We're halfway through October, and there's still time to enjoy the Preservation Society of Charleston's Fall Tours. Now celebrating their 50th year, these tours offer a special opportunity to step inside private homes and gardens and discover the stories behind Charleston's remarkable architecture.

The tours build appreciation for historic preservation while raising funds to support the Society's work. They also highlight the care and commitment required to preserve these treasured places, inspiring residents and visitors alike to help protect Charleston's architectural and cultural heritage.

Explore the tours and purchase tickets.

The Visionary Behind Charleston Historic Preservation

Long before historic preservation became a cornerstone of Charleston's identity, Susan Pringle Frost saw potential in old homes others were ready to abandon. Known affectionately as "Miss Sue," she helped redefine the future of historic Charleston real estate--one dwelling at a time. Her legacy continues to shape the character of our historic neighborhoods today, inspiring a deep appreciation for the architecture and heritage that make our city so unique.

Born in 1873 at the historic Miles Brewton House on King Street, Frost attended Saint Mary's Episcopal boarding school in Raleigh. When her family's fortunes declined, she returned home to Charleston and learned stenography to help support them. Her early career alongside architect Bradford Lee Gilbert sparked a lifelong passion for historic architecture. At the same time, her work as a federal court stenographer fueled her commitment to women's rights, leading her to serve as the first president of the Charleston Equal Suffrage League.

Broad Street Business Lady

Susan Pringle Frost was the second woman in the state of South Carolina to obtain a real estate license and the first woman to open her own business in Charleston, with an office at 9 Broad Street.

And, house hunting with Miss Sue was famously an adventure. In Sidney Bland's book Preserving Charleston's Past, Shaping Its Future, a buyer recalled her navigating Charleston in a large, ancient automobile--driving briskly around corners, talking nonstop to passengers in the back seat, and frequently bringing her dogs along for the ride. Can't you just picture it!

Beginning in 1909, she transformed her passion for local architecture into a pioneering career, purchasing neglected historic homes, restoring them, and seeking buyers who shared her commitment to preservation. Her vision helped preserve properties along Tradd Street, St. Michael's Alley, and the stretch of East Bay Street now known as Rainbow Row, leaving an enduring mark on Charleston's architectural heritage.

Miss Sue: A Charleston Original

In 1920, Frost rallied the community to launch a campaign saving the Joseph Manigault House from impending demolition. This successful grassroots effort led directly to the establishment of the Society for the Preservation of Old Dwellings, known today as the Preservation Society of Charleston. Today, it stands as America's oldest community-based historic preservation organization. Historian Stephanie E. Yuhl highlights how women played a pivotal role in shaping Charleston's early preservation movement through their deep connection to domestic spaces. Early house tours even featured antique furnishings lent by family and friends--a wonderful personal touch that brought history to life. These visionary women understood that a historic home's story lives within its rooms, its objects, and the daily lives unfolding within its walls./p>

More than a century after Miss Sue began her preservation work, we at Lois Lane Properties are proud to call 9 Broad Street our work home in Historic Downtown Charleston. Her extraordinary story reminds us why we love serving this community every day: helping clients find their ideal place in Charleston while caring for the historic buildings and neighborhoods that make our city so extraordinary.