Alston House

National Register Listing

Street Address:

1811 Gervais St., Columbia, SC (Richland County)

Alternate Name:

McDuffie's Antiques

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NRHP Nomination

Record Number:

S10817740048

Description and Narrative:

(McDuffie’s Antiques) Built ca. 1872, this building is important for its association with early African American business people in Columbia. Possibly as early as 1875 and definitely by 1895, the Alston House was used as a residence and dry goods store by Carolina Alston. Alston, a prosperous businesswoman, was one of only twenty-five black business people operating in the Columbia area in the late 1800s. In 1906, Alston sold the building to L. M. Keitt, an African American businessman, who operated a grocery store on the site. Following Keitt’s ownership, the property passed through a series of owners until 1946 when it became McDuffie’s Antiques. This one-story clapboard Greek Revival cottage set on brick foundations features a gable roof with two interior chimneys, a centrally located doorway with transom and sidelights, and early nineteenth century ironwork on the front of the building. A small one-story addition extends in an ell from the rear of the building. Listed in the National Register March 2, 1979.

Period of Significance:

1885;circa 1872

Level of Significance:

State

Area of Significance:

Ethnic Heritage: Black

National Register Determination:

listed

Date of Certification:

March 2 1979

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