Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons^™

Fort Drive: Reestablishing Its Significance Within Washington, D.C.'S Park System, Kathryn Kelly Finnigan

All Theses

This thesis is an in-depth examination of Fort Drive, a 20th century proposed parkway connecting the principal Union Army fortifications which encircled Washington, D.C. The goal of the work is to determine if the landscapes acquired for Fort Drive are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This paper answers two questions: what role did Fort Drive play in establishing the Nation's Capital's park system; and are the remnants of the Fort Drive endeavor significant? These questions were answered through analysis of the National Capital Planning Commission's records, a comparison of the standards set by current National Register designations, …

'The Garden Spot Of The Earth': A History & Historic Resources Survey Of Reevesville, South Carolina, Stefanie Marasco

All Theses

Reevesville, South Carolina, is a rural agrarian town within Dorchester County. It was established as a settlement in 1793, but it did not become an official town until it was first incorporated into Colleton County in 1875. The population of Reevesville has, since 1875, remained fairly consistent, averaging 150 to 250 inhabitants. Reevesville's most prosperous era extended from 1875 to 1930, years that coincide with the most active period of the South Carolina Railroads, which served the town in the late 19th century. Many of the extant historic buildings in the area date to this period.
This thesis compiles a …

Castle Pinckney: Past, Present, Future, David Weirick

All Theses

Castle Pinckney is one of a few surviving 'castle' style forts. At the time of Castle Pinckney's construction in 1811 these all masonry, circular, casemated fortifications were a revolutionary experiment in military architecture, inspired by the theories of the foremost military engineers in the world. The southern theater of the War of 1812 never materialized, and Castle Pinckney was not called upon to demonstrate its superior tactical capabilities. As military technology progressed during the nineteenth century, Castle Pinckney became increasingly outdated, but its strategic location in Charleston Harbor caused its continued use as an important military post during the Nullification …

Detroit's Field Of Dreams: The Grassroots Preservation Of Tiger Stadium, Rebecca M. Long

All Theses

From 1987 until the time of this writing, several grassroots organizations have fought for the preservation of Detroit's Tiger Stadium and its historic field. The goal of this thesis is to chronicle those efforts, examine how these organizations fit into the history of preservation movements, and delve into what continues to draw people to this historic site: its `power of place.' In order to accomplish these objectives, this thesis will detail the history of the site from its storied time as the home of Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers from 1896-1999, up to the preservation efforts which have been the …

Dendrochronology: A Status Report For The Eastern United States, Elyse Harvey

All Theses

Architectural historians and historic preservation practitioners have turned with increasing frequency to dendrochronology to determine dates of construction for houses and other timber structures for which the application of traditional dating techniques, chief among them historical documentation and stylistic analysis, failed. Since the advent of modern, statistically-driven tree-ring dating, analysis of the application of dendrochronology on the eastern region of the United States reveals that the use of this scientific technique has been unevenly applied and is most often used in New England and the Chesapeake. While the techniques used by American dendrochronologists are generally similar, practitioners have failed to …

Unlocking Drayton Hall: A Survey And Analysis Of Hardware At A Southern Plantation, Lauren Elizabeth Golden

All Theses

No other single architectural element at Drayton Hall near Charleston, South Carolina better reflects the social and financial evolution of the house better than its hardware. When Drayton Hall was built, architectural hardware was in a period of transition, shifting from displaying hardware as a symbol of one's ability to purchase relatively expensive items to conceptualizing of rooms as holistic spaces where the hardware elements were as hidden as possible. Generations of family owners significantly changed the original, cohesive hierarchy of types ranging from the highly stylized to the simply functional, but much of the original remains. This thesis is …

Slave Housing: In Search Of Endangered Architecture, Syra V. Valiente

All Theses

Although enslaved Africans constituted a significant majority of the population of Charleston County, South Carolina, from the early eighteenth century until the Civil War, only miniscule number of former slave houses survive. Intense analysis of the surviving slave houses at McLeod Plantation on James Island raises questions about what inherent aspects of their plan and construction constitutes what this study labels 'slave architecture.' The emergence, development and decline of slave houses reflects the broader history of slavery in the South Carolina Lowcountry and suggests that improved documentation of these rare buildings can play an important role in conveying the history …

Little Houses, Big Expenses: A Financial Study Of Small House Museums In New England, Marie Elise Haremski

