From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Although named a National Historic Landmark in 1976 and commonly known as the Denmark Vesey House, the home today located at 56 Bull Street in Charleston, South Carolina is almost certainly not the house once inhabited by black abolitionist Denmark Vesey. Vesey's rented home, owned first by attorney George Cross and later by white carpenter Benjamin Ireland, listed as 20 Bull Street under the city's former numbering system, is now evidently gone. A nearby home, most likely built in the 1830s or 1840s and currently numbered 56 Bull Street, was thought in 1976 to have been the home of Denmark Vesey. But in 1980, state archivist Wylma Wates found evidence to suggest Vesey's rented house was four or five houses east of the so-called "Vesey house."[3] Architectural historian Edward Turberg confirmed that the house in question is not only in the wrong place but was "constructed after 1830 and before 1850." Since Vesey was hanged in 1822, he died roughly ten years before the house was built.[4] Despite these findings, the house today remains a National Historic Landmark[5] and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6] It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.[1][7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Denmark Vesey House. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service (2007-09-25).
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
- ^ Wylma Wates to Charles E. Lee, August 29, 1980, Denmark Vesey House File, South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Report cited in footnote 18, page 83, of He Shall Go Out Free: The Lives of Denmark Vesey, by Douglas R. Egerton.
- ^ Edward F. Turburg to Beckie Johnson, May 14, 1980, Denmark Vesey House File, South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Another report, also cited in footnote 18, page 83, of He Shall Go Out Free: The Lives of Denmark Vesey by Douglas R. Egerton.
- ^ Denmark Vesey's House & Marker
- ^ National Register of Historical Places - SOUTH CAROLINA (SC), Charleston County
- ^ Lynne Gomez Graves (October 30, 1975), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Denmark Vesey HousePDF (32 KB), National Park Service and Accompanying three photos, exterior, from 1975PDF (32 KB)
[edit] External links
Denmark Vesey House, Charleston County (56 Bull St., Charleston), with 4 photos, at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
