This morning we toured the Joseph Manigault House at 350 Meeting Street, built in 1803. It is a wonderful example of the graceful Adam style. It was designed by the gentleman-architect Gabriel Manigault for his brother, Joseph. Among the intriguing features of the restored house are a cantilevered stairway in the entrance hall and a Gate Temple in the garden. The collection of American, English and French period furniture was outstanding.
At 1pm, we met Mr. Brown who gave us a Gullah tour. Gullah is the African-American language and culture in this area and close to some African language. The tour included a general overview with lots of the normal spots we would get in any tour, but much of it was given from the perspective of the slaves of that era. It included the "real" old Loud Plantation just over the Ashton River with the old big house and a line of slave quarters/cabins which were occupied by blacks and migrant farm workers up until 1990! Mr. Loud was 112 when he died a few years later. Much of the plantation had been sold off and developed.
The guide’s opening talk inside his van was a real revalidation about the Gullah culture and history along with much fun attempting to understand the language, which is actually English, but in unique idioms which are the essence of the situation described.
We had an early dinner at a local eatery, Jestin's. We both had fried green tomatoes and cucumbers in vinegar. Susan had meatloaf with macaroni and cheese and green beans. I had collard greens and rice with Pecan Whiting, a fish. For desert, it was Coke-a-cola cake and coconut crème pie! Everything was great!
Later we toured the Nathaniel Russell House at 51 Meeting Street, built in 1808.
