Presqu'ile, or Presqui'ile, (pronounced Preesk-eel), the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

term for "

peninsula A peninsula (; ) is a landform that extends from a mainland and is surrounded by water on most, but not all of its borders. A peninsula is also sometimes defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides. Peninsulas exist on all ...

", was an appropriate name for the house built at 2 Amherst St.,

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...

between 1802 and 1808 because, at the time, the house stood on a finger of high ground that projected into the marshes of the Cooper River. The builder, Jacob Belser, was a planter, attorney, and state senator (1812–15). It has been speculated that the house was designed by

Gabriel Manigault Gabriel Manigault (March 17, 1758 – November 4, 1809) was an American architect. Early life Manigault was born in Charleston, South Carolina on March 17, 1758. He was the son of Elizabeth Wragg Manigault (1736–1773) and Peter Manigault (1 ...

. The interior has fine

Adamesque The Adam style (or Adamesque and "Style of the Brothers Adam") is an 18th-century neoclassical style of interior design and architecture, as practised by Scottish architect William Adam and his sons, of whom Robert (1728–1792) and James (173 ...

decorations of carved wood and a spiral staircase. Originally, there was a single room on the first and second floors and two on the third floor with the stairs set in a semicircular bay on the rear of the house. A square, three-story rear wing in the

Greek Revival The Greek Revival was an architectural movement which began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe and the United States and Canada, but ...

style was added by Henry Grimke, a planter who acquired the house in 1840. Subsequent owners of the home have included Theodore S. Marion, Joshua T. Ward, Maj. Samuel Porcher (the likely builder of

Numertia Plantation Numertia Plantation is an historic plantation house located near Eutawville, Orangeburg County, South Carolina. It was built about 1850–1851, probably for Major Samuel Porcher. It is a two-story frame structure on a brick foundation. The house ...

), Henry Grimke, Joseph Leary, C.F. Klenke, the Baptist Association, the Historic Charleston Foundation, Arthur Ravenel, Jr. & Co., Jean Ravenel, J. Randolph Pelzer, SPD Investments Company, LLC, Presqu’ile House, LLC, and Presqu’ile, LLC. The home is presently used as a law office by Clawson Fargnoli, LLC. Presqu’ile received Carolopolis Awards in 1967 and 1978 from the

Preservation Society of Charleston Founded in 1920, the Preservation Society of Charleston is the oldest community-based historic preservation organization in the United States. Susan Pringle Frost founded the organization, first known as the Society for the Preservation of Old Dwell ...

and was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1978. The house has been under an interior and exterior historic easement with the

Historic Charleston Foundation Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) was founded in 1947 to preserve and protect the integrity of the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of Charleston, South Carolina, United States. The Foundation undertakes advocacy, participatio ...

since 1973.

References

External links

Presqu'ile, Charleston County (2 Amherst St., Charleston)
at South Carolina Department of Archives and History Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina Houses in Charleston, South Carolina National Register of Historic Places in Charleston, South Carolina {{CharlestonCountySC-NRHP-stub