The Navy Base in Charleston defended the US from its formation in 1901 until its closing in 1996. Hundreds of thousands of people were employed, two-hundred fifty six vessels were built and thousands of others supported.Civilian employment peaked at 25,948 in 1943. In 1983 the Naval Base was the third largest naval home port in the US, employing 36.700 people. The demise of this beautiful 1573 acres on the beautiful west bank of the Cooper River was sealed on April 1, 1996. April Fool's Day indeed as it is now a struggling hodge podge of agonizing businesses and abandoned residences that break the heart of all history lovers.

I wandered around there yesterday on a chilly grey sort of fall day with a sense of doleful wonder at what this elegant community must have been. The crumbling,stately officers' homes are nestled in sloping lawns and lush ancient landscaping. Huge 50 year old camellia trees tower over nests of azalea bushes, hiding rusting metal signs with pineapples and "Welcome" etched on their venerable faces. Long since empty, stone birdbaths sit solemnly,as though waiting for life to wend its way back into their motionless midst.

Today, The Navy Yard, an ambitious renovation project aimed at reviving 340 acres, including historic commercial as well as residential buildings and breathing life into the desolate area, is in a near state of collapse with a 23 million lawsuit on 240 of the 340 acres looming. Many of these historic buildings are of national significance and are National Register-eligible. In addition to the project's sad state of affairs, it is my understanding that many of the more important historic structures could be under consideration for demolition to accommodate future rail facilities for the port of Charleston.

How tragic it is that we keep building new structures and allow the grace and beauty of our past to be plowed under or left to die its own untimely death. I submit these photographs with a tear in my eye and a feeling of dismay that I can do nothing to help revive the glorious architecture and lifestyle that was a part of this beautiful graveyard.