February 2009 THE GADSDEN Volume 229 GAB President’s Message 2 Birthdays/Community News 4 Activities & Festivities 6-7 The Chaplain’s Corner 11 Philip Simmons: A Consummate Artist and his Reflections Barbara Tuck As we enter Black History month, with the awe-inspiring inauguration of our first African- American president fresh in our minds, it’s fitting to celebrate living black history in the person of Philip Simmons who now resides among us here at BG. Powerful in his art and character, Simmons is the epitome of someone who’s lived humbly yet has achieved the summit of success in his chosen art—designing and creating beautiful pieces of ornamental ironwork. Eight years old, with fifty cents in his pocket, Philip left his grandparents’ home on Daniel Is- land and took the ferry to Charleston to live with his mother and to attend the first class at Buist School. Lured by the click-click-click of the blacksmith shop at the end of Calhoun Street, which had been owned by a former slave, Simmons couldn’t wait to start a promised apprenticeship at age 13. Once he started, he kept alive the tradition of African-American blacksmiths for the next 80 years. Simmons left horseshoes behind and created elaborate designs in ironwork that now adorn and char- acterize Charleston’s beautiful homes and buildings. Simmons reflected on black history in a bench he de- signed in a collaborative effort to commemorate Rosa Parks’ defiance on a Montgomery bus. The size of a bus seat for two, this simple bench made an awesome statement—with the outline of a bus and the year 1955 on its back. It was purchased by John Lewis, a link between Martin Luther King and the present. Lewis was never far from King, at the price of being brutally beaten and jailed many times. At the inau- guration, it was Lewis who was the first to be greeted as Obama stepped onto the stage to be sworn in. Asked what Obama’s inauguration meant to him, Simmons joyfully re- plies, ―What history I was able to be here to witness!‖ Simmons’ favorite customer, he says, was Jack Kraw- Philip Simmons made this gate at 67 check. ―That was the first gate I made, and it was then that I Broad Street for Robert Hollings realized I could make a living at it and wouldn’t have to and his wife Mary, a resident at work on a farm.‖ A former Boy Scout leader, Simmons says BG. Robert loved designing the gate the first thing he would say to young boys today is to stay in with Simmons, Mary says. school. ―If you want your prayers answered, get up off your Photograph by Claire Y. Greene (c. knees and hustle,‖ he advises. 1993). Printed with the permission of That his home and workshop are being preserved as a the Philip Simmons Foundation, Inc. museum ―is the best thing that ever Continued on Pg. 3 View the Gab in color on-line at http://www.bishopgadsden.org/community_life/newsroom.html President’s Message Bill Trawick The New Year has certainly begun with many exciting changes. The new and greatly expanded Market Place Café, which we ushered into operation on New Year’s Eve, is receiving high compliments not only for its trendy, upbeat dé- cor, but moreover for the quality of food and the greatly expanded variety of fresh and delicious options. It’s lots of fun, especially during lunch, to experience the energy created by residents, family members, friends and staff all enjoying the space and time together. The Grimsley Foyer, Gussenhoven Drawing Room and Blackmer Hall are also nearing completion and, as is to be expected, the range of opinions on our ―new look‖ span the continuum. The intention was to take a fresh approach to the traditional and to create a few unex- pected ―surprises.‖ I think that has been beautifully accomplished. The corridors are in the process of getting their renovations and should be completed in the next eight weeks. Their new look is also very different—sophisticated and elegantly modern. I n the next week to ten days, we plan to have the ―Art Loft,‖ ―Club Room,‖ ―BG Rehab‖ and the yet-to- be-named salon and spa open and operating. Bishop Gadsden already has many opportunities for fun and friendship to evolve, but these new and expanded options will add tremendously to the vitality of our community life. Life is good- --especially if you’re at BG! A private tour of the White House! General Tommy Thorne of Myers Hall and his daughter, Margaret Seidler were invited on a tour of a lifetime and wanted to share it with all GAB readers! David Martin, Margaret’s dear friend, invited them to a tour on Jan 3, 2009, of