it was delightful, but not the splash I expected. So much for my anticipation!
Determined to preserve its historical buildings, Charleston does not allow a structure 75 years or older to be torn down. It can, though, be repurposed. While an admirable goal, we passed by a couple of dilapidated, burned buildings that were not permitted to be torn down. Not sure whether a burned building can be repurposed, but the city strictly adheres to the“ letter of the law”.
Regardless, we saw many positive restorations. Even some unused churches were converted into restaurants. In one, the entire ceiling held every word from the book“ The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. All this, surrounded by stained glass windows, amazed Joy.
About 40,000“ single homes” are scattered throughout the city. Only one room wide, they are very long with a side“ piazza”, designed for airflow. A piazza
is a large, covered porch or veranda, especially prominent in Charleston, where locals historically used the Italian term piazza( meaning open square) for these outdoor living spaces, built to catch breezes and provide shade.
An extension of living space, the piazza was used for cooling, socializing, and even sleeping in summer before air conditioning. Typically, it runs the length of a house, often on the south or west side to capture breezes. It often features columns, a slanted floor for drainage, and distinctive pale blue ceilings( haint blue).
Even the wider homes extend far back into the property, reminding me of the long buildings in Amsterdam. With rare exceptions, most homes lack much lawn. In fact, the houses in some neighborhoods are a hodgepodge crammed together. Two of the single homes are so narrow that the owners must climb the outside stairs to reach the upstairs! That is narrow, folks! Unsurprisingly, you will find no ranch-style houses in Charleston.
Of course, slavery is woven into the historical tapestry of the city – not just in plantations. At one time, there was no white middle class because the slave craftsmen and women performed all those tasks. Hence, Charleston’ s population consisted of the wealthy whites, skilled slaves and poor whites. Eventually, the city government forbade slave owners from hiring out their skilled slaves. Thus, a white middle class emerged.
With 40 % of all Africans delivered to North America landing in the Charleston slave markets, it was sobering to walk through the Exchange Building where the trading began. While I finished our Hidden Alley tour, Joy opted to wander through the Exchange, which is now a museum. She even moseyed down to the basement prison. So much troubling history to absorb.
Community Life 7