This wrought iron gate guards a beautiful home on Charleston‘s Stoll’s Alley. The alley is paved in brick and connects historic Church Street with East Bay Street just above the Battery. The street was named for blacksmith Justinus Stoll, who built a home along this alley in 1745.
Linda Brown of Kingstree, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
Like much of this part of Charleston, Stoll’s Alley had fallen into disrepair by the early twentieth century. The street was rehabilitated in 1927, and soon other landmarks that had become blighted – such as the now-famous Rainbow Row – followed suit. Today Stoll’s Alley is a nearly-hidden avenue boasting the beauty of Charleston architecture.
Hmmm I’m a Stoll from Pennsylvania. Now you have peaked my interest.
Justinus and Mary Taylor Stoll of Stoll’s Alley were my 5th great grandparents. My family has done extensive research and we are unable to locate where Justinus was from. We did find that Mary Taylor was born in Pennsylvania and that was quite a surprise. If anyone has any information on Justinus I would very much appreciate it. We even made several trips to Bluffton to see if we could locate the land where his plantation was but no success. Thanks. Charlene Stoll Hale
Justinus Stoll and Mary Taylor Stoll were my great, great, great, great, great grandparents. The genealogical sketch that I have says that the property between “Church Street and Bay” Street was sold to Justinus Stoll and Mary Taylor Stoll on April 2nd, 1759. What are your sources indicating a home being build in 1745?
Hello Nancy, great question and very cool connection. The information is sourced from the Historic Charleston Foundation’s property file which is located here: https://charleston.pastperfectonline.com/archive/4858D231-3291-4E03-B06D-926752929351. Hope this helps!
My grandfather’s, Harry Stoll Mustard, M.D., mother was Elizabeth Stoll married to Alan Mustard and their home was Charlestion. My grandfather told me about the alley and mentioned it being the location of silver shops.