Eastside History Series: 2 Amherst St.- The Belser House (also known as Presqu'le)

by Dr. Susan Millar Williams 

We know that this handsome Adam-style house was built between 1802 and 1808 by someone whose last name was Belser, but it’s not clear whether his first name was Jacob or Christopher. It has come to be known as the Christopher Belser House, and also as Presqu’ile, a French word that means peninsula. It may have been designed by Gabriel Manigault, but again, no one is positive. 

Archibald Grimke

We do know for sure that it was owned (and expanded) by Henry Grimké, brother of the famous Sarah and Angelina Grimké, who had three sons by his slave Nancy Weston. One of them, Archibald Henry Grimké, grew up to be a prominent lawyer and author.  A graduate of the freedmen's schools who went on to earn a degree from Harvard Law School, Archibald served as American Consul to the Dominican Republic from 1894 to 1898 and as a national vice-president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). 

Another of Henry and Nancy’s sons, Francis James Grimké, became a Presbyterian minister and helped found the NAACP. The third son, John, moved to Florida and cut off ties with his family.

Sarah and Angelina Grimke

Sarah and Angelina left Charleston as young women and became famous for their writing and lectures on abolition and women’s rights. They apparently discovered the existence of their mixed-race nephews when they read one of Archibald Grimké’s essays and realized that he shared their name. 

Stair Tower, Historic American Survey, Library of Congress

As far as I can tell, Archibald, Francis, and John never actually lived in this house, since Henry moved his family to the country after he started having children with Nancy Weston. However, Henry’s association with Presqu’ile gives the Eastside neighborhood a link to some of Charleston’s most renowned nineteenth-century authors and activists, and to a famous twenty-first century novelist. Sue Monk Kidd’s 2014 novel The Invention of Wings explores the inner lives of Sarah and Angelina and a slave girl, Hetty, who was given to Sarah on her eleventh birthday. 

The Belser house was damaged in the earthquake of 1886. A photograph by George Cook shows the stucco fallen from one of the gables, exposing the brick underneath.      

The Belser House in 1958
Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress

In 1951 the building was purchased by the Baptist Association, which used it for outreach services. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ravenel bought the house in 1973 and began restoring it to its former glory. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Spiral Staircase seen from above
Historic Buildings Survey, Library of Congress

Welcome Back Week: September 5-8th

Global Awareness Week: Incluza-Palooza in the Palmer Amphitheater on Sept 13th

Come join us for an exciting night of comedy, music, dance, and spoken word! First performed in March 2017 at the College's of Charleston's Gender Equity Week, Incluza-Palooza goes global this time around. We are thrilled to be bringing Incluza-Palooza to Global Awareness Week at Trident Technical College's downtown Palmer campus on  Wednesday, 9/13, 6:30-8:30 PM. They continue their mission of "Unity Through Entertainment and Action" and this time the proceeds will be directly benefiting the wonderful Charleston Clemente Course at Trident Technical College.

CCSD Early College High School

Early College High School High School (ECHS), located on the Palmer Campus of Trident Technical College is a small, personalized learning program for students enrolled in Charleston County School District (CCSD). ECHS is a partnership between Charleston County School District and Trident Technical College (TTC). Early College High School will serve students who have the academic potential, desire, and determination to be successful in high school and beyond. 

ECHS is designed to allow students the opportunity to complete up to two years of college credit while earning a high school diploma as part of a coherent educational program that serves the developmental and intellectual needs of young people. As part of a research-based model, students participate in a summer bridge program after eighth grade and spend ninth grade focusing on high school courses while mastering the life and organizational skills required for success in college. When they demonstrate that they are ready, students will begin to take college classes, dual credit courses, and work at internships and/or apprenticeships. Students excel at each challenge with the support of their ECHS teachers and counselors in an encouraging environment. 

The first class of up to 100 ninth grade students will attend school on TTC’s Palmer Campus beginning in August 2017. By being on the TTC Campus, the school will allow students to experience a real college setting, attend real college courses, and begin to build their resume as a college student. The school will add grade levels 10-12 in the following years, with the first class graduating in June 2021.  You can find them on Facebook at CCSD Early College High School. 

Related YouTube Videos:  

• CCSD Today: Early College High School  (5.15.2017)
• Learning the ECHS Lesson - Stories of CCSD (5.11.2017)
• School Board Member Rev. Dr. Eric Mack Speaks about ECHS (4.25.2017)

Press 

• "Like to Study? Charleston County Students Get Chance to Enroll in new Early College High School."  Post and Courier. 

Changes to Financial Rules at TTC

Fall Payment Deadline

We are continuing the process started last year in which the College has an established payment deadline, but has changed the consequences of nonpayment.  August 14, 2017 is the payment deadline for fall 2017.  However, please note we will NOT remove students from courses for nonpayment. 

Going into this new academic year 2017-18, students with prior balances of up to $200 are permitted to register.  Students with a balance due from prior semesters that is greater than this limit are not allowed any registration activity.  As has been the established process, students with any balance due will not be allowed to receive transcripts, certificates or diplomas.  We will continue to drop students from classes for failure to attend and other reasons. 

Students should not rely on being dropped by the college from courses. If they do not plan to attend class or cannot make payment arrangements, they should drop their courses by the end of the course drop/add period in order to avoid tuition charges.

Finance hopes that this process will allow students time to finalize financial arrangements while continuing their education.

Payment Plan Revisions

In addition, Finance has developed new payment plan options for the fall and spring semesters.  The new payment plan allows for five payments with no down payment if students enroll early enough.  At this time, students can enroll by August 24^th with 25% down and three monthly payments from September through November.  By using the payment plan, students can pay tuition in monthly installments set up with direct debits from either a checking account or a credit/debit card.  The payment plan is not a loan; students are not charged any interest.  There is only a one-time, non-refundable fee, due at the time of payment plan enrollment. 

Another significant change to the payment plan is the enrollment period.  Enrollment dates for the payment plan are now extended throughout the fall semester to provide an option for students enrolling in Term 2.  This fall, students can enroll in a Three Payment Plan through September 26 and in a Two Payment Plan through October 26. 

Going Forward

Students will be allowed to carry a balance of $1,000 from Fall 2017 into Spring 2018.  Students with prior balances of up to $1,000 will be permitted to register.  For Spring, students can enroll in the Five Payment Plan beginning November 13^th through December 1^st with NO down payment and 5 monthly payments from December through April.