From Dawn and Charles Corley’s front porch a visitor could turn a blind eye to the modern world. Historic cabins and barns across the street transport visitors back hundreds of years. Nearly every object in their 1819 home is over 150 years old, and American or with ties to SC. “We were very careful to only put in things that are old or look very old to preserve the historical feel,” Dawn said.

Charles, whose family has lived in the area for centuries, purchased the home from family members in the early 1990s. He began working on renovating the house immediately, and the job is still ongoing.

In the 1800s the size of spice cabinets, such as this antique, and sugar bowls indicate the wealth of the family because it implied that they were able to fill the cabinets up. The two story home, which used to be Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, had been “modernized” with the use of shag carpet and linoleum to cover up the wooden floors, and the grounds had fallen into disrepair. “It looked like the farm house on Green Acres ,” Charles said. Even with Dawn’s help, the gardens alone took nearly two years to restore and design.

An antique organza wedding gown rests on a four poster bed. In front is a blue and white china that once belonged to Sen. Strom Thurmond’s mother. The quilt on the bed was stolen by Sherman’s soldiers who used it to care horse feed. Dawn, who is a metallurgist and lecturer on antique silver, has filled the house with unique pieces to accompany Charles’ addiction to Chinese import ceramics.

A native of Charleston, Dawn honed her knowledge of silver in the shops on King Street and has lectured to US presidents, foreign officials, and been featured in numerous magazines and television shows.

This civil war era piece of furniture, like many from that time, has a secret compartment in the top that was used to hide family valuables from Northern soldiers. Every object in the Corley home has some historical significance, from the tea spoon on the dining room table to the Betsy Ross flag flying on the front porch. For example, a set of spoons crafted by Sylvan’s in Columbia represents an era of silverware design. They were made entirely of melted–down silver coins. “This is where the term ‘money to burn’ came from,” Dawn said. “If you had enough to melt for spoons, then you had a lot.” On the back of each spoon it states how many coins were used to make the spoon.

The Leeds china, popular from 1790–1830 and produced in Leeds, England, was considered the cheapest form of china in its day. Now this cup, which Charles found filled with nails in the carriage house, is worth over $100. Dawn and Charles consider it a duty to share their knowledge and love of treasures from the past with others. Dawn often holds historical dinners in their dining room with each course prepared and eaten the way it would have been centuries ago. They also relish inviting friends and family into their home for events throughout the year.

Jefferson Davis penned his final address to his Confederate Cabinet on this desk when he stayed at the Cross Keys Plantation. Around every corner there is an antique with a story to tell about the time it was made and the people who used it.

See page B16 for a glance at the Corley garden.

Antique silver graces the tables and religious art adorns the walls of the Corley’s dining room where they hold historic dinners.