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"1865. Charleston, South Carolina. Vendue Range looking east from near the corner of East Bay Street." Aftermath of the Great Fire of 1861 and bombardment by the Federal Navy. Wet plate glass negative. View full size.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this Website! I never knew about it until today, but today you have solved a family puzzle for me! John H. Lange was my great-great grandfather, and until I saw this photograph, I never knew where his tavern had been back in the 1860's. How exciting to find this!
In the 1860 Charleston census it states that John, age 49, was a tavern keeper, born 1811 in Hanover. With him are his wife Catherine, age 40, also born in Hanover and two children, Eliza 15 yrs. and Gustav age 13. Also living there was Henry Wreden, age 24 from Hanover, listed as a clerk. On Dec. 17, 1877 Gustav, born 1847, married Johanne Tideman, born 1853.
Snapshot of a time long ago, for 1865. Before awnings everybody kept the sun out with shutters. Those dormer houses were all the rage of the 1820's.
From the way the light is playing on the building. I'm guessing this picture was taken in the summertime. It suggests heat and humidity to me.
I always find it fascinating to see side-by-side old and new pictures such as these. Just for fun, I very roughly put Larc's current version into the original. It makes a strange combination of images.
The building at left that looks as if it's ready for demolition in 1865 is still there at 18 Vendue Range. It now houses the Griffon Pub, a popular Charleston spot for cold beer and cheap eats.
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