In
1978, Ed Royall constructed the first modern house on Dewees
Island on lot #4. At the time, I was nineteen years old, dating
Ed's third daughter, and I helped clear the lot for construction.
The only other existing structure on the Island was a one-story
white frame structure that was located near what would become the
caretaker's residence. There was no development on the North end of
the Isle of Palms, the Island was heavily forested, and we felt like
pioneers on the frontier when we broke ground.
A well-known architect from Camden, Henry Boykin, designed the
house, which incorporated both modern and traditional "Pawley's
Island" style features. The siding on the home is natural
stained cypress. A spiral staircase obtained from the original
Kershaw County Courthouse, designed by Robert Mills in 1880,
connects the second floor of the home to the widow's walk. Large
screened porches, wood floors and spacious bedrooms set the original
standard and design criteria for construction of houses on Dewees.
The house has stood the rigors of time, facing down the brunt of
Hurricane Hugo with minimal damage. Over the years the house has
matured with age, and only gotten better. The sandy feet of multiple
generations of children have given the hardwood floors a lovely
patina, the stained cypress siding has weathered nicely, and the
spirit of the house only gets better with each new child it
embraces.
The house holds a strong sentimental attachment for members of our
family as we watched our children collect shells and grow up at the
house over the past 24 years, culminating in an incredible wedding
held on the Island several years back. When Ed approached me in 2003
about the possibility that the house might be razed, I was keenly
interested in exploring other options.
We ended up successfully moving the house to one of the best
beachfront lots on the Island, #10 on the South East corner
overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Dewees Inlet. We have focused on
retaining the "traditional" charm of the house, while
adding the conveniences we all have gotten used to. Most important,
we now look forward to the next generation of families enjoying the
house, and giving it, as the name says …
A Second Chance
