Youth's tion, and soon her poems and articles tual and social life of the city, and were Gazette, it became The Southern Rose, appeared in print. 22 soon recognized as outstanding liter­ and grew in popularity, becoming a Mary's brother George acted as a ary figures. Charleston was then con­ publication for the general public as fellow writer with his younger sis­ sidered the intellectual and literary well as for children. In 1839 she ter­ ter, encouraging her endeavors and capital of the South. Dr. Gilman was minated the magazine and turned to sometimes exchanging poems with considered one of the most accom­ other literary ventures. In that year she her. He may have mentioned his sis­ plished scholars and authors in the produced three books for Northern ter's growing abilities with pride when Unitarian Church, and recognized as presses, and became one of the most he met with or wrote to his friend, such in the secular world. popular writers of her day. Her George Glover. George Baker knew of There were strong ties between New daughter, Caroline Glover, also became Glover's growing interest in his England and the South, and especially a well-known writer. It was said that younger sister, and did what he could between Boston and Charleston. The the two women writers combined to help it along.23 New England Society was one of the charm, elegance and abilities.21 most prominent of the many organi­ In 1840, the year of Caroline Gil­ zations in Charleston, for many influ­ man's marriage to Wilson Glover, Mary To Be Continued ential citizens had come from New Baker's brother Albert complimented England. Mary on her literary skill and execu­ Jewel Spangler Smaus The Gilmans were vigorously tion. Her favorite teacher, Sarah Jane opposed to slavery, yet managed to live Bodwell, also encouraged her towards Since Jewel Smaus is currently on with it in their own way. In a letter to literary achievement. In 1838 Miss vacation, this series will be continued her sister, Mrs. Gilman tells about her Bodwell married Colonel Charles in the Spring issue of Quarterly News. education of Hannah, a slave pur­ Lane, who in 1841 became the pub- chased so that she could be given her freedom. Dr. Gilman refers, in a letter to his sister, to a slave also purchased 1. William Brown Letters, 23 February 1839 15. Baker Collection, George Glover to George to be freed: "Our little James is coming and 20 March 1840, "Year File," South Caro­ Baker, 19 May 1841, Longyear Historical on, and developing more and more. I liniana Library. Society. am teaching him arithmetic and pre­ 2. Albert G. Mackey, History of Freemasonry 16. "Year File," South Caroliniana Library. paring him for his ultimate freedom in South Carolina (Columbia, SC: South 17. Two of Eliza Glover's descendants in a direct Carolinian Steam Power Press, 1861). line were named George Washington Glover. whenever he chooses to leave our 3. Refer to Longyear Quarterly News, Spring/ family. " 20 18. Jewel Spangler Smaus, Mary Baker Eddy: Summer 1987, p. 370. The Golden Days (Boston: The Christian 4. Beatrice St. Julien Ravenel, Architects of Science Publishing Society, 1966), p. 74. Charleston (Charleston, SC: Carolina Art 19. Although a genealogical connection Association). Also, the Charleston [SC] between the Northern and Southern Glov­ Mercury, May 19, 1838. ers has not been found, there were strong 5. Ravenel, Architects of Charleston. professional and social ties between these 6. Samuel Gaillard Stoney, This is Charleston: families. An Architectural Survey of a Unique 20. Mary Scott Saint-Amand, A Balcony in American City (Charleston, SC: Carolina Art Charleston (Richmond, VA: Garrett and Association, 1984). Massie, 1941). 7. Ravenel, Architects of Charleston. 21. William S. Hoole, "The Gilman's The 8. American Heritage, April1987 and Historic Southern Rose," The North Carolina His­ Preservation, January-February 1987. torical Review, April1934. 9. George W. Glover to JohnS. Jones, mortgage 22. Smaus, Mary Baker Eddy: The Golden Days, of house and lot on Hasell St., 9 July 1840, pp. 93-94. The State of SC, Charleston District. A 23. Ibid., pp. 102-105; Robert Peel, Mary Baker clause in the mortgage suggests this usage. Eddy: The Years of Discovery (Boston: The 10. Mackey, History of Freemasonry in South Christian Science Publishing Society, 1966), Carolina. p. 66. 11. "Mary Baker Eddy" file, Masonic Letters, South Caroliniana Library. 12. This practice was named after Dr. Thomson and known as Thomsonianism (it is also referred to as botanical medicine). 13. Records of Saint Andrews Lodge #10, Grand Spec1al thanks to the following 1nd1viduals who generously Lodge of SC, Columbia, SC. ass1sted the author in her research · Ernest Shealy, Cam Alex­ ander. Margaretta Childs. Dane P. Edens. Laurence Zeiner. Mrs. Caroline Howard Gilman, wife of 14. There are several descriptions extant, Jonathan H. Poston. Rose Dukes. Delma Thompson (Mrs Rev. Gilman among them that of Mrs. Margaret Cronly Thompson gave generously of matenal that she had researched and collected over a period of many years). Alice Patzlaff. Agnes in the Elizabeth Earl Jones Collection at Cooper. Lesley Crawford. Inman Douglass. Merle Chamberlin, Mrs. Gilman's writing had been Longyear Historical Society. and J1m and Freda Lomas from Buxton, Eng land confined to her poems until 1832, when she conceived of the idea of LONGYEAR FOUNDATION: Board of Trustees: June A. Austin, Chairman, Robert C. Dale, publishing "the first weekly news­ Graves D. Hewitt, Marian H. Holbrook, and Marylou Madigan. Associate Directors: Alan paper for children in the United K. Lester and Loetta L. Lewis. QUARTERLY NEWS is published four times annually by States." As its editor, she was one of Longyear Historical Society, 120 Seaver Street, Brookline, Massachusetts 02146. U.S.A. the first female editors in the country. (617) 277-8943. Inquiries about membership and activities are welcome. The publication was the outgrowth of

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