Historic 1755 Site, Dorchester County, SC, 1938 Photo

This vintage photograph, attributed to Frances Benjamin Johnston, captures a historic site in Dorchester County, South Carolina, near the Ashley River. The building featured was constructed in 1755 by John Williams and has remained within the same family since its inception. Notable architectural elements include Baroque gables, which were rebuilt in 1868, and modern extensions and interiors added later.

The image is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, a significant effort to document historic structures in the region. This survey plays an essential role in preserving the architectural heritage of the Southern United States. The photograph was published in the 1938 work Plantations of the Carolina Low Country by Samuel Gaillard Stoney, further emphasizing its historical importance.

This photograph not only showcases the unique architecture of the time but also serves as a visual record of the landscape, including rice paddies and the river, which were vital to the regions agricultural economy.