Name/Title
Interview with Bill and Suzanne McIntosh [DVD]Entry/Object ID
2017.002.011Description
Interview with Bill and Suzanne McIntosh, long-time owners of 66 Anson Street (Chazal House), who reminisce about their home and the changes in the Ansonborough neighborhood that they have witnessed over the past 50+ years.
Mr. McIntosh was a long-time Charlestonian who descended from Mary Fisher Bailey Cross, a Quaker, who came to Charleston in 1680. He grew up on Greenhill Street and later lived on New and Broad Streets. He went to the Craft School and High School of Charleston. He owned a successful travel agency on Broad Street and was the president of the Preservation Society during the "Omni [now Charleston Place] controversies." Mrs. McIntosh is from New Orleans where they met when both were in college. Mrs. McIntosh worked for the Evening Post.
They purchased 66 Anson Street from Historic Charleston Foundation in 1961 through its Ansonborough Rehabilitation Project. They bought the house because as preservationists they wanted to restore a house. Also the house was inexpensive and they wanted a house with a yard. They had followed the lead of Peter Manigualt (Evening Post Industries) who had previously purchased a house in Ansonborough. Within eight years after they bought the house, at least 8 other Evening Post/News & Courier staff bought homes in Ansonborough, and as word spread, many others got excited and moved there.
Repairing, restoring, and renovating the house has been an ongoing process, starting when the McIntoshes cleared out sand on the ground that had reached the front steps, added a new roof, and installed electricity and plumbing. Herbert DeCosta did the work and also advised on the interiors. Through the Ansonborough Rehabilitation Project under Frances Edmunds's leadership, Ansonborough became one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Charleston.
Regarding neighborhood conditions and changes, like other homes in Ansonborough, 66 Anson Street was in deteriorated and neglected condition when the McIntoshes bought it. Many people thought the area was a dangerous slum but "many didn't see the neighborhood for how good it was … It was a poor community, not a slum … After World War II there wasn't any money" so the homes slowly became run down and weren't repaired. There had been corner grocery stores which were essential as most residents didn't have cars. (The corner stores were converted to residential during the Ansonborough Rehabilitation Project.) Many new Ansonborough homeowners were young couples before they had children. They socialized and shared information, eventually forming the Ansonborough Neighborhood Association. Ansonborough was a close community but has changed significantly over the years. Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh are the only original ARP homeowners living in the borough and they don't know many of their neighbors. Tourism has had an impact on Ansonborough, largely that of the carriage tours which Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh have not liked since the earliest tours. The rising value of homes has made it more expensive to live and maintain a house; almost all of the McIntosh's former neighbors have moved. There are also many part-time residents, which has changed the character of the neighborhood.
Date of interview: April 21, 2016. Interview conducted by Katherine Pemberton (HCF) at the McIntosh's home at 66 Anson Street. HCF staff April Wood and Holland Williams also present and asking questions. Richard Almes, videographer.
Interview: MP4 file : 43:21
B-Roll: MP4 file : 22:39
Digital files (MP3/audio and MP4/video) on MyPassport-OralHistory (external hard drive)Collection
HCF Oral History CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2017.002Source or Donor
New Library Catalog Records (2017)Acquisition Method
Found in CollectionLexicon
Search Terms
Lowcountry Digital Library, Ansonborough, Ansonborough Rehabilitation Project (ARP), Neighborhoods--South Carolina--Charleston, Home ownership--South Carolina--Charleston, Historic buildings--Conservation and restoration--South Carolina--Charleston, McIntosh, William--Interviews, McIntosh, Suzanne V.--InterviewsPublication Details
Author
McIntosh, Suzanne V., McIntosh, WilliamSeries
Historic Charleston Foundation Oral History ProjectPublisher
Richard Almes, VideographerPlace Published
City
CharlestonState/Province
South CarolinaCountry
United States of AmericaDate Published
2016Notes
Copy No.: 1Location
Location
Container
DVD (Videos) Box 1Shelf
AV MaterialsRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentDate
February 7, 2023Location
Container
DVD (Videos) Box 1Shelf
AV Materials, AV MaterialsRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentCategory
PermanentRelationships
Related Entries
Notes
ANSON.064-66.001, ANSON.064-66.002a-c, ANSON.064-66.003a-b, ANSON.064-66.004, ANSON.064-66.005General Notes
Note
Notes: Interview Agreement and Consent Form and Interview Documentation Sheet on Media link.
Includes B-roll footage.
MP4 files on MyPassport hard drive.Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
May 30, 2017Updated By
rowan@catalogit.appUpdate Date
March 30, 2023