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Harbor Master’s House

SC PICTURE PROJECT 5 Comments

SC Picture Project / Charleston County / Harbor Master’s House

This frame house in the Fort Johnson complex of James Island goes by many names because it has served several roles since it was built in 1922. Fort Johnson was the site of the first shot fired onto Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, signaling the start of the Civil War. However, the fort dates to 1704, when colonial governor Nathaniel Johnson – the fort’s namesake – ordered it built to fortify the Charleston harbor. Since that time, earthworks and other buildings, including a 1765 powder magazine, remain on the site. Today the 90-acre property is owned by Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences, an academic and research center that includes partnerships with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), the College of Charleston, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Harbor Master House

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Following the Civil War the fort sat vacant until the 1920s when the federal government made it the official Quarantine Station for the Port of Charleston. During this era this home was built to house the harbor master along with the other surrounding structures, which were used as a storage facility and a garage. The harbor master could see the entirety of the harbor from his home, including Fort Sumter, seen in the distance in the below photo. The quarantine station was eventually abandoned, and the structures built for the station fell into disrepair.

Harbor Master House Porch

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

In 1954 the College of Charleston in conjunction with MUSC purchased the property, then 40 acres, for use as the Fort Johnson Marine Biological Laboratory of the College of Charleston. The president of MUSC lived in the former harbor master’s home, lending to the house’s nickname, the President’s House. Its white wood frame exterior also gave rise to another moniker, the White House. Today other historic structures sit on the Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences site, including the aforementioned powder magazine and Marshlands Plantation as well as new buildings such as the 80,000-square-foot Holling Marine Lab, a state-of-the-art laboratory for the study of molecular biology and structural chemistry of the marine environment. The lab opened in 2000.

Harbor Master House Fort Johnson

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The harbor master’s home, as well as the storage building, garage, and a cistern, were all proposed for demolition by MUSC in 2015. The home was most recently used for administrative offices but has been empty since early 2015. The proposed demolition has come under scrutiny by preservationists, most notably the State Historic Preservation Office, which has advised MUSC against it. The Preservation Office cites the buildings from the fort’s quarantine station days as historically significant, though MUSC claims that the dilapidated buildings pose both safety and environmental hazards.

Harbor Master House Interior

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

As of April of 2016, the buildings remain standing at Fort Johnson, though plans to tear them down, including this structure, continue to progress. The harbor master’s home, the storage building, and the garage are not listed in the National Register, which makes them more vulnerable to demolition.

Plan Your Trip: Harbor Master’s House

Where is Harbor Master’s House located?
Address: 331 Ft. Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412
GPS Coordinates: 32.753135,-79.898296
What else should I see?
Castle Pinckney 2.6 miles
Crab Bank 3.3 miles
Charleston Battery 3.4 miles
Palmer Home 3.4 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Colleges
  • See other South Carolina Historic Houses
  • James Island Historic Sites
    Harbor Master’s House Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brooke says

      April 30, 2020 at 2:31 PM

      If I could buy this house and restore it, I would! Please do not let this beautiful place be demolished. Even as-is, it is a mysterious and enchanting place to visit.

      Reply
    2. Gloria Hayes says

      October 4, 2019 at 9:23 PM

      I would like to know if this house is for sale. If so, please let me know. 843-670-9832

      Reply
    3. CHRISS FROSIO says

      May 4, 2017 at 5:11 PM

      Just wondering if James Armstrong, the Harbor Master after the Civil War lived here in this house?

      PS. It would be unconscionable to demolish this historical landmark. Please do not let that happen!

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        May 5, 2017 at 1:09 PM

        Hello Chris, we don’t believe that James Armstrong ever stayed in this particular structure as it was built in 1922. We did do some research on the topic but have not seen where he directly stayed here. If that changes and we do discover something we will definitely let you know. With that being said I can gladly report that the demolition efforts have been halted for now. We can only hope they remain this way but the future is uncertain at the time. Thank you!

        Reply
    4. Faye Gaskins says

      January 22, 2017 at 11:54 AM

      Please don’t destroy this home. Restore and respect the history around this property. Wish I could buy it and watch over it! Please – I hope the state will restore this lovely home!

      Reply

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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