A photograph album created by William Muckenfuss for Mrs. Frances A. Robb, in the 1940s. Album contains photographs of various Charleston buildings, houses, landmarks, sites, events, battleships, and people as well as other Lowcountry places. Mrs. Robb lived on Wentworth Street and several photographs are of her home and neighborhood.
Photograph of the United Fruit Company dock after the September 29, 1938, tornadoes. (Based on Sanborn Maps, the dock was located at the foot of Laurens Street, Southern Railway Pier 2.)
Photograph of City Hall after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the building. Two trucks, including an Automatic Grocery truck, are parked in front of building. Onlookers are on the sidewalk in front of building; men stand at doorways and windows.
Photograph of the Timrod Hotel [ca. 101 Meeting Street], after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the building. East elevation. Men are sitting on the second story piazza ledge. Men stand on the sidewalk by a truck that is carrying debris. [Note: The hotel was later demolished in the 1960s.]
Looking northwest on Market Street from the U.S. Custom House on East Bay Street, after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing damaged and ruined Market Sheds. Also shows the damaged buildings on North Market Street. Onlookers and cars are in the street. Partial view of ca. 225 East Bay Street (now gone) is on the left.
Photograph of a house on Fishburne Street demolished by the tornado of 1938. Neighboring house in view at left. (Both houses would have been on the north side of the 200 block of Fishburne Street.) Handwritten on back of photo: "2nd tornado on Fishburne Street near President Street. Demolished about 60 houses here. This 2nd tornado damage about $6,000,000. 300 houses condemned. Sept. 29, '38."
Photograph of the wreckage of the Calvary Baptist Church, an African-American church demolished by the tornado of September 29, 1938. Located at the corner of Sumter Street and Ashley Avenue; address may have been 387 Sumter Street. Handwritten on back of photo: "Old Negro church on Sumter Street, corner of Ashley Avenue. This was done by second tornado that hit 2 miles from the other one. Sept. 29, 1938."
Photograph of the ruins of a building on King Street after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938. Shows the debris of a completely demolished structure and the damaged roof of the neighboring building. Based on newspaper accounts, this is probably the site of the Rectory of the Church of the Sacred Heart at King and Huger Streets. Three men stand on the sidewalk facing the debris; other men are standing on a pile of debris.
Looking east on Market Street after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the Market Sheds in ruins. A damaged car is parked along side of the debris. The Old Church of the Redeemer can be seen in the background.
Photograph of 38 South Battery and 40 South Battery [Frederick Heinz Houses] and a portion of 42 South Battery, after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the houses.
Photograph 19 King Street [Thomas Lamboll House] after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the house. King Street elevation.
Photograph of the Timrod Hotel [ca. 101 Meeting Street], after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the building. View of the hotel looking north on Meeting Street (southeast elevation). Infantry patrolmen stand on sidewalk by a car. Signage for Byars Drug Store is on the south elevation. [Note: The hotel was later demolished in the 1960s.]
Photograph of Broad Street, looking east at the 60 block, showing the scene on the street after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938. The Daniel Ravenel House (68 Broad Street), the Confederate Home, and the People's Building can be seen at the right; the Old Exchange Building is visible in the background. Onlookers, cars, and a person riding a bicycle are on the street.
Photograph showing several dwellings in Fiddlers Green damaged or destroyed by the tornado of 1938. Handwritten on back of photo: "1st tornado hit Fiddlers Green, Negro section by Ashley Bridge, Hilly Street [should be Lilly Street], Sept. 29, '38."
Photograph of the Charleston County Courthouse after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the building. View of the corner elevation (Meeting Street and Broad Street). People who are standing inside the building at the second and third story windows can be seen. To the left of the Courthouse, the Hebrew Orphanage (88 Broad Street) is also in view.
Photograph of a commercial building on a Church Street corner after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the building. Probably located at the corner of Church and North Market Street or South Market Street. Onlookers stand on sidewalk.
Photograph of Washington Square Park after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing debris and fallen trees in the foreground; Washington Light Infantry monument in the middle; and the Meeting Street fire tower and Chalmers Street buildings in the background.
Photograph of City Hall after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the building. Infantry patrolmen and other men stand in front of building.
Photograph of Broad Street, looking west, showing the scene on the street after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938. South side of the 60 block of Broad Street in foreground; St. Michael's Church and the Charleston County Courthouse in the background. Onlookers and vehicles are on the street.
Photograph of the Sing Lee Laundry (133 King Street) after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the building. Signs for the Robbins Bros. Circus (on Sept. 26) are posted in the windows.
Photograph of the ruins of a building, after the September 29, 1938, tornadoes. Based on newspaper accounts, it is probably the site of 45 State Street. Infantry patrolman stands in foreground.
Photograph of Church Street, looking south from the corner of Broad Street at 49 Broad (right foreground), showing the scene on the street after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938. Fallen tree lies across the street; debris and water cover the street. Onlookers are on the street. 105 Church and 107 Church can also be seen.
Photograph of Lamboll Street elevation of 19 King Street [Thomas Lamboll House] after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the piazzas and roof. Men are standing on the roof.
Photograph of City Hall after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the building. Men stand on the landing at the entry to the building.
Photograph of wooden building demolished by the first tornado of September 29, 1938. The photograph is marked with a small green X to show the location of the body of a man killed by the tornado. Handwritten on back of photo: "1st tornado came in by Battery near Miller's junk yard - Laurence [Laurens?] Street. This shed is on top of small Negro house. The Negro was dead when found. Sept. 29, '38."
Photograph of the Viohl Hay & Grain warehouse demolished by the tornado of September 29, 1938. Located at the northwest corner of Vendue Range and Concord Street (address 14 Vendue Range). Portion of the building across the street can be seen at left. Steeple of St. Michael's Church in the distance at right. Handwritten on back of photo: "Taken in front of the Clyde Line Steam Ship Co. on Concord Street. Vohls Grain Place. Tornado - Sept. 29, 1938. In distance is St. Michael's Church steeple."
Photograph of the I.M. Pearlstine Building (203 East Bay Street), located on the southwest corner of East Bay Street and Street, after the tornado of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the building. Also shows 205 East Bay Street, located on the northwest corner of East Bay and Cumberland. "Bay City" heavy equipment vehicle (excavator?) parked in front of building. Pedestrian and a street worker walking on the sidewalk; repairman on the utility pole on the street corner.
Photograph of the I.M. Pearlstine Building on Cumberland Street, located between East Bay and State Street, after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the building. Portion of signage is visible at the right of the photograph, "I.M." and "Budwe[iser]"; signage for "Rex" is also on building (at left). Onlookers stand among the debris on the street.
Photograph of First Scots Presbyterian Church [57 Meeting Street] after the tornadoes of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the building. The Nathaniel Russell House can be seen in the background. Cars are parked on the street in front of the church.
Photograph of the destruction of a house done by the tornadoes of September, 29, 1938. Based on newspaper accounts, the home was probably located in the Fiddlers' Green neighborhood near the Ashley River. Two men lean against the ruins while another man climbs a nearby telephone pole.
Photograph of St. Michael's Church after the first tornado of September 29, 1938, showing the damage done to the roof. Handwritten on back of photo: "Old historic St. Michael's Church, corner Broad Street and Meeting Street. Done by first tornado, Sept. 29, '38."