All Theses

This thesis is examines the finances of house museums in New England with annual receipts under $250,000. It discusses the need to compile and evaluate data of this nature and the steps that were taken to obtain and present that data. This study maps how house museums behaved during this period. It will also present recommendations for practices that can be implemented to either drive revenue up or costs down.
It analyzes the various income and expense categories as they have been reported to the Internal Revenue Service for the filing years 2000 through 2009. The income categories analyzed include: …

'For Those Who Live In The Sun:' Holocaust Commemoration In The Southeastern United States, Lauren Elizabeth Cannady

All Theses

Holocaust commemoration is a vast, multifaceted enterprise. Diverse styles and forms have continued to emerge, and a chronology of types has evolved throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Holocaust remembrance began with narratives, communicated as oral histories and sermons, published in books, journals, newspapers, and magazines, and presented in dramatic performances. In the 1960s and '70s many Holocaust groups sought something more substantial to represent the horror that the Holocaust wrought. Synagogues, community centers, and Jewish businesses installed plaques, stained glass windows, and displays containing Holocaust relics to commemorate the Shoah. Cemeteries became the appropriate location to dedicate larger structures, …

404 King Street: The Charleston County Library And Modern Architecture In Charleston, Ryan Thomas Pierce

All Theses

This thesis examines the development and construction of the Charleston County Library at 404 King Street in Charleston, South Carolina. The research and analysis of this site provides a case study for the development and treatment of the Modern style in downtown Charleston. Significant aspects of this include evaluation of the community's input and reaction to development of the site, and reactions to its completion and opening.
This begins with an overview of the development of the Modern style in America and American library design, and how this translates into South Carolina. Then the influences of these larger communities on …

Profile Of An Origin: A Chemical And Physical Characterization Study Of Historic Brick And Clay From The Ashley River, South Carolina, Kristina Marie Lanphear

All Theses

The goal of this thesis is to develop an adapted scientific methodology for identifying the clay region or source location for a particular brick used in early Charleston, South Carolina. The focus of the paper will be on the Ashley River region. It will review previous scholarly research, theses, and publications on Charleston brick, geology of the river and selected analytical methods with intent to build on this topic. A justification is also given for the selection of the materials and testing methods used for the study. Through chemical and physical characterization testing, of clay sites and bricks of known …

A Forgotten Typology: The Rediscovery Of The Train Stations On The Oldest Railroad In The Country, Lora Ann Cunningham

All Theses

The Charleston and Hamburg Railroad in South Carolina, when completed in 1833, was the first steam powered railroad in America. It was also the longest in the world at 136 miles. The railroad was initially referred to as the 'Best Friend of Charleston.' On December 25, 1830, the 'Best Friend' engine made its first public run on the freshly laid railroad tracks. This milestone trip shifted the country toward an era of transportation development. With this new form of transportation came a new building type, the train station. The train station was the first building to greet people when they …

Ambition's Apex: The Private Art Gallery Of The Aiken-Rhett House, Christine Mathieson

All Theses

This thesis is an analytic in-depth examination of the private art gallery added to the Aiken-Rhett House in Charleston, South Carolina in 1858. The goal of the work is to imagine, understand, and contextualize the gallery, delving deeply into the lives, travels, and ambitions of its owners, William and Harriet Lowndes Aiken. Exploring all aspects of the gallery's inspiration and design, as well as the provenance and significance of works of art housed in it, the paper poses two questions: why a gallery; and why this gallery. Answers to these questions are located in socio-historical analysis that focuses on the …

St. Thomas And St. Denis Parish Church: An Anglo-Franco Alliance In The Lowcountry, Robert Shelton Converse

All Theses

Now vacant and seldom used, St. Thomas and St. Denis Church is a small, neo-classical building constructed in 1819 to serve one of the original colonial parishes carved out of Berkeley County, South Carolina. Even though it has been included in numerous publications devoted to the history of religion in early South Carolina, this church has never been systematically recorded nor has its role been thoroughly explored. This thesis, which grew out of an effort to create a complete set of documentation drawings, explores the history of St. Thomas and St. Denis Church.

