VOLUME
56 ISSUE â„– 03
Historically Speaking
SPRING 2017 A NEWSLETTER OF HISTORIC COLUMBIA
Letter from the Executive Director W
hen you are an organization active in preservation advocacy there are times you have to swallow some hard losses. There are also, thankfully, times that a win has an astounding result with a specific site, but also has a ripple effect that positively impacts the work we do. In October of 2012, our community was faced with the prospect of the demolition of the Palmetto Compress Warehouse – a sprawling iconic structure in the Ward One Neighborhood. Proponents for the building’s removal suggested that it was not viable for adaptive use due to its size, location, sloped floors, etc. Spurred by an enormous grassroots effort opposing the demolition request, six months later the Palmetto Compress Warehouse was purchased by the City of Columbia with an assurance that it would be put on the market and preserved. Walking through any historic building before, during and after its rehabilitation can be awe-inspiring. Experiencing the Palmetto Compress in these phases has been life-changing – for me personally, but also for the preservation ethos in our community. Being part of a passionate campaign to save the site; witnessing the creative solutions applied by Scott Garvin and his team to rehabilitate this “impossible” building; and understanding the positive economic impact that developer Ron Caplan knew his investment would yield – are all experiences that cement our understanding of the benefits of retaining these characterdefining places in our midst, but also inform future decisions around preservation issues. While the adaptive use of the Palmetto Compress is the most renowned project that is celebrated in this issue of Historically Speaking, these same lessons pointing to the personal, cultural and economic benefits of historic preservation are present in each of the awardwinning projects. From the meticulous preservation of the Chapelle Auditorium to the relaxed, cool rehabilitation of the Bakery at BullStreet, these places provide a window into our past and set the context for our future.
Historically Speaking Spring 2017 | Volume 56 | Issue 3
President
David Campbell 1st Vice President
John Dozier 2nd Vice President
Robert Lewis Treasurer
Gina Lesslie Secretary
Isabelle Mandell
The mission of Historic Columbia is to nurture, support and protect the historical and cultural heritage of Columbia and Richland County through programs of advocacy, education and preservation.
In This Issue 3-5 Preservation Award Winners 6 Hampton-Preston Garden Update Behind-the-Scenes at 1600 Main St. 7 Upcoming Events Volunteer Awards
Congratulations to our 2017 Preservation Award recipients. While we can use our research and experience to craft the case for preservation – you are the ones who provide the financial, creative and sweat equity to make the advocacy worth it.
Robin Waites
Executive Director Cover images: Top: Palmetto Compress and Warehouse, ca. 1945. Image courtesy of Ann Thomas Waites Bottom: Exterior of Palmetto Compress, recently restored and repurposed as apartments. Image credit Dressler Photography
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HISTOR I C C OLUMB I A | NEWSLETTER
Visit us on the web: HistoricColumbia.org
Historic Columbia’s 2017
Preservation Awards
Each year, Historic Columbia hosts its Preservation Awards Luncheon to celebrate accomplishments of local property owners; professionals in the fields of architecture, construction and design; and leaders who champion preservation as an opportunity to support the Midlands’ economy and culture. These awards recognize local projects that have maintained or added to the historical, architectural and cultural richness of Columbia and Richland County in the categories of Adaptive Use, Preservation/Restoration and New Construction in an Historic Context. In addition, Historic Columbia presents the Preservation Leadership Award to those who contribute to the advancement of historic preservation in the region.
Historic Columbia would like to thank this year’s Preservation Awards committee: Lydia Brandt, Mary Beth Branham, Robert Lewis, Doug Quackenbush and Dave Wiesendanger.
Adaptive Use Palmetto Compress
The Bakery at Bull Street
Owner: PMC Property Group Architect: Garvin Design Group Contractor: Triangle Construction
Owner: Robert Hughes Architect: 1x1 Design, Inc. Contractor: Buchanan Construction Services
With the oldest section of this four-story warehouse dating to 1917, the Palmetto Compress stands as an exemplar of early 20th-century warehouse design. At its peak, the 350,000 square foot facility could store more than 50,000 bales of cotton, making it one of the largest cotton warehouses in the Southeast. The Palmetto Compress Warehouse is one of the last surviving vestiges of the industrial landscape situated in the midst of the Ward One neighborhood.
