1860 advertisement for house on St. Philip Street

1860 advertisement for house on St. Philip Street
Dr. Anthony P. Pelzer bought the property in 1860, and moved his medical office and residence here. In 1886, after his death, and after the earthquake, Dr. Pelzer’s family built a rental house on the “flower garden” section of the lot, which faced Green Street (today’s Green Way). The 1850s address, 46 St. Philip Street, was changed to 56 St. Philip in the late 19th century. The rental house became 54 St. Philip Street, now the site of the sunken garden in front of the Simons Center. Mystery novelist John Dunning lived in the old Pelzer house during the mid-20th century and enjoyed visiting the Book Basement at 9 College St. In a 2001 letter to John Zeigler, co-owner of the Book Basement, Dunning recalled, “We lived at 56 St. Philip, that big rambling three-story white house with the wall around it, sandwiched between the Jewish Community Center and the Rhodes back lot. None of it is there anymore, the College has taken it all out, but it was a short walk of a block to the Book Basement.” Dunning’s letter goes on to state that his life as antique book seller and novelist is due to the inspiration found in the Book Basement. Charleston Courier, 1860.
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