South Carolina, Charleston County, Charleston
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35 Calhoun Street was built in 1852 and occupied by Irish immigrants.
It was purchased by Willis Johnson, Sr. in 1939.
His sons, Frank and Henry built 35½ Calhoun with their own hands to complete carpentry apprenticeships.
The houses are still owned by Willis Johnson's Sr. Family.
"The Borough" is the name associated with the former African-American section of the Ansonborough neighborhood.
It was bounded by Laurens, Charlotte, Concord and Meeting Streets.
Here, African American families fostered close relationships and rich cultural life.
Their community was steeped in the belief that "it takes a village to raise a child."
Just east of the spot-in what is known as Ansonborough Field-stood the Ansonborough Homes. Built in 1940 for over 160 families, the structures were vacated in 1992 upon discovery of toxic-waste deposits in the soil. Their demolition the following year regrettably erased a significant piece of history relevant to Charleston's black community.
These two houses are the last vestiges of The Borough and have steadfastly resisted gentrification. They remain monuments to the lives and contributions of African-Americans who made The Borough their home.
These photographs [included] depict life in The Borough as it existed five decades ago.
(African Americans • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 10 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
35 Calhoun Street was built in 1852 and occupied by Irish immigrants.
It was purchased by Willis Johnson, Sr. in 1939.
His sons, Frank and Henry built 35½ Calhoun with their own hands to complete carpentry apprenticeships.
The houses are still owned by Willis Johnson's Sr. Family.
"The Borough" is the name associated with the former African-American section of the Ansonborough neighborhood.
It was bounded by Laurens, Charlotte, Concord and Meeting Streets.
Here, African American families fostered close relationships and rich cultural life.
Their community was steeped in the belief that "it takes a village to raise a child."
Just east of the spot-in what is known as Ansonborough Field-stood the Ansonborough Homes. Built in 1940 for over 160 families, the structures were vacated in 1992 upon discovery of toxic-waste deposits in the soil. Their demolition the following year regrettably erased a significant piece of history relevant to Charleston's black community.
These two houses are the last vestiges of The Borough and have steadfastly resisted gentrification. They remain monuments to the lives and contributions of African-Americans who made The Borough their home.
These photographs [included] depict life in The Borough as it existed five decades ago.
(African Americans • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 10 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