Constructed in 1900 to accommodate the needs of the growing population of the South Carolina State Hospital, the Bakery cemented itself as an integral part of the campus at Bull Street. The 19th century saw the implementation of new methods of psychiatric treatment such as occupational therapy, which suggested that daily routine would allow for accelerated healing. It was in the Bakery building that patients made, baked and packaged bread as a part of their directed care.
The rehabilitation project executed by Scott Garvin and his team, focused on preserving the original warehouse form and material, while introducing apartment and retail outlets within the existing framework. The rehabilitation retains the exterior walls and interior structure of the warehouse as well as its sloped, wooden floors. The creation of large openings, or light wells, from the first floor to the roof allows daylight into the central core of the building. The Palmetto Compress Warehouse now hosts high-end apartments as well as retail space. Its residents are a vibrant mix of college students and young professionals. The transformation of the space creates an anchor between downtown Columbia and the riverfront.
Asheley Scott and her team at 1x1 Design, Inc. made an effort to reuse as much of the original building fabric as possible, including existing walls and openings. When the structure required a new roof, for example, they left the existing, in-tact ceiling joists and rafters exposed. 1x1 Design, Inc. designed the building’s reconstructed cupolas using historical photographs of the bakery’s exterior. The rear addition, not original to the building, serves as a covered porch overlooking the campus. The building now serves as an office, conference, education and co-work space.
The site stands as a reference to the industrial history of the city. Image credit Dressler Photography.
The reconstructed cupola stays true to the bakery’s original roofline.
Designers incorporated the site’s unique sloped floors into their design. Image credit Dressler Photography.
The rafters are made from a combination of new and reclaimed wood from the site.
Sliding warehouse doors harken back to the building’s history. Image credit Dressler Photography.
Designers left the original concrete floors, rafters and brick exposed. S P RI NG 20 17
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Preservation/Restoration Chappelle Auditorium Owner: Allen University Architect: GMK Architects The nation’s first African American professionally licensed architect, John Lankford, designed the Chappelle Auditorium at Allen University in 1925. In its nearly 100-year history, the Chappelle Auditorium has served as a significant meeting place for African American political and religious leaders, as well as artists and musicians. In 1954, for example, the auditorium hosted a series of meetings in preparation for the Brown vs. Board of Education trial. With a seating capacity of more than 700, the space became one of the few in Columbia that could accommodate large gatherings. It was an especially significant landmark in the lives and experiences of black South Carolinians because they could not freely assemble in segregated public facilities in the first half of the 20th century. Beginning in 2009, Allen University began a process of restoration and rehabilitation of the auditorium. Efforts included removal of paint on the wainscoting and wood paneling, repairs to the brick and mortar work, as well as the recreation of doors by local craftsmen. For the restoration of the tin ceiling, half of the tiles could be salvaged, and the other half were replicated and hand-glazed to match. The result is a beautifully restored landmark of both local and national significance.
Chapelle Auditorium received extensive rehabilitative work, including interior plaster and ceiling work.
Work in progress to restore and rehabilitate the Chapelle Auditorium.
The original dark wood finish to the balcony paneling was exposed and new, custom-built seating was installed.
1931 Henderson Street Owner: John & Victoria Dozier (on behalf of William Sumter) 1931 Henderson Street, built in 1890, has been in the same family for six generations. The 1900 block of Henderson Street was one of the first blocks in Columbia where prominent African American families lived. William Joseph Sumter was born on May 15, 1881 in Hopkins, S.C. With only a fourth-grade education, Sumter became the first African American to own and operate a barber shop in the state of South Carolina. Following the success of his business, Sumter purchased the house at 1931 Henderson Street from an African American carpenter, John Watson Bailey, on December 9, 1909. The exterior restoration showcases the home’s original siding and posts.
John Dozier, a decendent of Sumter, and his wife, Victoria, undertook the renovations with both love and respect for the historic integrity of the home. Original exterior paneling, columns, windows, doors and fireplaces remain intact. The Doziers exposed the brick in the bedrooms and kitchen and refurbished the tin ceiling in the family room. In total, the project took five months to complete. “It was definitely an experience of a lifetime,” said the Doziers. “The memories that were created renovating this piece of family history will be with us for generations to come.”
The Doziers exposed the brick chimney to show their children how the house was heated.
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Original architectural details were restored, including the tin ceiling in the family room.
