Volume 52 ◆ No. 2 2 Preservation PROGRESS c c Historic Setting vs. Development: 2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS New Battlegrounds in an Old War & DIRECTORS EMERITUS As our cover for this issue of Preservation Progress EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE vividly illustrates, the importance of setting to any Lois Lane, President historic site is of paramount importance. No matter how Robert Prioleau, First Vice President responsibly the architectural elements are preserved or Debbie Bordeau, Second Vice President protected, the property’s entire historic context can be Susan Dickson, Recording Secretary diminished or even destroyed by the loss of its intrinsic George Smythe, Treasurer setting. Steven Craig, Immediate Past President Both location and setting are characteristics that work MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Beau Clowney to defi ne why buildings were constructed in a particular Diane McCall William J. Cook Caroline Ragsdale style. And usually, these elements also refl ect the purpose Susan G. Dickson Sally Smith and function of the building, as well – an urban location P. Steven Dopp Steven P. Stewart Kevin Eberle vs. a rural location, for example. The setting has clearly Jim Wigley Shay Evans Connie Wyrick infl uenced the history of the site in terms of its use Rebecca Herres Rutledge Young, III through time. An example of this would be the means Rhondy Huff of arrival – its orientation to a street, a river, a lane, or DIRECTORS EMERITUS TO THE BOARD one’s neighbors. Elizabeth Jenkins Young, Executive Committee The context of “setting” helps form the characteristics Jane Thornhill of why properties are eligible for listing on the National Norman Haft, Executive Committee Register of Historic Places. Fenwick Hall Plantation on Lynn Hanlin, Executive Committee John’s Island is one of South Carolina’s most important STAFF architectural resources remaining from the early 18th Cynthia Cole Jenkins, Executive Director century. Robert M. Gurley, Assistant Director When Fenwick built this Georgian plantation house it Ginger L. Scully, Director, Programs & Operations was sited to take full advantage of the setting to impress all Elizabeth Huggins, Director of Membership & Development Charles E. Benton, Jr., Fall Tour & Event Coordinator who approached. What is now Maybank Highway from the Lannie E. Kittrell, Preservation Research & Archival Manager Stono River was in fact the three mile long race track for Mary Spivey-Just, Business Manager the world famous Fenwick Stud stable (in the 18th c. race Cynthia Setnicka, Retail Shop Manager tracks ran in a straight line). The landscape surrounding Leanne Veach, Administrative Assistant the main house and support structures was as important NEWSLETTER as the style and materials used for the buildings. William J. Cook, Chairman, Publications Committee It is unfortunate that previous owners sold off so J. Michael McLaughlin, Editor much of the surrounding property and left it open for Katherine Carey, Production Coordinator Bobby Bostick, Layout & Design insensitive development to destroy the character of setting The Preservation Society of Charleston was founded in 1920 so important for a rare architectural resource. Equally with its purpose being to cultivate and encourage interest in the unfortunate is a corporate developer who comes to the preservation of buildings, sites and structures of historical or Lowcountry and does not respect the special qualities aesthetic significance and to take whatever steps may be necessary and feasible to prevent the destruction or defacement enough to be a good steward of the land nor a good of any such building, site or structure, such purposes being neighbor. soley eleemosynary and not for profit. The Preservation Society of Charleston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. All contents herein are copyright of the Preservation Society of Charleston. August 2008 Reprinting is strictly prohibited without written consent. Cynthia Cole Jenkins The Preservation Society of Charleston Post Office Box 521, Charleston, South Carolina 29402 Executive Director Preservation Society of Charleston Phone: (843) 722-4630 • Fax: (843) 723-4381 Email: [email protected] Website: www.preservationsociety.org Printed on recycled paper with soy based ink. Cover photo courtesy of the Post and Courier Preservation PROGRESS 3 WAKE-UP CALL ON NEED TO PROTECT, PRESERVE JOHNS ISLAND Article by Cynthia C. Jenkins, Post & Courier, Sunday, June 29, 2008 Robert Behre’s recent article on the removal of vegetative The most critical element of the MOA is the requirement buffers at Fenwick Hall Plantation on Johns Island is truly a stating that “visually opaque (year round) vegetative buffers “cautionary tale” for everyone concerned about the future shall be maintained.” These opaque buffers provide the of Johns Island. natural screening that ensures Fenwick Hall maintains its The circa 1740 Georgian style Fenwick Hall plantation is historic setting and character. A primary tenet of the MOA listed on the National Register of Historic Places as one of was violated by the removal of trees, shrubs