the Eisenhower Executive Building and the West Wing of the White House. Please read on for the wonderful trip description in his own words. We stayed at the luxurious Hotel Monaco, 700 F Street, just six blocks from the White House. The hotel was the site of the first Post Office in the United States. The Pony Express would ride up and deliver the mail. Later the building served as the US Tariff Department, then was converted into its cur- rent use. The hotel’s architect was Robert Mills – same as the Mills House Hotel in Charleston. He designed many of our capitol’s famous structures. On Saturday morning we did the East Wing Tour of the Eisenhower Ex- ecutive Office Bldg (David’s office is #49). First Floor: We took the public tour and entered the East Colonnade and viewed numerous photos of many modern-day presidents and their spouses. Security was super. We also saw the library. It has rich, dark red walls and a ―to die for‖ Oriental rug. Books are checked out to the First Family and White House staff. I got a sneak peek of the Diplomatic Reception room – the public is not allowed – but I got to pass through since I used the elevator to go upstairs to the ―State Floor.‖ State Floor: In the East Room there is a Large Ballroom where 140 guests can be seated for dinner! During our visit, staff were dismantling piece-by -piece the massive chandeliers for a thorough cleaning after removing the holi- day decorations. Then there is the Blue Room that is one of Continued on Pg. 5 2 View the Gab in color on-line at http://www.bishopgadsden.org/community_life/newsroom.html Cover story continued from Page 1 happened,‖ says Simmons. Until recently, he Club help to keep Simmons’ archives up to date. warmly welcomed busloads of tourists as well Students at the American College of Building Arts as locals to his 150-year-old tin workshop with have been asked to go around town and stamp its homemade forge. For the last four or five all Simmons’ designs that he didn’t sign. years, Alphonso Brown brought his Gullah tours Simmons is a study in both excellence and to see Simmons twice a day and three times on humility, and we are fortunate to have him here Saturday. ―He loved it,‖ reveals Rossie Colter, among us. His room has wonderful portraits of Project Administrator of the Philip Simmons him—my favorite is a photograph taken of him Foundation. In 2007, the National Trust for at age 88 by photographer of note, Jack Alter- Historic Preservation placed Simmons’ work- man. A fundraiser for the museum is to sell a lim- shop and home on its list of America’s 11 most ited edition of 88 of these. Another is a copy of a endangered historic places. The foundation to portrait of him done in bottlecaps by Mary B. the museum is now being built, with the grand Right. The huge original hangs outside the cafe- opening expected at the end of this month. teria at the Medical University. A third is by Philip Simmons’ beautiful ironwork and Alayna Shukal. On the walls are many awards his amazing life have been recognized nation- and, lying on a table, a copy of Charleston maga- ally. The National Endowment for the Arts zine with Simmons on the cover, but he is non- awarded Simmons its highest honor, a National plussed by all of it and as humble as ever. Heritage Fellowship. Among awards South Carolina has bestowed on him is the ―Order of the Palmetto.‖ Pieces of Simmons’ work can be Don’t Forget found at the National Museum of American History, the Smithsonian Institution, the Mu- seum of International Folk History in Santa Fe, World Marriage Day NM and various places in SC. Most of his 500 February 8 designs can be found right here where they are Charleston’s pride. At the Avery Research Center at the Col- lege of Charleston, there’s a room dedicated to Simmons and his work. This room is open to Groundhog Day Valentine’s Day the public, and students from the Preservation February 2 February 14 Faith & Finance: Conversation Over Tea One of the greatest benefits that faith brings to the faithful is belonging to a community. During challenging or discouraging times, the natural human tendency is to seek isolation. The pur- pose of the Faith and Finance sessions is to provide a secure venue where individuals can share personal experiences and con- cerns about the current economic downturn, while identifying sources that help one to cope—particularly the resources of one’s faith and faith tradition. The next Faith and Finance session will be held in Blackmer Hall on Thursday, February 12 from 3:30 p.m.