William Means Real Estate agent, Lyles Geer was recently honored with a 2018 Carolopolis Award from the Preservation Society of Charleston for his extensive work in preserving and protecting the historic heritage of his house in Hampton Park Terrace.
Built in 1922, the two-and-one-half-story house at 153 Moultrie Street is a variant of a typical, early twentieth century Hampton Park Terrace house type referred to as “Lateral-gable.” Recalling Prairie style architecture with its wide overhanging eaves, and large square porch supports, 153 Moultrie Street was built by F.J.H. Haesloop who is credited with constructing more than a dozen houses in the neighborhood in the 1910s and 1920s.
While outside of the BAR’s purview, Geer chose to renovate within the framework established by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, earning the State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit. The scope of work included the removal of a non-historic rear addition and metal fire stair, restoration of original openings, reopening of a glass porch enclosure, and repairs of exterior masonry and cast stone detail.
“All of the Carolopolis winners had their own incredible transformation stories and I felt so honored to be included among the 10 recipients this year. My wife, Katie and I have already determined where we plan to place our new plaque,” said Geer.
At its core, the Carolopolis Award seeks to promote excellence in historic preservation. After 63 years and more than 1,400 awards given, it has become as much a part of the fabric of the city as the buildings and structures it honors. Today, Charleston is a much different city than the one of 1953 when the Preservation Society awarded its first Carolopolis. The demands of preservation in Charleston have expanded, and with it, so too has the Carolopolis Award program.
Header image by Justin Falk Photography.
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