James Stocker Simmons House
National Register Listing
Street Address:
122 Rutledge Street, Charleston (Charleston County)
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817710206
Description and Narrative:
The James Stocker Simmons House is a large three-story dwelling located on the east side of Rutledge Avenue in downtown Charleston. It is individually listed in the National Register at the local level in Community Planning and Development for its association with James Stocker Simmons (1858-1933), the developer of the locally important early 20th-century automobile suburb of Windermere. Simmons exercised total control over the creation of Windermere and executed it according to his own specific vision, which included one of the region’s first curvilinear residential street patterns, deed restrictions, and an architectural control committee. Although it took about two decades for Windermere to be fully built out, the entire development was meticulously planned and platted by Simmons far in advance during early 1926. The Simmons House is situated on 0.32 acres within the Harleston Village neighborhood and was built in the Queen Anne Victorian architectural style, retaining a high degree of historic integrity. Original character-defining features preserved on the exterior of the house include the building’s unique porch ceilings, offset bay window, and wood soffit pendants. The interior of the building features the original staircase, decorative mantels, and interior wood paneling. The property is situated within the boundaries of the National Register-listed Charleston Historic District and is also a contributing property to the district. The setting and location of the Queen Anne dwelling likely influenced his design and planning, as it was situated along the then western edge of what was then the developed peninsula, facing the Ashley River, and looking out over the plentiful rural farmland on its western bank. Listed in the National Register January 14, 2022.
Period of Significance:
1926 – 1933
Level of Significance:
Local
Area of Significance:
Community Planning and Development
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
January 14 2022
