It wouldn’t be beach week for us if we didn’t take at least one trip from our rental in Pawleys Island, SC to historic Georgetown — the location of some of the prettiest Southern homes in the state — about 20 minutes away. After all, Georgetown is the third oldest town in South Carolina with residences dating back to the 1700s.
According to Georgetown’s website, rice was introduced to the area in 1690, but didn’t become a major crop until the end of the Revolutionary War. The crop brought money to the area, making Georgetown “the wealthiest county in the 13 original colonies.” Later, in 1755, the Winyah Indigo Society (named for the plant used in making blue dye) was formed to fund the free school and the library it founded. Some of the homes built for society members were used by Union forces during the Civil War.
Our walks through the historic district are like no other we’ve experienced. Beautiful homes framed by towering live oak trees feature welcoming, comfortable front porches — places to “sit a spell” and sip sweet tea, we suppose. They’re definitely a reminder of the past, a gentler time of prosperity and Southern grace.
With landscaping that usually includes fluffy hydrangeas, stately palms, and neat plantings, the homes rival any in the South for beauty and stateliness.
Most of the homes sport wide porches and all-white trim, very welcoming and very Southern. On the sides of the houses, markers verify dates of establishment as well as street addresses. And some of the porches hold joggling boards — a curved plank on supports that bounces with the sitter (usually kids in need of more motion)!
Some of the houses face sideways (front door and porch perpendicular to the sidewalk) in an attempt to catch the sea breezes and enable owners and guests to endure the South Carolina summer heat and humidity.
A walk along the streets in the historic district can be an escape of sorts — a canopy of live oaks covered in resurrection moss (It really does “come to life” after a rain shower!) offers full shade, and the buzz of the shopping district fades away.
We’ve never yet visited Pawleys without at least one drive through Georgetown’s loveliest section. And, as we move slowly past our favorites, we envision ourselves on one of those porches, waving from rocking chairs and wondering what it would have been like to be a Georgetown homeowner in the 1700s.
Heaven is a house with porch lights.
Ray Bradbury
Travel beautifully,
Rusha & Bert
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We Travel Happy
Those are seriously beautiful houses! Now I’m starting to imagine as well my hubby and I sitting on rocking chairs in a porch like those. 🙂
Oh, the Places We See
I’d love to sit on some of those porches!!
Klausbernd
Dear Bert and Rusha
These are really wonderful houses and very well photographed.
We really enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharing.
All the best
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Jane Lurie
Wonderful photos capturing the architectural style of this area, Rusha. I love those side porches so indicative of SC. Great post. 🙂
gallivance.net
Rusha, I always enjoy any of your posts on the SC coast because they bring back such fond memories of our time in Charleston and St. Simons Island. This is a charming part of the world that’s absolutely loaded with history, elegant architecture, and an endless supply of natural beauties. We’ll always be glad for the time we spent there and consider ourselves fortunate to have been able to. Your photos are lovely and capture the feeling of the coastal south perfectly. I expect to see a “Steel Magnolia” walk off any of those inviting porches. ~James
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks for your comments. Georgetown’s historic district is truly a gem of Southern gems, and I’m not sure enough people know it’s even there. the downtown area alongside the waterway is also lovely, but it’s the houses that bring us back each year for at least a couple of drive-throughs. Oh, to be able to stay in one!!!
Prior...
oh the southern home beauty!
and never heard of the joggle boards – but very cool to have
Oh, the Places We See
Glad to show you these true Southern beauties. And those joggling boards are great for adults as well as children!!! After all, we’re just kids at heart!
CompassAndCamera
Beautiful! Especially the mature trees. Looks like a wonderful place for a getaway!
Oh, the Places We See
It just drips Southern! Another time. Another era!!
WanderingCanadians
These houses look absolutely charming. I’ve always wanted a home with a wide porch. I’ve never been to South Carolina before, but when I do visit, I am definitely going to hit up Georgetown.
Oh, the Places We See
It’s a small town, but this historic district is lovely. Like turning back time to a gentler way. Thanks for house dreaming along with us!
kzmcb
Oh, we are just like you, imagining ourselves in other people’s grand residence. Funny, though, I thought most homes in America looked like that, so it’s good to know that it’s just the rich.
Oh, the Places We See
It’s definitely not us!!! We love those classy homes, but there’s not a one we could afford or even want to take care of!! But oh they are gorgeous!!!!
maristravels
Those houses look amazing. I love the verandahs. (Do you spell it veranda? We still use the Indian version of the word but probably the younger generation has changed it – as they do).
Oh, the Places We See
These are verandas, but we mostly just call them porches. They are so pleasant that I tried to imagine myself as the lady if the house sitting on the porch sipping iced tea!!! Oh, the life!!