The Patrick O'Donnell House

The Patrick O'Donnell House, 21 King St.

   
     Patrick O'Donnell was an Irish immigrant in mid-nineteenth century Charleston, a builder with an eye for elegance and fine details --- and a man in love. He was engaged to a young woman in Charleston and swore to build a house as beautiful as she was herself. He spared no expense or detail as he went about this purpose - for it became apparent, he was also in love with the Pygmalion of a house he had created. He took so long in finishing his house (eight years!) that his lady fell in love with someone else and left him alone with his spectacular home! "Spectacular" is certainly not an overstatement for this beautiful home built in 1856 in the elaborate Italianate style that was quite popular in Charleston in the mid-1800's. Built as a Charleston single house, this 10,000 square foot, three and a half story home is resplendent in its attention to detail. Because of Patrick O'Donnell's unfortunate loss, this house was dubbed "O'Donnell's Folly" and the name still stands today.

     This house has been home to some well-known names in Charleston's history. Novelist and poet Josephine Pinckney lived in here from 1907 - 1937. This was during a time known as the Charleston Renaissance when a wealth of artists, writers and musicians flocked to Charleston and created a unique culture of creativity. The Poetry Society of South Carolina was organized in this house in 1920. The Patrick O'Donnell House was also where Susan Pringle Frost, the moving force in the early part of the twentieth century of what would become the Preservation Society of Charleston, was born in 1873. She had returned to this home at the time of her death in 1960.  At one time this was also the home of Mrs. Thomas R. McGahan, who was said to have been the person Margaret Mitchell used as a model when creating the gentle character of Melanie Wilkes in Gone With the Wind.


     In 2008, then candidate Barack Obama visited Charleston during his presidential campaign. He spoke from the piazza of this house on King St. as he addressed his supporters. Later, in his inaugural speech, he referred to people he met during his campaign "from the porches of Charleston" to other locations across America.

     Patrick O'Donnell may have lived his life alone, but he left a beautiful legacy at 21 King St. to be admired and enjoyed by generations of people who have come here since and those yet to come.