Do you know the difference between a graveyard and a cemetery? Not many people can differentiate. But in a city, home to over 400+ churches, it’s important to know the difference between the two.  A graveyard is a burial ground which adjoins a church and is the older and smaller of the two. The most prominent and wealthy parishoners were once buried on church grounds, but with an increase in population and decrease in land, graveyards became full and new burial sites were needed. Fast forward… cemeteries. Cemeteries are independent sites, often located away from a town/city, and are not affiliated with a specific church. My personal favorite is a graveyard that belongs to The Unitarian Church and is tucked away between Archdale and King Streets. This natural beauty dates back to 1772, making it the second oldest in the city. Its overgrown, shaded grounds are a perfect escape from summer heat… and supposedly haunted by the ghost of a young Annabel Lee, the subject character from an Edgar Allen Poe poem.  Next time you’re on foot in the Holy City, take a stroll through this enchanting gem. Call me today to take a stroll around some of Charleston's historic graveyards.  

I KNOW real estate. In fact, was a Top Producer in my previous state.  NOW learning the history of my new home area and it is soooo exciting! I have a lot of knowledge regarding Historic Real Estate,  but CHARLESTON Real Estate is like no other, and boy is it fun!   Charleston ~ I am fascinated with the history of Charleston and the absolute BEAUTY of the city.  I have traveled to Charleston many times and have loved every minute.  The hubby and I went on a Friday morning walking tour a few weeks ago; it felt so decadent to take a morning away from my real estate business.  This tour was sponsored by the Historic Charleston Foundation and started HERE.  The tour and store staff were very friendly and knew their history well! I was amazed at the number of tourists on the tour with us and very happy to see that ALL AGES were present and interested!    Preservation is key and so is the future involvement of our kids. I've included pics from my morning tour but there is SO much more to see, feel, and experience.   Enjoy and if you feel led, please contribute to this worthy foundation that does so many good things for our Beloved Charleston https://www.historiccharleston.org/donate/   Call me today to talk about Charleston's history and find your dream home!

When you're visiting most major cities, an alley is usually something you tend to avoid right? Well not when you are visiting the Holy City; in fact, Charleston's Historic Alleys are a must-see! They are usually South of Broad in Residential areas and quite hidden. I'm going to let you know how to find my top 5 Favorite Historic Alleys. 1. Stoll's Alley Stoll's Alley is between Church and East Bay St. If you enter from East Bay if you blink you may miss it. It is so narrow on that end, you can stand in the middle and touch the buildings on both sides. If you start on Church, it will narrow and darken until you feel like you're in a tunnel! 2. Longitude Lane Longitude Lane is also located off of Church St. and is one of the most lovely of lanes in the Holy City. It is lined with ferns and cast-iron and shade trees line the passage. It is bordered by walls of ivy of some of the most historic Charleston homes. 3. St. Michael's Alley St. Michael's Alley connects Church and Meeting St. located (like its namesake) next to Historic St. Michael's Church. This Alley is the site of some of Charleston's earliest preservation efforts. It is also the location is also home to one of the most recognized Phillip Simmons' Gates. 4. Philadelphia Alley This is my personal favorite and in my opinion, the most beautiful. Philadelphia Alley is located between Church and State St. and connects Cumberland and Queen St. in Charleston's French Quarter. Its trademark is the brick-lined path paired with the mossy brick walls. It dates back to the 18th Century and was once known as Duelers Alley because as legend has it, dozens of duels were fought here. 5. Price's Alley Price's Alley is located between Meeting and King St, below Tradd, and a cool little cut-through between them. in a very Residential Area of Charleston and some of the most beautiful properties that pop on the Market. Check out a current listing on Price's Alley and a few other Lovely Lane Listings by clicking on the links below! https://www.flexmls.com/share/5BGlM/1-Prices-Alley-Charleston-SC-29401https://www.flexmls.com/share/5BGr2/28-Longitude-Lane-Charleston-SC-29401https://www.flexmls.com/share/5BGsf/2-Longitude-Lane-Charleston-SC-29401 Call me to schedule a tour today! 843-410-7871

