The Cobbler's Cottage

The Cobbler's Cottage is a ca-1870 historic cottage in the United States National Historic Landmark District – Beaufort Historic District. The Cobbler's Cottage is a contributing property
# U-13-1013
of the Beaufort Historic District making the cottage a recognized member of the “National Register of Historic Places”.National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. The Cobbler's Cottage is located at Block 66, Lot C, 713 Charles Street, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Description and history

The city of Beaufort, SC was chartered in 1711 with the streets and blocks established along a bluff of the Beaufort River so homes could be built facing south to catch the southern breezes. Stately homes were built in a T-shape known as the Beaufort Style Architecture to enhance catching the breeze from the river. The Cobbler's Cottage is not one of the stately homes of the Plantation Planters but a cottage for the common working class that supplied services to the Planters in the area of Beaufort called “The Old Commons”.

The Cobbler’s Cottage was originally built as a 2 over 2 cottage with double tiered front piazzas. The cottage was made of wooden clapboard siding and wooden shingle roofing. The inside walls were made of plaster & horse hair and heated by four fireplaces in two chimneys. The outside clapboards are painted a salmon color or “Beaufort Red” that is similar to the paint of a Barbados Chattel Cottage. Over the years, The Cobbler’s Cottage was modified with additions for bathrooms, kitchen, dining room and faux chimneys.

The Cobbler’s Cottage is located in the north west corner of Beaufort SC, Block 66 Lot C. Lot C was owned by planter
Henrietta Seraphina Fripp Cunningham
right before the Civil War (1861-1865) and it was estimated that she was worth $4000. Lot C was sold during the Civil War for taxes to Lt. Frank D. Saupp of the 55th PA Volunteers. Mrs. Cunningham retreated with her three boys, Henry, Samuel & John, along with her brother Hamilton Fripp, Jr., during the Civil War to her family plantation, Belevdere Plantation (originally called Fripp Plantation). Fripp Plantation was located in the middle of th
Beaufort District
on Scott’s Neck between Huspa Creek, Whale Branch, and Pocotaligo River in Sheldon, SC.

It was common for planters to have a stately home in Beaufort. It looks like the Cunningham’s were planning on building a stately home in Beaufort as well. Mrs. Cunningham had bought Block 66 Lot C, her brother Hamilton Fripp, Jr. owned Lot B, and the neighboring Scott’s Neck Fraser Plantation’s owner, Frederick Fraser owned Lot A. Mr. Fraser had built a stately home
Frederick Fraser House
before the Civil War on Block 66 Lot A. Mrs. Cunningham had not yet built a stately home on Lot C, due to her husband, Doctor Andrew McNair Cunninghan, owner of the slave ship “Beaufort District”, died before the Civil War in Florida.

The Cobbler's Cottage got its name due to having a cobbler's shop for many years (1899 ~ late as 1958) on the property in front of the Cottage on Charles Street.

References

External links

Beaufort County Historic Site Survey, 1997, page 127, #U-13-1013.
* South Carolina, Beaufort
1899 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
sheet 5, addresses 418, 418 1/2, & 420 Charles Street, corner Charles & Duke.

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Houses in Beaufort, South Carolina