US Custom House 2 Color

by Joseph C Hinson

Title

US Custom House 2 Color

Artist

Joseph C Hinson

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

The U.S. Custom House is the custom house in Charleston, South Carolina. Construction began in 1852, but was interrupted in 1859 due to costs and the possibility of South Carolina's secession from the Union. After the Civil War, construction was restarted in 1870 and completed in 1879.

In the tense pre-Civil War period, the federal government felt that building a new custom house in Charleston to replace the Old Custom House would be a positive sign to South Carolina. A design competition with a $300 prize was announced.
About ten architects submitted entries. The four known entrants were three Charlestonian architects: Edward Brickell White, Edward C. Jones, and Peter H. Hammarskold and one Savannah, Georgia architect, John S. Norris. Noted New York architect, James Renwick submitted a late entry, which was returned.
The commission judging the entries selected the Jones design and submitted the plans to the Secretary of the Treasury in Washington, DC.
There was lobbying while the decision was being made. Robert Mills submitted plans to the Secretary.

Eventually, Ammi Burnham Young was selected to produce a new design incorporating features of the four competitive entries. White was appointed the superintending architect Jones, Hammarskold, Norris, and White were awarded $200 for their entries.

The final plans were for a two-story, cross-shaped building with an elevated, rusticated basement. It was to be 259 feet from west to east and 152 feet from north to south. The west and east arms had Roman porticoes supported by Corinthian limestone columns and steps down to grade. The north and south arms were porticoes. The walls had Corinthian engaged columns between the windows. There was a dome supported by Corinthian columns. The building was to be 160 feet above grade. Other than the change from Doric to Corinthian order and for the high dome, the building bore resemblance to the Boston Custom House that Young had recently designed

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December 30th, 2020

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