Charleston was at one time in history the home of pirates, lots of them ! And​ their ghosts and others, those are still living among us, in cemeteries, in houses, in hotels, in alley ways, in parks. Don't be afraid. Most of them are friendly. At night, you can hear them talk and laugh ! This is no joke. I heard their voices myself, saw their shadows and felt their soft touch on my shoulders while walking down a narrow alley d'town Charleston.The City shows off proudly all kind of signs of past history including signs of pirate history, of the  Civil War, of  fires, and hurricanes, of plantation times and so we have a huge amount of very very old sites which seem, sometimes at night, come to life. Pirates in Charleston enjoyed their life here, the rich city, the perfect location to capture sailors and trade ships. And many of these pirates ended up at White Point Garden right at the Battery where one can smell the ocean and hear the sounds of the wind and sea birds and sometimes, when all is quiet, the sound of the cannon balls. It is a park where many pirates were hung, among them Stede Bonnet who was called the "gentleman pirate" and his crew, as well as the pirate Richard Worley.  The most famous pirate of them all, "Blackbeard",  captured Charleston without firing a shot in 1718, and held the town hostage for several days while awaiting needed supplies. The story of Blackbeard is a story so interesting that I recommend it to anyone to read.  One can easily find the signs of piracy in Charleston in the architecture of two buildings in the French Quarter, the Pirate House, and the Pink House, which was once a brothel serving the culinary needs and vices of pirates.Several companies in Charleston offer pirate and ghosts tours, a must participate event when visiting our City.If you need more info and tips for tours:  check in with me at uappleby@gmail.com or search for a home on my website www.DefinitelyCharleston.com and if you are lucky, you find one with a friendly ghost. 

Charleston: history and beauty and colors !  There are a lot of historic homes d'town Charleston and our city is known for its beautiful architecture. The Charleston Preservation Society plays a great part in preserving our history and architecture and I am a proud member of this organization. One very unique addition to some of Charlestons homes are little outbuilding which have survived all manner of historic events, including the Civil War, Restoration, and the difficult times after Hurricane Hugo in 1989. One unique thing you might have seen or heard about are the "Charleston historic colors" and in particular the "Charleston Green" . What is this color ? Is it green or is it black ?  The most prominent oral history tells is that it has something to do with Union troops sending down buckets of black paint to help the economically decimated city keep up appearances. True to form, colorful Charlestonians added green and yellow paint to the buckets, creating a brighter version of the funereal black. Per our history books, it is a mixture of the following:   Charleston Green10 ounces black paint4 ounces green paint½ ounce yellow paint  Looking for property, historic or otherwise in Charleston or surrounding areas ? Search on my website at www.DefinitelyCharleston.com and feel free to contact me a 843-345-2625 or uappleby@gmail.com

PlantationsWhat are plantations? Plantations can be defined as large farms in the colonies that used the enforced labor of slaves to harvest cotton, rice, sugar, tobacco and other farm produce for trade and export. Crops were planted on a large scale with usually just one major plant species growing. The reason that plantations sprang mostly up in the South was due to the geography and climate as farmers found there fertile soil, hilly coastal plains, forests, long rivers and swamp areas. Mild winters and hot, humid summers made it possible to grow crops throughout the year and was ideally suited for plantations which grew mostly cotton, tobacco, rice, and sugar cane. The Low Country, as we call this area here around Charleston SC, is rich on history and still has many plantation, some open to the public and highly popular for visitors from all around the world. The list below is not a complete summary of all the plantations in our area, but a good start and will definitely give you an idea of the most popular ones. Many of these plantations have still plantation homes, offer tours and have venues for festivities such as weddings, music and theater performances.  + Charleston Tea Plantation + Hampton Plantation + Boone Hall Plantation + Middleton Plantation + Magnolia Plantation + Oakland Plantation + Cypress Garden Plantation + McLeod Plantation + Drayton Hall Plantation + Lowndes Grove Plantation + Mulberry Plantation + Hopsewee Plantation Relocating here or simply trying to find a second home ?! Please search my website at www.DefinitelyCharleston.com  Ute-Lisa Appleby  + AGENTOWNED REALTY 843.345.2625 + uappleby@gmail.com

