How freed slaves saved Charleston’s most important historic site

Aiken-Rhett House Preserves More Than Civil War History

Just weeks after the Civil War ended, Charleston saw a new kind of freedom take shape.

On May 15, 1865, James Redpath opened the Colonel Shaw Orphan House for Black children in two old buildings on Mary Street.

He named it after the white officer who led the 54th Massachusetts, the Black regiment that fought at Fort Wagner. Dorcas Richardson, once enslaved at the Aiken-Rhett House, ran the home that soon held over 100 kids.

Meanwhile, some freed people like Jacob Gaillard and Henry Greggs kept working at Aiken-Rhett until their deaths decades later.

Their choice helped save the most complete urban slave quarters in America, where you can still see the vibrant colors they once lived with.

Union Forces Brought New Hope to Charleston in 1865

Union troops took over Charleston in February 1865 after Confederate soldiers left. The military picked James Redpath to run the first public schools around Charleston.

He worked with army leaders to create programs helping newly freed Black Americans start new lives. Many buildings showed war damage, but most downtown historic structures stayed standing.

The military now faced the big job of helping thousands of former slaves begin life as free citizens.

A Local Woman Sparked the Idea for an Orphanage

An African American woman told James Redpath about the urgent need for a place to care for Black orphans.

As a known anti-slavery supporter who had backed John Brown, Redpath took her concerns seriously.

He quickly asked military officials in April 1865 for permission to start an orphanage. The army let him fix up two empty buildings near the train station on Mary Street.

The buildings needed lots of repairs but offered enough room to house children who had lost their parents.

The Orphanage Got Its Name From a Fallen War Hero

The Colonel Shaw Orphan House opened on May 15, 1865, as Charleston’s first orphanage for Black children.

Redpath named it after Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who led the famous 54th Massachusetts Regiment of Black soldiers.

Shaw died on July 18, 1863, while leading an attack on Fort Wagner near Charleston.

The orphanage filled a critical need for Black children who lost parents during slavery or the war. Within weeks, dozens of children found shelter, food, and care there.

From Enslaved to Orphanage Leader

Dorcas Richardson became Matron of the Colonel Shaw Orphan Asylum after years as an enslaved person at the Aiken-Rhett House.

In her new job, she cared for more than 100 Black children. She handled their daily needs, meals, and basic education.

Military officials found her reading and writing skills surprising, since teaching enslaved people was against South Carolina law.

Richardson quickly went from slavery to running a major institution.

Government Agency Took Over Running the Orphanage

The Freedmen’s Bureau started managing the orphanage soon after it opened in May 1865. During its first year, the children and staff moved twice to find better housing.

By 1866, they settled at 150 Wentworth Street in the Memminger House. The Bureau gave funding, supplies, and oversight to make sure the children got proper care.

The National Freedman, a publication tracking help for former slaves, wrote about how the orphanage grew.

The Orphanage Moved Several Times as It Grew

Around 1869, the State Orphan Asylum moved to 16 George Street, known as the Elliott location. In 1873, the Board of Trustees praised Richardson’s “constant watchfulness and care” for the children.

The 1870 Census listed Dorcas Richardson as Matron of the State Colored Orphan Asylum, showing she stayed with the children through multiple moves.

Through the tough years of Reconstruction, the asylum gave Black orphans a stable home when many places refused to accept them.

Many Former Slaves Stayed in Charleston After Freedom

Fourteen people who were enslaved at the Aiken-Rhett House chose to stay in Charleston after getting their freedom.

Records after the Civil War show their names, including Tom and Ann Greggs, Henry Greggs, and Dorcas and Sambo Richardson.

They remained despite painful memories of slavery, keeping their strong ties to the community and each other.

Some found work in the same neighborhoods where they lived before, while others started businesses or joined churches that helped newly freed people.

Two Men Kept Working at Their Former Slavery Site

Jacob Gaillard lived and worked at the Aiken-Rhett House until he died in 1896, over 30 years after getting his freedom.

Henry Greggs, whose parents Tom and Ann were also enslaved there, stayed even longer, working at the property until his death in 1908.

Their long-term presence helped keep the buildings in good shape and saved historical details. For four decades, these men connected the slavery era to the early 1900s, keeping knowledge about the property alive.

The Slave Quarters Look Almost the Same as in the 1850s

The quarters where enslaved people lived at the Aiken-Rhett House still have their original paint, floors, and fixtures from the 1850s.

Research shows the rooms had fireplaces and walls painted in bright colors, not the drab spaces many people think of.

The enslaved community spent most of their time in the back lot area, cooking and eating meals together in the kitchen building.

Unlike many historic sites that get completely updated, these buildings remain mostly untouched, showing visitors exactly how they looked during slavery.

Buried Treasures Tell Stories of Daily Life

Workers digging beneath the old laundry room in 2015 found more than 10,000 items used by the enslaved community.

The objects included pencils, pieces of porcelain dishes, and hundreds of buttons from clothing worn by African Americans who lived there.

These everyday items help historians understand what daily life was like for people enslaved at the Aiken-Rhett House.

The artifacts match up with the surviving buildings to give a more complete picture of how people lived, worked, and created their own community despite harsh conditions.

Former Slaves Built New Lives While Preserving History

Dorcas Richardson went from being an enslaved lady’s maid to running the orphanage, then started her own business.

The 1880 census shows she owned a fruit store, creating economic independence for herself after years in bondage.

At the Aiken-Rhett property, the continued presence of formerly enslaved people helped save the most complete urban slavery site that exists today.

Their decision to maintain connections to these buildings, despite painful memories, means visitors now can learn the full story of urban slavery in Charleston, told through spaces that look much as they did 170 years ago.

Visiting Aiken-Rhett House, Charleston

The Aiken-Rhett House at 48 Elizabeth Street tells the story of Charleston’s first African American orphanage and formerly enslaved people who stayed after emancipation.

You can take a free 45-minute audio tour on your phone or join docent tours at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm.

It’s open Monday 1-4pm and Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4pm. Admission costs $16 for adults and $7 for kids 6-16.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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