Constructed about 1810,[1] in the Federal style,[2] for George Chisolm (1772-1835),[3] a factor,[4][5] the two-and-one-half story George Chisolm House is the first house to have been built upon the landfill project that formed Charleston, South Carolina's Battery.[6] The garden to the south of the house was designed by Loutrel Briggs, and later modified by Sheila Wertimer.[7][8] The address is 39 East Bay Street; it formerly was 39 East Battery Street.[9]
In 1877, the house was bought by Edwin P. Frost.[10] Frost served as a vestryman at St. Michael's Episcopal Church where he was responsible for hiring Tiffany & Co. to decorate its chancel.[10] At the same time, he had the company decorate the living room of 39 East Battery with gold leaf.[10] The decoration was removed in 1970.[8]
Beginning circa 1975, Lorna Colbert and her son Stephen Colbert occupied the house while she ran the carriage house as a bed and breakfast.[11][12]
George Chisolm, the elder factor, died intestate.
Lorna hadn't remarried, and she was running a bed-and-breakfast out of a carriage house.
Back then, if I booked a guest, I got ten percent. A kid could have a whole weekend of fun on fifteen bucks......We'd go swimming off Sullivan's Island
32°46′23″N 79°55′39″W / 32.773129°N 79.927551°W