Stunning Cobblestone Street and Alleys My hometown Charleston, SC is an amazing place with a fascinating history. One of the many historic sites and features are the few remaining cobblestone streets. What is it about cobblestone streets and paths that take us to the past as we carefully navigate their uneven but perfectly smooth surfaces ?! Cobblestones, now a novelty, were once very common and were used largely as ballast on colonial ships to weigh them down when they didn't have enough cargo. As a result, many of the stones ended up on wharves as they were removed upon arrival of cargo ships to make room for the new cargo. Eventually, Charlestonians grew tired of muddy, sandy streets and so the stones ended up being plopped into the soft ground to make the streets more navigable for carriages and horses. The word cobblestone comes from the blending of cob and stone. The stones are rounded river rocks and were used to pave the streets a very long time ago. It's thought that at one time, Charleston had more than 10 miles of cobblestone streets. Only a handful remain today, and a few, like Philadelphia Alley, are a combination of cobblestone and Belgian block or red brick.      Here are some of the cobblestone streets still in place in the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina:  Maiden Lane Philadelpia Alley Chalmers Street Gillon Street N. Adgers Warf S. Adgers Warf Longitude Lane Vanderhorst Warft   Hope you come and visit this beautiful city one day and you might want to stay and own your own place in this little paradise. Check out my website: www.DefinitelyCharleston.com   for all homes to buy or lease in the Charleston area and feel free to contact me for addition information or any questions you might have.  Ute-Lisa Appleby, AGENTOWNED REALTY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Realtor/Relocation specialist                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           uappleby@gmail.com  +++  843.345.2625

Ask anyone in Charleston's Upper Peninsula who the local poet/artist is and you'll hear a quick reply, "P-Nut".  Born Joseph William Johnson, I'm not sure many people know his real name. He's a happy, polite, caring, friendly, artist, poet, social, neighborhood Legend. He has a story for every painting and every poem he writes tells a story. We met P-Nut when we moved into the neighborhood about six months ago and have enjoyed his friendly nature and company since. He's true to himself, an individual. He notices the good and not so good in the world and puts it on paper and canvas. He tells it like it is. He told us about the shows he's put on in the past and we were happy to be able to attend his latest show a few doors down from his home in North Central. He shared newspaper articles and photos about his artful past.  Charleston has a lot of history, that's for sure but, not all of it is written in the school text books. I'd love to introduce you to P-Nut and his works. I can also get you a copy of his book of poems. He's getting into the age of social media so you can 'Like' him on his Facebook page:  P-Nut Facebook P-Nut 'Legendary' LowCountry Poet www.YourHomeInCharleston.com  

CAROLOPOLIS AWARD          Many of the Charleston homes, especially South of Broad,  stand tall and proud and boast history and charm. Some of these homes date back to the 1700's, and on many residences one can find a round black and gold plague. This is called  the "Carolopolis" plaque. This award is given to owners who make an exceptional effort to preserving history of the interior and exterior of their property.  Many of Charleston's oldest homes have the round Carolopolis plate nailed near the front door. The Preservation Society of Charleston gives these awards out annually to a few selected owners of homes. The award recognizes the property's historic background, preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation.  The word Carolopolis comes from the Latin word "Carolus" which means Charles and the Greek word "polis", which means City. The two words come together as "Carolopolis". The Latin words were combined as Charleston's architecture is recognized as a combination of both Roman and Greek design. The round medallion shows the year it was awarded and also the Latin phrase "Condita A.D 1670" (Anno Domini), which translates to "Established in the year of our Lord, 1670".  I encourage you to walk around in the old part of the City and discover history, fabulous homes, gardens, museum and galleries https://www.agentowner.net/blog/the-bling-of-charleston-the-arts  . Even if one feels one has been in the City numerous times and seen it all, there is always something new to discover. And you might find that you desire  to live right d'town, to enjoy the flair and  hussle and buzzle of life d'town, the sound of music in the air, the street performers, the life on sidewalks, the sound of the hoofs of the carriage horses, the laughters coming from cafes, and the sound of birds and playing children in the parks.  Dreaming of living d'town Charleston ? Contact me and we make this dream become reality ! For all questions and info on d'town Charledton real estate for lease or for sale: www.DefinitelyCharleston.com or simply call or email me. 

