W h at is i t? How was it used? Images of John Drayton’s indigo brand. Wood handle, iron shaft, copper-alloy die. Total length 9 inches. Die length 3 ¾ inches.
by Carter C. Hudgins, ph.d. Interim Director of Preservation Throughout the 18th century, John Drayton amassed his fortunes through the cultivation of various crops, including growing and processing of indigo for use in the creation of a deep-blue dyestuff popular in Europe. One artifact that survives from this period is his stamp wrought with his name “I. Drayton.” Because the stamp is made of a lightweight metal that is unable to withstand the high temperatures required for branding, it was likely used to mark indigo cakes prior to sale, as a mark of the manufacturer and an assurance of quality.
Learn more about indigo in “Drayton Hall’s Interpretation Staff Gets The Blues.” Visit our blogsite at http://draytonhall.wordpress.com (from September 30, 2008)
WATSON HILL TODAY As those of you who have been following the story of Watson Hill know, there have been many highs and lows over the past three years. On the plus side, Dorchester County passed an ordinance in 2007 that limited the number of houses that could be built on the tract. On the negative side, the developers approached North Charleston about annexing Watson Hill; then Summerville annexed parcels between Watson Hill and the Ashley River to block North Charleston; then the jurisdictions sued each other over whose annexation superseded the other. Before the dust could settle, the Summerville town council* voted in December 2008 to drop their lawsuit against North Charleston—to the surprise of all. The City of Charleston, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Drayton Hall, and other allies stepped in and were able to persuade a councilman to bring the issue back up for discussion. The Summerville town
You have only to look at this map of the Ashley River Region to understand the potential threat if Watson Hill was annexed. The City of North Charleston is shown in purple on the east side of the river. On the west is the 6400-acre tract of Watson Hill (a). Now compare its size to Drayton Hall (b), and you’ll see the danger that its massive development poses to Drayton Hall and the Ashley River Region—a region we’ve been working to protect for decades.
council then voted to rescind their decision and to continue their lawsuit. Then, once again, the tide turned. It was determined that the consent agreement with North Charleston was written in such binding language
As this issue of Interiors goes to press, one hope is that MeadWestvaco can re-
that Summerville did not have sufficient grounds to rescind it, so the town
purchase Watson Hill as part of its East Edisto project and its conservation-
council was forced to vote to recognize the agreement and let the annexa-
driven 20-year master plan. Another possibility is that conservation-minded
tion proceed.
buyers can be found to purchase and develop Watson Hill in smaller
Weeks passed, and in mid-January of 2009 the entire Charleston conserva-
tracts similar to Poplar Grove, a low-impact community encompassing
tion and preservation community was rocked by the news that the Watson
wooded lands, tidal marshlands, and canals located in both Charleston and
Hill investors had gone into foreclosure on the property and that renewed
Dorchester counties. Either way, Watson Hill would then be developed in a
negotiations, in our favor, now seemed like a real possibility.
sustainable and conservation-minded way—an excellent precedent for other tracts, large and small, in the Ashley River Region, and a happy ending to
*Who were given misleading information about their lawsuit and facing budget
the Watson Hill saga.
shortfalls.
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Read more about it at www.draytonhall.org. Go to the Preservation tab and click on Ashley River Region in the drop-down menu.