Colonel John Stuart House facts for kids
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Colonel John Stuart House
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Colonel John Stuart House
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 104-106 Tradd St., Charleston, South Carolina |
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| Built | 1772 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Part of | Charleston Historic District (ID66000964) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000578 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 22, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | November 7, 1973 |
| Designated NHLDCP | October 9, 1960 |
The Colonel John Stuart House is a really old and important house in Charleston, South Carolina. It was built way back in 1772, which was just a few years before the American Revolution started! This house is special because it's the oldest known house in Charleston with a "side-hall plan." It's also famous because Colonel John Stuart lived here. He was a very important person who worked for the King of England, helping to keep peace with Native American tribes in the South. This house was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1973 because of its history.
About the Colonel John Stuart House
The Stuart House is in the old part of downtown Charleston, right where Tradd and Orange Streets meet. It's a three-story house made of wood. The front of the house looks south and has a fancy entrance with columns. The windows also have decorative tops. Inside, there's a long hallway on the left with a main staircase at the back. Many of the beautiful decorations inside were carefully recreated in the 20th century, as the originals were moved to a museum in 1930.
What the House Was Like
Imagine what this house was like long ago! In 1864, it was advertised for sale. The ad described it as a "handsome and roomy" home built with the best materials. It had nine rooms, including a large drawing room and dining room. There was also a basement with a billiard room and storage. The attic had a room and wine closets.
The house had a special lookout on the roof with a great view of the city. Outside, there were double porches with blinds. A separate brick building held a pantry and kitchen. Other buildings included a laundry, five sleeping rooms, a carriage house, and a stable for three horses. The property also had a large water cistern and a well. Brick walls and an iron fence surrounded the lot, which was divided into a shrubbery and a garden.
Who Was Colonel John Stuart?
The house was built in 1772 for John Stuart. He was born in Scotland and came to North America in 1746. In 1762, he got a very important job. He was named the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the southern British colonies.
His job was to keep peaceful relationships with the Native American tribes in the area. He worked especially closely with the Five Civilized Tribes. He helped improve relations, especially with the Cherokee Nation, between the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.
As tensions grew between the colonies and Great Britain, Stuart remained loyal to the King. In 1775, he was arrested. People thought he was encouraging Native Americans to act against the colonists. He managed to escape from prison. He then fled to West Florida. From there, he continued to direct Native American activities against the colonists until he passed away in 1779.