and natural South Carolina’s most important 18th century properties. undergrowth. Vistas from Fenwick Hall now include a It once encompassed 4,500 acres along the Stono River subdivision with cul-de-sacs and multiple residential and included a 3.5-mile race track for the famed Fenwick buildings. Stud. During the Revolutionary War, British commander Replanting the opaque buffers will involve considerable Sir Henry Clinton occupied the house and grounds as expense as it requires replacing large trees and shrubs. his headquarters during the siege of The property owners should not Charleston in 1780. This occupation be expected to settle for small trees caused the plantation to be called The issues at stake go and told to wait 20 years until they Head Quarters throughout the 19th far beyond the struggles mature. century. The OCRM placed a stop-work During the Civil War, Confederate of these owners to protect order on the project in October troops moved down Ferry Road, now the rural setting of the 2007, which is to remain in effect River Road, near Fenwick Hall in June until Portrait Homes complies with of 1862 to attack the USS Marblehead, property. The situation the MOA and resolves stormwater a Union gunboat anchored on the at Fenwick Hall should management issues. The stop-work Stono River near Legareville. Popular order was reaffirmed in January tradition maintains that the house was serve as a wake-up call 2008. relatively undamaged because it was to all property owners The issues at stake go far beyond used as a fi eld hospital by both armies the struggles of these owners to at different times. who are concerned about protect the rural setting of the In the years following the Civil protecting and preserving property. The situation at Fenwick War, most of the original 4,500 acres Hall should serve as a wake-up were sold by subsequent owners. The the rural character of call to all property owners who are current owners, who purchased the Johns Island. concerned about protecting and property in 2000, are committed to preserving the rural character of painstakingly restoring the plantation Johns Island. house and protecting its 55 remaining acres from the If one of the island’s oldest and most significant encroachment of development. Unfortunately, their time, architectural and historic landmarks is not respected by energy and resources are being diverted from their developers, it sends a clear message to other developers restoration efforts to address legal issues with Portrait about property protection and legal obligations. Homes, Inc. This multi-state corporation based in Chicago is This attitude not only puts Fenwick Hall at risk but currently developing the adjacent lands called The Commons family farms and lands that have been owned by families at Fenwick Hall. for generations. They also are in danger of forever being The legal issues originate from a 2002 memorandum of changed. agreement (MOA) signed between the original developer The citizens of Johns Island are facing unprecedented (Winston Carlyle Co.), the Offi ce of Ocean and Coastal pressure from developers. Resource Management (OCRM), and the State Historic The Johns Island development plan and the future of Preservation Offi ce. the Interstate 526 extension are pending. This memorandum of agreement is a written agreement Developers must be held accountable. If they are allowed between governmental agencies defi ning how the agencies to ignore government regulations and agreements designed will take into account and mitigate the effects of a proposed to safeguard the unique character of the Lowcountry project on the affected historic property. As the successor landscape and cultural resources, then we have failed future to the original developer, Portrait Homes was required to generations and our heritage is at risk. comply with the agreement. 4 Preservation PROGRESS A RCHITECTAlbertAND P RESERVATIONSimons: PIONEER Albert Simons (1890 – 1980) had a sixty year career as an architect in Charleston – a career that included an extensive amount of preservation work, for which he is best known. He played an important part in creating nationally prominent preservation functions such as the fi rst historic district and the fi rst Board of Architectural Review. Born and raised in Charleston, he Clemson University. He soon returned to Charleston and attended the University of Pennsylvania worked on illustrations and studies of Charleston houses for architecture school. At Penn he studied for the book The Dwelling Houses of Charleston by the under Paul Cret, one of excellent artist Alice Ravenel Huger the great architects and Smith and her father. Simons also educators of his day. Cret brought did a stint in the military and became the educational system of the Ecole a partner in the fi rm of Todd, Simons des Beaux Arts to Penn from France, and Todd for a short time before his native country. This system was starting his own architecture fi rm a very rigorous one with an emphasis in Charleston in partnership with on classical training and artistic Samuel Lapham in 1920 and he expression in the form of watercolored went on to have an impressive drawings.