Restoring History
The circa 1885 Hutchinson House is multifaceted gem—a rare, intact example of Reconstruction-era African American domestic architecture and a building of deep historical and emotional significance for the Hutchinson family descendants and Edisto Island community. Built by Henry Hutchinson, who was born into slavery and became a prosperous landowner and farmer who operated the island’s first African American-owned cotton gin, the house had been vacant since the 1980s.
Placed on the National Register in 1987, the severely damaged historic structure was bought by the Edisto Island Open Land Trust (EIOLT), which ultimately plans to open it to the public. While the EIOLT raised restoration funds, Artis volunteered its expertise initially to stabilize the structure—building an exoskeleton diaphragm to support the fragile walls. The next phase entailed a meticulous exterior restoration. “We basically dissembled the facades piece by piece, cataloging and evaluating each pine board to see what could be salvaged and what needed replacement,” says Artis’s Guyton Ash.
The restoration was recognized in Spring 2021 by Historic Charleston Foundation with its annual Robert N.S. and Patti Foos Whitelaw Award for the long-term protection and preservation of important buildings and places. Having successfully preserved and reinforced the major structural elements and bones of the house, Artis is now working with EIOLT to rebuild the wrap-around porches depicted in historical photographs.
Archival photos courtesy of Edisto Island Open Land Trust.
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