Southern Voice

05/10/2026

By the time St. Bartholomew's Episcopal in Chatham County, Ga. was built in 1896, a congregation had already been evolving for more than fifty years.

The church building stands on what was once a rice plantation - one of many in this area of coastal Georgia. In the 1830's, an effort was launched to teach the enslaved to read, which in turn led to the organization of an Episcopal church.

And within 30 years - by the 1860's - St. Bartholomew's had become the largest Episcopal congregation - either black or white - in the entire Diocese of Georgia.

The structure here is a lovely and very important example of Victorian architecture. Though the congregation today is smaller, this church is still active. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

I caught this photo on Friday morning on my way home from a book presentation at the Richmond Hill History Museum.

05/07/2026

Allow me to add a heartfelt "amen" to this.

05/06/2026

Cheraw, SC is another of my favorite small towns. It is flled with historic houses that are respected and well-preserved, such as Lafayette House, circa 1820, which struck a beautiful pose for me one summer afternoon a couple of years ago.

If you live in a place blessed with old structures that deserve to be saved, do yourself and your town a favor and join the cause for historic preservation. When we save these places, we all win.

Photo by Beth Yarbrough.

05/06/2026

More on the story of Martinique from the EVM Foundation, which is in the process of beginning a full restoration.

05/05/2026

Summer fields surround the house known as Land's End in Perquimans County, North Carolina. It was built sometime between 1830 and 1837 on a spit of land not far from where the Perquimans River spills into Albemarle Sound - hence the name.

I'm always up for a drive along a back road, but they are especially sweet during the long days of summer.

Photo by Beth Yarbrough.

05/05/2026

The General Thomas Blount house in Tarboro, North Carolina is one of my favorite houses in one of my favorite towns. Built in 1808, and most often referred to as the Blount-Bridgers house, it is one of Tarboro's grandest.

These days, it is open to the public and houses a fine art collection which includes the work of local painter Hobson Pittman.

Photo by Beth Yarbrough.

05/05/2026

Visiting Camden, SC is, for me, very much like traveling through a dream. Having been fortunate enough to experience hundreds of the South's best small towns, I do not say that lightly.

On street after tree-shaded street, marvelous old homes stand guard as an ode to the past, as testament to the present, and as hope for the future.

One such house, known as Kamschatka, was built in 1858. Owned for many years by the family of William F. Buckley, its setting on a lovely hidden lane in Camden commands one to stop the car and ponder.

In so doing, my thoughts ran to the hope that more of our small towns will follow the lead of Camden, SC and realize the value of saving what matters.

Photo by Beth Yarbrough.

05/05/2026

Sadly, the same old song with new lyrics is apparently unfolding in Winston-Salem, NC. I do not know the story, but reading between the lines of this post from Preservation Forsyth, it might be a safe guess that there are no protective covenants or preservation easements associated with this historic structure - which is now in danger of being demolished.

PRESERVATION FORSYTH STATEMENT Regarding the Proposed Demolition of the Richard G. and Hortense Stockton House (1020 Kent Road, Winston-Salem)

Preservation Forsyth is aware that a demolition permit has been issued for the Richard G. and Hortense Stockton House at 1020 Kent Road in the Reynolda Park area of Winston-Salem. As an organization dedicated to promoting and protecting historic resources in Forsyth County, we strongly oppose the loss of this significant property and urge the current owners to reconsider plans for demolition.

Designed by noted architect Charles Barton Keen, also responsible for the Reynolda House and R.J. Reynolds High School - the Stockton House was constructed in 1924 by the Fogle Brothers. Its architectural pedigree and its association with early 20th-century development in the Reynolda area make it an important part of Winston-Salem’s historic landscape.

With few remaining examples of Keen’s work in Forsyth County, the loss of this home would represent a meaningful erosion of the city’s architectural heritage. Properties like the Stockton House contribute to the character, history, and sense of place that define our community.

While we recognize the limitations of available legal protections in this case, Preservation Forsyth encourages a collaborative and solutions-oriented approach. We invite the property owners, community stakeholders, and local partners to engage in dialogue to explore alternatives to demolition, including adaptive reuse or other preservation-minded options.

We also encourage community members who value Winston-Salem’s historic resources to stay informed and express their support for preservation in a respectful and constructive manner.

For more information about preservation tools such as easements, or to learn how you can support efforts like this, please visit https://preservationforsyth.org/

Additional resources:

Winston-Salem Journal article: https://journalnow.com/news/local/business/real-estate/article_8afd651e-d32d-4d39-80b2-76963bd9aabc.html

Charles Barton Keen (NC State Archives): https://ncarchitects.lib.ncsu.edu/people/P000380https://ncarchitects.lib.ncsu.edu/people/P000380

Richard G. Stockton (NCpedia): https://ncarchitects.lib.ncsu.edu/buildings/B002758

Kara Peters - WXII

05/04/2026

Oh, you know, just a view out to sea from one of Charleston, SC's finest and most historic houses - which, by the way, is on the market. We are Old House Browsing this evening on Charleston's Battery, and the interiors of the iconic Edmonston-Alston house are stunning. If this is in your price range, lucky you. And even if not, take a moment to enjoy the story of this house and the incredible photos. I wish this one God Speed.

Full details and photos appear in the comments below. I am not a licensed broker in South Carolina, just happy to help spread the word.

05/04/2026

A stroll through Plymouth, NC would not be advisable without mention of the iconic Perry-Spruill house, built between 1882-1884. Many have photographed this historic Gothic Revival cottage through the years, often overlooking the rest of the town's historic charm in favor of this one show-stopper - and it does stop traffic - and apparently always has.

It has been owned through the years by a succession of prominent Plymouth residents, including the Spruill family. These days it is still well-loved and continues to strike a lovely pose on Washington Street for anyone with a camera who can't resist:-) Having photographed it myself for many years, I am partial to this most recent photo, taken two months ago in early March.

Perry-Spruill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Photo by Beth Yarbrough.