{ this old house } 200 South Palmetto Street, Summerville
The Linwood House today
The Linwood Inn
Living History
William Hastie (left) near the corral, where his carriage would have been brought to him; Lulu (likely a sister) on the back porch with dogs Gyp and Snipe (below). Photographs circa 1890.
A resilient Victorian traces its roots to a prominent Charleston family known for their high-profile houses
A
suburban, lesser known cousin of the famed Drayton Hall and Magnolia Plantation estates, Summerville’s Linwood Inn is the easygoing young charmer of the Drayton clan’s holdings. William Hastie and his wife, Julia Drayton, built the house in 1883 on a plum site—nearly two acres in the center of town—one block from the Summerville train station. For Mr. Hastie, it was an easy commute to work; the first American-made, passenger-carrying steam locomotive (dubbed the “Best Friend of Charleston”) carted him into the Holy City daily and home in the evenings. Meanwhile, Julia’s father, the Reverend John Grimke Drayton, patriarch of Magnolia Plantation, lived out the latter years of his life at Linwood and died there in 1891. The tin-roofed house was built as a two-story clapboard Victorian boasting a central hall plan with a kitchen located in the basement. (Food was brought up to the dining room via a dumbwaiter.)
Then & Now
(Clockwise from above right) Owner Julia Drayton Hastie in Linwood’s front garden; this 1890s photograph was taken by George LaGrange Cook, son of noted Civil War photographer George S. Cook. Today, a number of original features remain: the sitting room boasts period bay windows, moldings, and the original fireplace, and a view of the front porch reveals old triple-sash windows.
1883
Julia Drayton and William Hastie build their home on two acres in the heart of Summerville.
48
| CHARLESTON
1886
The house survives the legendary Charleston earthquake with mild damage.
HOME
1901
The Hasties move to Magnolia Plantation and sell their home to the Prettyman family.
1920s
A cottage-style guest house is built on the back of the lot.
1979
Linda and Peter Shelbourne purchase the property for $135,000.
1994
The Shelbournes transform Linwood into a B&B.
2007
A hay barn is renovated into guest quarters.