Thanks, Andrea, for this post about the Sword Gate House. My book club (we are in Columbia SC) did a walking tour of Charleston last year that focused on the novel The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (about the Grimke sisters who were leaders in the abolition cause). The guide stopped in front of these gates and told us about the finishing school that Madame Talvande ran there in the 1800s, and the Grimke sisters attended. Mary Boykin Chesnut of Diary From Dixie fame was also a student. Because of this mention by the guide, we decided to read a biography this year about Chesnut, as she lived much of her adult life in Camden, SC (my hometown!). And of course….that led to a “field trip” to Camden recently to see antebellum homes of Chesnut’s era and hear a talk about her contribution to Civil War history at the Camden archives. All because of the Sword Gate House stop! So much history to learn and even revisit.
My husband and I were married there in 1985. We may have been the only people staying there at the time. The inn keeper was the witness in our small three person wedding. Guy ridgeway Smyth was the offiante. It was magical.
Wow. Okay, I’ll take it – furnished! For that price, it should come with contents. It’s a gem.
Andrea,
Interesting story- and reminded me of my November 2012 post on same house!
Here’s the link: http://deanfarrisstyle.blogspot.com/search?q=Legare+
Gorgeous! I adore it!
I prefer Pat Altschul’s house much prettier in scale and decoration, this looks overdone.
Property taxes are over $100k a year ????
Thanks, Andrea, for this post about the Sword Gate House. My book club (we are in Columbia SC) did a walking tour of Charleston last year that focused on the novel The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (about the Grimke sisters who were leaders in the abolition cause). The guide stopped in front of these gates and told us about the finishing school that Madame Talvande ran there in the 1800s, and the Grimke sisters attended. Mary Boykin Chesnut of Diary From Dixie fame was also a student. Because of this mention by the guide, we decided to read a biography this year about Chesnut, as she lived much of her adult life in Camden, SC (my hometown!). And of course….that led to a “field trip” to Camden recently to see antebellum homes of Chesnut’s era and hear a talk about her contribution to Civil War history at the Camden archives. All because of the Sword Gate House stop! So much history to learn and even revisit.
My husband and I were married there in 1985. We may have been the only people staying there at the time. The inn keeper was the witness in our small three person wedding. Guy ridgeway Smyth was the offiante. It was magical.