Charleston - you will sure befriend a ghost.. There are many ghosts living in Charleston, SC !  Does this fact send a shiver down your spine?  Want to meet a ghost ?  Go ahead and sign up for one of the Charleston Ghost Tours. Especially this time of the year, the ghosts are busy and ready to greet you !  Charleston’s forts, houses, and ships are the centerpiece of many of the  most famous ghost stories. Take a harbor tour and feel the cool breeze while listening to the tales of lost fortunes, pirate ships and tragic deaths. Hear about the horror of he Holy City’s pirates, wars, and storms and feel the touch and breath of a ghost touching your ear and tugging on your shirt ! Yes, an old city like Charleston SC has a few skeletons in the closet. Maybe those live at the Battery, or in an old hotel or t one of the many hidden cemeteries. Listen to the sound of creaky floorboard. Is the fleeting shadow on the wall a ghost ?  You want to meet a ghost ?  Meet a story teller and listen to the Sailor Ghosts on the USS Yorktown or the Whistling Ghost of Church Street. There is also the Pirate Ghost of Folly Island, the Grieving Mother of St. Phillip's Church and the Saluting Ghost of Fort Sumter, or the restless ghosts at the Old City Jail where over 14,000 prisoners were executed over the years. Believe whatever you want to believe. One thing is true: it will be something to tell your friends and children about and you be more careful talking a walk in the dark !  And yes, Charleston is a great place to live and enjoy in daytime and a bit spooky at night ! Let's explore some d'town properties, maybe a luxury condo, maybe an old kitchen house or a typical Charleston single. Now that I tingled your interest to live in our beautiful historic city, let me show you around. There are properties for sale in every price range, every size, with and without ghosts. Ready ? I am ready when you are, and if you need price and neighborhood information, tax info, insurance info, things to do and events, just reach out to me. 843-345-2625 or www.DefinitelyCharleston.com Cordially,    Ute Lisa Appleby, Realtor      AGENTOWNED REALTY CO., Mt Pleasant SCReal Estate/Leasing/Property Managementcell:  843.345.2625     uappleby@gmail.com   www.DefinitelyCharleston.com        

Charleston International Airport is the largest airport in South Carolina in 2019 almost 4.9 million passengers traveled through this airport which was the busiest year on record. In the last several years the terminal has undergone some renovations that have made travel to our beautiful city even more appealing. In 2016 a three-year, $200 million redevelopment project was completed adding d five gates and significantly renovated the interior appearance of the facility. The original terminal was built in 1987 was designed by Howard Needles Tammen & Bergendoff, Davis & Floyd, Inc., and Lucas & Stubbs, but the Charleston Airport corporation has been there since 1928, with many changes throughout history.During World War II the army had control of the air-field although they did continue civilian use. The air-field converted to civilian use after the war and a terminal was built in 1949.In 1952 the city of Charleston and the United States Air Force reached an agreement to control the base and runways. In 1979 the Charleston County Aviation Authority took over the civilian portion of the airport and continues today. As you drive to the airport either you can't help but notice the Boeing facility which has been there since 2011. A short distance away there is a cell phone waiting area that has displays for arrival times and makes waiting to pick up passengers so much easier. I hope if you have the opportunity to travel in or out of our beautiful city you enjoy this beautiful airport and travel safe! Call me today and I can show you properties near the airport or in the greater Charleston area.