I fell in love with Downtown Charleston the moment I arrived here from Wales several years ago and wanted to learn more about this beautiful place. So I took my wife’s advice and found a local historian I trusted who could tell me a bit about this city’s past.
Danny Crooks has published four books on Charleston’s history, is working on two more and is a licensed tour guide. One afternoon, I treated my new friend to a pint. I learned right off that his middle name was Fitzpatrick, and realizing rather quickly that I was in the presence of an Irishman, I put my Guinness down and coaxed him out the back door, hoping not to be seen publicly in such sordid company!
Shortly, we were sitting alone in the courtyard of the Dock Street Theatre where he began rattling off tales that seemed unimaginable. The year 1990, for example, saw many odd and frightful things in Downtown Charleston… Hurricane Hugo had blown through the city the previous year, and stirred up the miasmas. These unseen critters or particles, are known by local folks to be the source of all sickness, disease and misfortune, and 1990 saw its fair share of all of these maladies.
In the spring, a coffin washed up on the beach of Castle Pinckney, a small fort in the harbor recently acquired by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. According to a police officer, who went out to the fort with the county coroner, the skeleton inside was complete with a gold coin in each of the eye sockets, consistent with pirate burial practices.
A month later, a home on Wentworth Street was being remodeled and renovated. The enclosed space under the stairs was to be opened so that a wine cellar could be installed. That idea was put on hold when to everyone’s horror, a partially mummified body was found behind the lathe plaster. The skeletal fingers still clutched a molded brown derby hat and a bullet hole could be seen between the eyes.
Over on Magazine Street, another lathe wall was demolished during a renovation. Imagine the worker’s reaction when a dozen gold coins tumbled out of an old rotten leather pouch, stashed in the wall for safekeeping by a young woman of ill repute. That area, including Clifford, Archdale and Logan Streets were at one time in the center of a notorious red light district.
I told Danny of a gravestone I recently discovered on Hasell St, hand blown French Champagne bottles from the 18th century, pipe ends, crockery and even a bodiless skull in a downtown privy. Just imagine, we walk on the relics of our forefathers’ history every day but may never even realize it.
Tell us your renovation ghost story… Have you ever found anything interesting from the past while renovating or restoring a historic home?
Interested in Learning More?
Our expert teams - from development, investment, real estate, and property management - have experienced it all and have the insight to help you along the way.
Find Out More