Historic Sullivan's Island

Sullivan's Island is located at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. The island was named for Captain Florence O'Sullivan who was elected to South Carolina's First Provincial Parliament in 1672. Sullivan's Island played an important part in the defense of Charleston since the 17th century. A signal cannon and "watch house" were placed on the island in the 1600's. The island appears to have been sparsely populated prior to the Revoluntionary War. Construction of Fort Moultrie was started in 1776.

By the time the town of Moultrieville was incorporated in 1817 as many as 200 homes may have been built on the island. Most of the homes appear to have been used as a summer retreat by Charleston residents. Access to the island was provided by ferries and steamboats during the 19th century. Most of the homes appear to have been concentrated towards the western end of the island prior to the Civil War. Fort Moultire was abandoned after the Civil War and fell into disrepair. After the Civil War, many of the summer residents from Charleston returned to the western half of the island. A bridge from Mt. Pleasant was reported to have been built during the Civil War.A Post office was opened on the island in 1875 and several smaller neighborhoods came into existence on the eastern end of the Island in the late 1800's. The 1890's saw rapid develpoment on the Island with the development of a trolley line between Mt. Pleasant, The Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island. By 1917 most of the lots had homes built on them.

Homes For Sale On Sullivan's Island

 A Photographic Survey Of Historic Homes On Sullivan's Island

Historic Middle Street Homes on Sullivan's Island

"The Moore House"

852 Middle Street - Aerial View

The Moore House cir. 1890 is believed to have been the location of Brady's Tavern. The home was purchased by James T. Molony from Ann Laffan in 1911. The sixth generation of Moore Family descendents continue to use the home during the summer months.

853 Middle Street - Aerial View

This cir. 1880 Sullivan's Island summer cottage once belonged to C. Irvine Walker, a partner in the Charleston firm of Walker, Evans and Cogswell Printing Company.The home was sold to Ella Carter McGuire in 1930, to Franklin Robson in 1952 and to Caroline and Amy Wilbur in 1959.

"The Simonds House"

1009 Middle Street - Aerial View

The Simonds House cir. 1850 has a bay window on the front of the home with an arched rain hood over the chimney. As of 2004 the home was owned by the Engle Family. It is an excellent example of 19th century island architecture.

"The Dr. John B. Patrick House"

1820 Middle Street - Aerial View

The John D. Partick House is a 2 1/2 story home built of cypress built about 1870. The property was origionally a front beach summer residence but as the land accreted, a street was added and part of the property came into the possession of the United States Coast Guard on which  a station and light house was built. Dr. Patrick (1822-1903) was a Charleston denist. His primary home and denist office were at 82 Society Street in Charleston. Dr. Patrick built a home across the street at 1820 I'On as a card house and cottage for him and his five sons in which to play cards away from his wife and three daughters. As of 2004, the owner was John B. Greer of Charlotte, North Carolina.

2002 Middle Street - Aerial View

This was the home of the McGoldrick family, which had one of the two ice supply companies on the Island. The home has been altered but is still a good example of 19th century island residential architecture. Cir. 1885.

"The Minot/Blanchard House"

2424 Middle Street - Aerial View

"Vagabond Villa" was purchased cir. 1937 from William Minot by Theodore S. Blanchard, the superintendent of construction at Fort Moultrie. The home was built cir. 1915 and is a good example of 20th century architecture on the Island.

The Oleander Cottage is believed to have been built cir. 1880 but local tradition claims it was built in 1901 -1902 in the Hampton Park area of Charleston, dismantled and rebuilt on Sullivan's Island.

The Paturzo House

The Paturzo House was built cir 1900 was origionally further forward on this lot and closer to the ground. It is a variation of the "island house" form constructed on the island prior to the Civil War through the mid 20th century.

SullivansIslandHistoricDistrict.pdf

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Additional information and historic photos of many of these homes can be found in the book "Images of America - Sullivan's Island" published by Arcadia Publishing.