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© Historic Charleston Foundation
Two B&W photographs of 72 George Street (John King House) during its 90 degree shift.
a: View of the house prepared to be shifted.
b: Detail of crossbeams underneath the house. Written on back of photo: "Base of 72 George as it is being moved bout to new college street address (Feb. to June of 1972). Please note the last eight courses are laid in a harsh reed 'foundation brick' while those above are in Charleston 'grey." Greys measure: [blank]. Foundation bricks measure: [blank]."
No property file. Constructed ca. 1837; moved and rehabilitated 1972. John King built this impressive 3½-story Greek Revival style Charleston single house at the time of the Civil War. The property was held in trust for Virgil A. Berry, a free person of color. The College of Charleston was responsible for shifting the house a full 90 degrees to make room for the Physicians Memorial Auditorium in 1972. The move was made after the building was braced with steel crossbeams and adjusted every few feet to prevent cracking. 74 George Street, a 3½-story masonry Charleston single house, was shifted some years later to make way for a second phase of the science building. (Poston, Buildings of Charleston.)