The James Ferguson House at 442 King St., Charleston, South Carolina, is an antebellum house dating to at least 1840. As of 2000[update] it was being used as a restaurant.
The house was constructed for James Ferguson, a planter from Berkeley County, South Carolina. Subsequently, it was owned by the Amme family, well known locally for their bakery. The family renovated the house and added a Victorian storefront, giving it the appearance of a three-story building.
By 1976, the house was in poor condition. The Charleston Board of Architectural Review approved its demolition subject to a 180-day delay; preservationists opposed the demolition as the house was an especially early building for upper King Street.[1] Before the house was razed, two men bought it with the intent of turning it into a restaurant.[2]
However, the house was not restored until more than 20 years later when a neighboring property owner purchased it and restored it. The house became the location of Fish, a Charleston restaurant. The restoration returned the appearance of its front façade to the 1840s era.[3]
References
edit- ^ Stockton, Robert (July 12, 1976). "442 King Is Doomed?". Charleston News & Courier. pp. B1. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
- ^ Stockton, Robert (July 19, 1976). "442 King 'Saved'". Charleston News & Courier. pp. B1. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
- ^ Behre, Robert (August 21, 2000). "Renovation restores abandoned building on upper King". Charleston Post & Courier. p. B1. Retrieved November 23, 2013.