More than 250 year-old house in Charleston’s historic district attractive to varied buyers

The elegant 53 Tradd St. home, constructed in the 1740s, has 11 windows alone on the west side of the house. The kitchen mixes old with modern, from gas stove and granite countertops to orginal exposed brick on one wall. Brickwork connects the side entrance of 53 Tradd St. to the manicured courtyard. A Charleston touch: the joggling board. This second floor bathroom has a couple of unusual features: a fireplace and hardwood floors. The long vanity, meanwhile, has a marble counter. Call 53 Tradd a house for “everyman,” at least anyone with a few million dollars. The three-story brick and stucco dwelling has an historic pedigree, constructed two-and-a-half plus centuries ago and located in the old walled part of the city. Yet the 3,850-square-foot house provides perks that would appeal to 21st century buyers: modern kitchen, off-street parking, courtyard and skyline views from the Battery to the spire at St. Michael’s. “It’s downtown, built in the 1740s. In the past six months, it went through a complete restoration,” says Russell B. Guerard, agent with Disher, Hamrick & Myers in Charleston. Crews installed new wood floors while maintaining the original heart pine in the foyer and anywhere else it was in solid shape. Bathrooms were fixed up, one with wood floors and a fireplace. There’s a decorative second-floor terrace, visible but not accessible. The open kitchen has granite countertops and built in 48-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator, 6-burner Wolf gas stove, convection oven and microwave. The three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home is listed at $2,795,000. Guerard says prospects have shown interest in 53 Tradd. People who don’t want a lot of upkeep would like the smallish yard in back and the fairly low maintenance, he says. Those seeking more space would be attracted to the open layout, at least a small yard downtown and parking on a brick driveway separated from the courtyard by an iron fence. “It could be a family house, or for an older couple with no children or a single person,” he says. As with many centuries-old houses, the ceilings are high, in this case 10 feet. Interior touches that accentuate the home’s 18th century appeal include wainscoting on the staircase, a formal sitting room with 9 foot windows Charleston green shutters and working fireplaces. Chimneys have been stuccoed over, but the original brick shows through in places. Buyers could repoint the brickwork if they desired, he says. The recent restoration produced upgrades such as a tiled shower in one of two bathrooms on the second floor. Countertops in the bathrooms are marble. There’s a large room adjacent to the baths that could be a master bedroom, and a room near the street that could be a living room or large library. The full-sized third story has two ample bedrooms. Another selling point is the house is on high ground for the Charleston peninsula at 14 feet above sea level, and it did not flood during Hurricane Hugo in September 1989, Guerard says. Dating back to the mid 18th century, 53 Tradd has had its share of tales. George Saxby, inspector of stamp duties during the Stamp Act crisis of 1765, owned the house. A Charles Town mob ransacked his house and burned him in effigy here at the height of the crisis, according to the Preservation Society of Charleston. Next door at 51 Tradd is the Col. Alexander Hext Eastern Tenement, built in 1736. Guerard says there’s specific profile for who could buy the home. “It could be anybody,” he says.

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