We started our morning with Ben, Otis, and Battery. Ben was our guide and Otis and Battery the mules that pulled our tour carriage. Although we covered some of the same territory as our walking tour, we got new information and were better able to understand some of the architecture of Charleston, and its history. We took Lee and Mare to lunch at the same place--S.N.O.B. (slightly north of Broad) where we enjoyed delicious low country cooking yesterday. Broad street is where the very wealthy merchants first settled...slightly north is not quite shabby, still close enough to be a bit ritzy! After lunch we drove out to Drayton House (think Downton Abbey in the new world). This is a plantation that has not been restored. It had been home to 8 generations of Draytons and their enslaved workers. In the 1970's the Drayton owners sold the plantation and the lands to the National Trust. After our tour, we returned to Charleston and had dinner at a local restaurant called Hank's. Imagine our surprise when Mare was tapped on the shoulder. We all looked up and there stood Jeannie Gans...a former New Trier colleague. She and partner Gerry were here vacationing and visiting friends. Gerry will always have my heart because every birthday, he baked me a carrot cake...and can he bake! And that was our day in Charleston. Tomorrow we'll visit the historic Russell House in town, have a tour with Gullah tours and then leave for Charlotte.
In the barn of Palmetto Carriage tours, waitin' for Otis and Battery
Traveling behind Otis and Battery
Houses built in Charleston were built first by British citizens. Homes in Britain were built of stone, but there was not much stone to be had in South Carolina. Consequently, homes were built from brick, stuccoed over, and then the stucco was scored so that it looked as if the home was made of stone. This home, with only it's face finished is called "lazy style."
This is the infamous Hat Man of Charleston. Every part of him is a hat. Mother's would often scare their children saying, "If you don't do this...the hat man will get you." Take a good look!
Back at the barn...happy travelers by a wall mural
Otis (white) and Battery back out on the road
Drayton House as it stands today. Gone the large circular drive in front of the house, and the two flanking buildings that stood as wings on either side of the original home.
One of the many fireplaces. Every room had one, with a large fireplace in the basement where much of the cooking was done.
A mantle was removed and not replaced, leaving the wood framing from the 1700's early construction open for us to see (natural colored piece of wood running alongside the brick)
Fireplace and decoration in one of the rooms used for dancing. Much of the interior of Drayton House has been painted only three times since it was first built.
Gate leading to the graveyard of many of the enslaved people who worked at Drayton House. The iron work carries the words of one of the people, "Leave 'Em Rest." The circle work on either side represents slave chains and the bird sitting on top of the circle work represents freedom.
Sunset over Charleston
Location:Charleston, SC
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