HISTOR I C C OLUMB I A | NEWSLETTER
New Construction in an Historic Context Kennedy Greenhouse Studio at USC Owner: University of South Carolina Architect/Designer: The Boudreaux Group Contractor: Palmetto Construction Group Located near the western edge of the University of South Carolina’s (USC) Historic Horseshoe, the Kennedy Greenhouse Studio provides new collaborative learning opportunities for the greater Carolina community, particularly the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. It also creates an active pedestrian link and gathering place in a formerly walled rose garden.
By letting down the garden wall, the space is now a popular meeting space on USC’s vibrant campus.
The new construction celebrates the architectural heritage of greenhouses while enhancing the existing gardens to become an attractive gathering space for both students and public passersby. Respecting USC’s design guidelines, while creating a technologically advanced space to showcase the work of mass communications students, the materials and treatments employed remain sensitive to the studio’s historic surroundings. As part of the site and landscape design, the non-historic brick walls were lowered to incorporate views from the gardens. This change enhances pedestrian connectivity to the heart of campus and promotes walkability while encouraging collaborative learning through outdoor spaces.
The greenhouse provides a state-of-the-art recording space at the foot of the Historic Horseshoe.
Preservation Leadership Award
Martha Fowler
Described by her peers as the “embodiment of the grassroots preservation movement,” Martha Fowler’s infectious energy and devotion to detail make her an invaluable asset to Columbia’s preservation community. Her commitment to preserving Columbia’s built history has resulted in the renewal of an ever-growing list of iconic properties, including Ebenezer Lutheran Church, the Habenicht-Seegers building and a trio of former family-owned properties on Main Street. New life has entered some of the oldest buildings on the 1600 block of Main Street thanks to Martha’s tireless devotion to restoration projects. She continues to spearhead plans for the restoration of her family properties for active, contemporary public use. The HabenichtSeegers building, located at 1635 Main Street, is one of her most recent collaborative projects that has further energized the district’s 1600 block. Out front, a reproduction beer barrel adds historic charm and pays homage to the building’s original 1870s tenants, a brewing and bottling company. Next door, an advertising firm in another restored historic family building brings creative professionals to Main Street every day. The recent designation of Melrose Heights/Oak Lawn as a National Register of Historic Places district and as a City of Columbia architectural conservation district is due in large part to Martha’s stalwart advocacy. She is a constant at neighborhood association meetings, happily volunteers for committees and is the ideal advocate for community and political outreach. She is always willing to contact decision makers, reach out to local supporters and advocate for common good. Martha is an antiquarian who loves the different layers of the past. Her genuine love of her city and commitment to its preservation make her an inspiring visionary in our community.
Thanks to Martha Fowler, Ebenezer Lutheran Church, the first Lutheran congregation in Columbia founded in 1830, was able to restore two cupolas on the top of the church. S P RI NG 20 17
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Hampton-Preston Garden Rehabilitation Continues In 2006, Historic Columbia embraced an exciting vision for the Robert Mills Historic District through its Cultural Landscape Master Plan. Rooted in the horticultural heritage of South Carolina’s capital city, this document became a roadmap for the systematic installation of gardens within six of the properties under the organization’s care. Over the past 11 years, most of those sites have undergone dramatic changes in their gardens, steadily realizing the goals outlined in the plan.
1890 image of the Hampton-Preston Mansion Gardens. Historic Columbia collection
One of the most dynamic transformations in the plan involves the restoration of the Hampton-Preston Mansion Gardens. Appreciating the site’s role in horticultural heritage of the region, Historic Columbia began a three-phase, multi-year process in January 2012 to revitalize the spirit and design of the once-impressive urban estate. Phase II of rehabilitation officially began this February. This much-anticipated phase will return the garden’s central sections to the historic site’s horticultural “golden age” of the 1840s through 1860s, when so much of the plantings were in their prime. Work will include installing an urban arboretum densely populated with trees, reestablishing historic pathways and plant beds, introducing electrical and irrigation systems, period-appropriate plant materials and garden structures, and repairing the perimeter wall. Once completed, there will be 20,500 square feet of new pathways and 55,000 square feet of newly irrigated planting space. Work will continue through the spring of 2018, coinciding with the 200th anniversary of the mansion’s construction.
Work continues on Phase II of the Hampton-Preston Mansion Garden rehabilitation, which will feature more than 20,500 square feet of public pathways.
