Excellence in Preservation, Renovation & Restoration

You may have noticed a round Carolopolis medallion plate nailed near the front door on some of Charleston’s oldest and most notable homes.

Since 1953, the prestigious “Carolopolis award” has been given out by the Charleston Preservation Society to promote and recognize historically-appropriate renovations of Charleston homes, originally built in the 1700s. The plaque is awarded to qualified property owners each year who deeply respect the property’s historic background during preservation, restoration and rehabilitation and protect a property’s original features. More than 1,500 Carolopolis Awards have been presented since its creation.

The word “Carolopolis” comes from the Latin word Carolus for the name Charles, and the Greek word Polis meaning city. The round medallion also features the year 1670—the year Charleston was founded—as well as the Latin phrase “Condita A.D 1670” (Anno Domini) which translates to “established in the year of our Lord, 1670.” It also includes the more modern year that particular property was bestowed the award.

The Preservation Society recognizes properties each year in five categories. In February, the society awarded its most recent Carolopolis class at an event in the Grand Ballroom at The Charleston Place. The 2024 winners included 5 Sheppard Street, a circa-1873 Freedman’s cottage, and 71 Wentworth, the circa-1872 Masonic Temple at the corner of Wentworth and King streets.

Preservation Runs Deep

Founded in 1920, the Preservation Society of Charleston is the oldest community-based historic preservation organization in the United States. Susan Pringle Frost founded the organization in 1920, first known as the Society for the Preservation of Old Dwellings.

The group met for the first time on April 21, 1920 at 20 South Battery, the Pringle home and voted to try and save the circa-1803 Joseph Manigault House, which was slated to be demolished to make way for a gas station. The Carolopolis awards were created by this group of passionate residents to encourage standout preservation.

“The origins were part savvy and part strategic,” said Sam Spence, director of public affairs for the Preservation Society of Charleston. “Early PSC leaders knew some friendly motivation might spark some new civic pride, kickstarting local projects done in a commendable manner. As a matter of fact, it worked so well that the PSC briefly suspended the awards in 1959 to quell a bit of neighborly jealousy.”

The nominations, according to Spence, may not have been quite as serious as it was in the early days.

“It is worth noting that the medallions were awarded more liberally in the early days,” said Spence. “There are tales of PSC forerunners determining winners while driving around town in a convertible considering worthy projects. Today, we convene a panel of local expert professionals who weigh each nomination, at least a dozen each year.”

Notable past award winners include Doyle (a Trust and Estate service), which won the 2024 Exterior Award for renovation of the 1888 building at 123 King Street. The renovation included the storefront, improving the second floor residences and restoring the historic piazzas.

In 2021, the Sottile Theater won the Interior Award for its excellence in interior preservation.

In 2017, 129 Queen Street took honors in the Pro Merito Award for maintaining a high standard of preservation.

Other recent award winners include the Secessionville Manor, a Greek Revival-style plantation house built in 1837; the Starlight Motor Inn which won the award in 2024 and the Officers Quarters, a rehabilitated schoolhouse in the National Historic district at the former Charleston Naval Base in North Charleston.

South of Charleston in Edisto Island, the haunted “Brick House,” on a preserved ruin on Edisto Island took home a restoration award in 2021.The French inspired home was built in 1725 and is said to have a resident ghost roaming through the house at night.

Self-nominations are welcome and all nomination projects must have been completed three years prior.

“We take the award nomination review process very seriously,” Spence said. “We know how much the Carolopolis Award means to not only homeowners, but to professionals whose expertise is on display with each project.” ϒ

Learn more at www.preservationsociety.org.