In The Fork Of The Road: A Study Of The Burt-Stark House, Abbeville, South Carolina, Grace Naomi Washam

All Theses

The Burt-Stark house, one of the last surviving antebellum townhouses in Abbeville, South Carolina, is a significant residence which, despite its designation as a National Historic Landmark, remains largely unstudied. This thesis examines the design, construction, use, and evolution of the house within the contexts of its setting and past occupants. Measured architectural drawings and exterior and interior paint analyses, along with historical analysis, provides an inclusive documentation of the Burt-Stark house.

'Turning Shambles Into Showcases:' Herbert A. Decosta, Jr.'S Role In The Ansonborough Rehabilitation Project In Charleston, South Carolina, Alissa Clare Keller

All Theses

This thesis examines a portion of the restoration and rehabilitation work Herbert A. DeCosta Jr. and the H. A. DeCosta Company completed in the 1960s and 1970s in Charleston, South Carolina. A third generation, African-American contractor, DeCosta specialized in the restoration of historic structures. A native of the city, he possessed an innate understanding and respect for the city's architectural heritage, and he worked throughout the city and region to promote the preservation of this heritage. Under the direction of Herbert DeCosta, the H. A. DeCosta Company worked with Historic Charleston Foundation on numerous properties in their revolutionary Ansonborough Rehabilitation …

The Fire Houses Of Charleston, South Carolina 1881 - 1943, Rebecca Marie Moffatt

All Theses

From the first Charleston settlement in 1670, fire has posed an ever present threat. For this reason, fire fighting took on an important role even in its earliest forms within the city. As firefighting techniques evolved so did the buildings used to house both the equipment and the men used for such a task.
This thesis studies the architecture of the Charleston Fire Department. From its early beginnings in 1881 when the newly formed department absorbed the former volunteer companies, to the more recent buildings (ending with the structure built in 1943) which were constantly being added as the needs …

Community And Place: A Study Of Four African American Benevolent Societies And Their Cemeteries, Kimberly Martin

All Theses

Located on Charleston's Neck, immediately west of Magnolia Cemetery's main entrance, are a number of small cemeteries created by a variety of ethnicities and religions. These small cemeteries all possess the same physical orientation, giving no indication that the sites were created by differing groups. Among these are Friendly Union Cemetery, Brown Fellowship Cemetery, Humane and Friendly Cemetery, and Unity and Friendship Cemetery. All four cemeteries were created just before the outbreak of the Civil War by Free People of Color who organized themselves into benevolent societies. Free People of Color were African Americans who were not enslaved but did …

'Werner Fecit': Christopher Werner And Nineteenth-Century Charleston Ironwork, Kelly Ciociola

All Theses

A recent discovery of Christopher Werner's account book has inspired and informed this investigation into the life and business of this nineteenth-century ironworker. This book was hidden for many years, preserved by a child's scrapbook clippings. A restoration of this book through the removal of later additions was done, and significant information pertaining to Werner's situation in the nineteenth century was revealed. This provided not only new knowledge on the blacksmith, but also context and perspective for additional research completed.
Comprehensive studies of Charleston craftsmen are scarce. While the products of their skills are appreciated throughout the city, a general …

Piecing It Together: The Introduction Of Delftware Tiles To North America And Their Enduring Legacy In Charleston, South Carolina, Josslyn Kay Stiner

All Theses

The economic and social history of delftware tiles in North America has not yet been synthesized and the use of delftware tiles south of Virginia is even less documented. In fact, even though Charleston, South Carolina exhibits numerous examples of this decorative art, there has been very little research conducted on this topic regarding the southern city. The following thesis presents an overview of delftware tile manufacture and use in Europe and America. Narrowing in scope, it compiles all of the published information on the subject in colonial America, focusing specifically on the use of delftware tiles in Charleston. It …

Rammed Earth Architecture's Journey To The High Hills Of The Santee, Jessica Golebiowski

All Theses

Rammed earth, a form of earthen architecture and construction that has been used for thousands of years, has gone through periods of resurgence and decline. Its modern era rediscovery through practice and publications during the late 18th and early 19th century was fueled by writers and practitioners who disseminated the ideas of pisé starting in France extending to England and eventually to other European countries and the United States. Once these ideas reached America, farmers and intellectuals alike were interested in this simple yet durable means of construction.