Phase II improvements are made possible through a donation from The Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation, Inc. Ongoing garden support is made possible by AgFirst and the Palmetto Garden Club.
Go Behind-the-Scenes of the 1600 Block of Main Street Historic Columbia’s popular Behind-the-Scenes Tour, presented by Second Wind Heating and Air, returns for an exclusive look inside the 1600 block of Columbia’s Main Street from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23. Visit the latest adaptive use project in progress and learn about the physical evolution of structures and about their owners and occupants. This tour will highlight the construction phase of 1619-1621 Main Street, which will include a boutique bowling alley and restaurant and a private residential space. Special guest speakers include Lee Mashburn of Mashburn Construction, Lambert Architecture and preservation advocate Scott Middleton. Tickets are available for Historic Columbia members first at $20/member. If tickets remain after the member pre-sale, they will open to non-members for $25/non-member on May 10. Visit historiccolumbia.org or call (803)-252-7742 x 15 to purchase tickets.
Architectural rendering of the future boutique bowling alley, which will be housed inside the Robinson Building. Rendering courtesy of Lambert Architecture
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HISTOR I C C OLUMB I A | NEWSLETTER
This image at the 1600 block of Main St. was duplicated from the 1875-1876 Columbia City Directory. Image courtesy South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia
Upcoming Events Remembering Columbia: Establishment of Fort Jackson
Presented by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History May 9 | 6 – 7 p.m. | Robert Mills Carriage House Free
Moonlight Cemetery & Secrets from the Grave Tours May 11, June 8 & July 13 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m. | Elmwood Cemetery
Tickets: $8/adult and $4/youth for members; $12/adult and $6/youth for non-members
Preservation Workshop
Tour one of Columbia’s oldest cemeteries and discover centuries of stories etched in stone on the markers and headstones found within Elmwood Cemetery’s acres of carefully planned grounds.
Presented by Crawlspace Medic
Sunday, May 13 | 9:30 a.m. - noon | Thompson Cottage 1623 Richland St. Tickets: $5/member, $10/non-member
Summer Camp: Playing the Past June 19 - 23 and July 10 - 14 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Ages: 8-12 Weekly price: $160/member, $200/non-member
Second Sunday Stroll: Melrose Heights Walking Tour
Presented by Seed Architecture
Sunday, May 14 | 2 – 3:30 p.m. | Tour begins at Melrose Park Tickets: Free for members; $8/adult and $5/youth for non-members
Second Sunday Stroll: Lower Richland Bus Tour
Presented by Seed Architecture
Sunday, June 11 | 2 – 4 p.m. | Tour begins at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills
Tickets: $8/adult and $4/youth for members; $12/adult and $6/youth for non-members
Summer Garden Workshop Saturday, July 29 | 10 a.m. – noon | Seibels House Tickets: $15/ members; $20/ non-members
Play your way through the past at Historic Columbia’s summer camp. Visit HistoricColumbia.org/SummerCamp to sign up.
Visit HistoricColumbia.org for a full list of events.
Thank You, HC Volunteers! Every April, Historic Columbia holds its annual Volunteer Awards Luncheon to celebrate and thank the many volunteers who donate their time and expertise to advancing the organization’s mission. Historic Columbia could not provide its many valuable services without the passion and dedication of its volunteer corp. This year, the following volunteers were honored: Rosemarie Sach (Newcomer Award), Lilly Filler (Special Contributions), Kim Jamieson (Innovative Leadership), Ronnie Chapman (Rising Star), Stuart Moore (Service Award) and Walt Hall (Volunteer of the Year).Thank you, HC volunteers! Pictured from left to right: Ronnie Chapman, Stuart Moore, Robin Waites, Lilly Filler, Rosemarie Sach. Not pictured: Kim Jamieson and Walt Hall.
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1601 Richland Street
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Columbia, SC 29201
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www.historiccolumbia.org
NONPROFIT ORG USPOSTAGE PAID COLUMBIA, SC PERMIT #1000
During National Preservation Month (and throughout the entire year!) we often ask the question, “Why does preserving buildings and landscapes matter?” The simple answer is once they are gone you can never truly replace these important connections to those who came before us. Before its destruction around 1895, this 18’ x 40’ building served as a tangible reminder of the enslaved persons who labored at the Hampton-Preston estate until the end of the Civil War. Historic Columbia collection