Rammed earth ideas, while intellectualized in Europe, originated from practice in Africa …

A Condition Assessment Of The Old Island At Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina, Sarah Kollar

All Theses

Cemeteries face a number of condition problems, both naturally and through human destruction. Without protection, historic cemeteries will eventually be diminished or lost. Magnolia Cemetery of Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the many cemeteries facing various preservation problems. In an attempt to assist the cemetery, the failing conditions assessment of the Old Island section of Magnolia highlights the major problems of the area.
The Old Island is a section of Magnolia Cemetery located in the rear of the cemetery that has clearly defined boundaries with marsh and a small lake surrounding it. Plus, many of the people buried in …

Energy Efficiency In Historic Structures, Sarah Welniak

All Theses

Preservation and sustainability have long shared fundamental goals. Historic structures are inherently sustainable and will continue to be if their sound construction and superior materials are preserved properly. Despite this fact, historic buildings have gained a stigma for being inefficient and therefore unsustainable in the face of modern, energy efficient structures. Historic structures are and can be energy efficient when retrofitted properly. This study tested and analyzed the efficiency of historic structures in the context of a warm, wet, coastal climate in order to determine how they could be improved without damage to their historic fabric. With this aim, the …

One-Way To Two-Way Street Conversions As A Preservation And Downtown Revitalization Tool: The Case Study Of Upper King Street, Charleston, South Carolina, Meagan Baco

All Theses

In the first half of the twentieth century, historic urban areas in America were retrofitted to accommodate a mass amount of automobile traffic. These retrofits came in the form of highways, thruways, and one-way streets. Many historic commercial streets in American downtowns were converted to one-way streets, because of traffic engineers' narrow perspectives. After decades of decline, largely linked to automobile dominance, downtown economic revitalization emerged in the 1990s. One technique that appears to be remarkably successful is the re-conversion of one-way streets to two-way streets.
One-way streets allow for greater traffic capacity and higher automobile speeds, while two-way streets …

The Movement Of Architectural Elements Within Charleston, South Carolina, Laura Burghardt

All Theses

The movement of architectural elements from one building to another within Charleston, South Carolina, is an integral part of historic preservation in the city. From the earliest days of the city's historic preservation movement in the 1920s, preservationists have understood the importance of preserving elements of historic structures. In the early twentieth century, architectural elements were threatened by antique dealers and collectors of architecture who sought to purchase decorative elements, even out of standing houses. Buildings were also threatened with demolition as gas stations and other modern structures were constructed. Rather than seeing pieces of history lost, preservationists salvaged materials …

Building Preservation Plan Richmond Plantation Manor House Cordesville, South Carolina, Hillary Nicole King

All Theses

No abstract provided.

The Influence Affecting Charleston's Ornamental Plasterwork And A Link To Its Masters, 1820-1860, Kimberly Cox Jones

All Theses

No abstract provided.

Demolition By Neglect: An Examination Of Charleston's Ordinance, Meg Corbett Richardson

All Theses

Demolition by neglect is an important issue in the success of a preservation program. The neglect of an historic structure to the point of demolition is a careless and irresponsible occurrence that can be prevented. The tools used to prevent this action can be difficult to enforce, but they also have the potential to be very effective. The demolition by neglect ordinance in Charleston is not effective and is not currently being enforced. This thesis explored the issue of demolition by neglect by examining the public policy issues around it, the methods used to prevent and regulate it, along with …

Moving Historic Buildings: A Study Of What Makes Good Preservation Practices When Dealing With Historically Significant Buildings And Structures, Xana Peltola

All Theses

When relocating in order to preserve an historic property, there must be certain protocols in place to ensure that the historic significance is retained. Historic preservationists are not only attempting to successfully relocate a building but also to follow good preservation ethics in order to respect the current and potential site as well as the structure itself. In addition to examining how historic structures have been moved in the past and the guidelines that the National Register has developed regarding the process by which historic structures should be relocated, two case studies will also be examined. The first is Cape …

A Conditions Assessment And Preservation Guidelines For Second Presbyterian Church’S Graveyard Charleston, South Carolina, William Preston Hamilton

All Theses

Throughout the history of the world the commemoration of the dead has taken many manifestations and forms. Monuments range from burial mounds and tombs to wall memorials and grave slabs. The earliest surviving architectural remains in nearly every culture are the remains of memorials to the dead which can often shed light on the lifestyles of humans from prehistoric times. Beginning in the latter part of the 18th century American graveyards began to exhibit many of the characteristics of modern burial grounds, such as individual burial pits and family grave plots. This practice was no different at Second Presbyterian Church …