The Anchorage 1770 is a historic house that is located in Beaufort, South Carolina. The property has 14 units—12 in the main house and 2 in a separate cottage. On the property is the main house, a cottage, and a restaurant called the Ribaut Social Club. Also on the property are gardens, a grassy event area, a fire pit, a patio that is private to one of the cottage units, three porches, a large parlor on the main floor, a dining room, a self-serve wine area in the top floor, and a roof deck. The owners of the property want their guests to feel taken care of and serviced. The main house at Anchorage 1770 was built at an unknown time but was given the completion date of 1770.
Anchorage 1770 is a four-story house that is located in the city of Beaufort in South Carolina. Close to the home is Broomfield Creek, along with a bay, rivers, and small islands. The town of Beaufort has an assortment of activities that guests can participate in, such as museums, restaurants, shops, and stores. Restaurants close to the establishment include the Old Bull Tavern, Q on Bay, YoYo's Ice Cream, Panini's On The Waterfront, Southern Sweets Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop, and Plums. The surrounding area is a historic shopping district, filled with shops and old mansions that were converted into bed and breakfasts. Also on the Anchorage 1770 is a restaurant called the Ribaut Social Club, along with a cottage with available units, gardens that can be explored, a grassy area surrounded by small gardens where events and weddings can take place, a patio that is private to one of the cottage units, and a fire pit that is available to all guests. Other places that guests can visit are the three porches (one on each level), a large parlor that is located on the main floor, and a dining room that can be closed off for events. Entrances to the main house on the property are a front door and two back doors, one of which is located up a flight of stairs. There is a room on the top floor where guests can self-serve themselves to things such as wine, beer, and other drinks. There is a provided ice machine and glasses along with the drinks, and guests can go to the porches or to the rooftop deck to enjoy their drinks.
The units within the property consist of four different categories: the Waterfront Rooms, the Water View Rooms, the Garden View Rooms, and the Cottage Suites. Each room and suite has a unique, modern design and is decorated and designed in different ways. Every unit has a private bathroom, at least one bed, chairs, lamps, and windows with various views. The Water View Rooms contain views of the nearby Broomfield Creek, which is a large body of water with multiple rivers branching off of it. The Garden View Rooms have relatively unobstructed views of the gardens on the property that are filled with multiple plants and flowers. Some of the rooms on the property have a sink in the main room in front of a window that has provided essential oils on it. Other rooms have four-poster beds that come in various styles and designs. The Cottage holds two suites: the Upper Cottage and the Lower Cottage. Each suite has at least one bed, a private bathroom, a seating arrangement, and air conditioning. The Upper Cottage Suite has a gas fireplace, as well as a balcony for two with a bistro table that can be a good place for guests to eat breakfast. The Lower Cottage Suite has French Doors that lead to a private patio, offering an additional secluded space.
Breakfast at the Anchorage 1770 is served in the dining room that is located on the main floor of the building. The dining room consists of several tables where guests can sit. Breakfast is served between 8:30 AM. and 10:00 AM. Each guest is given a menu upon sitting, and they can choose from the multiple options what they want to eat. Options include a parfait, eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, and muffins. Special accommodations are made for those with allergies or diets. Also served in the dining room is an optional dinner. The dinner must be paid for, and the menu for the meal changes weekly or even daily depending on what is available.
The owners and workers at the Anchorage 1770 want their guests to feel taken care of and that they get what they need. Hospitality is a top priority to the workers on the property and the owners, Frank and Amy Lesesne, strive to take certain actions to make sure that guests are treated well and fairly. Genie, a worker at the property, says that she gets to interact with the guests often, especially at breakfast. Genie often gives guests suggestions on things they can do and places they can go. She also helps them to rent boats or other water tools. Available to the guests are four bikes that are first-come, first-serve, along with Bocce ball and beach chairs that they can take to the beach, which is located 25-30 minutes away from the property. Within the establishment, no smoking is allowed except near the fire pit, and quiet hours are from 9:00 PM to 8:30 AM. The property has no private parking, so parking passes are given to the guests. With the use of a parking pass, guests can park on the street next to the property without having to pay. Children are allowed on the property, along with dogs, as long as they are house trained and quiet. There is a maximum of two dogs, and any damage that the dogs cause must be paid for.
Guests who stay at Anchorage 1770 are often middle-aged couples looking to getaway. The establishment does not get many young children, though children are welcome. Some of the guests who stay at the property are repeat guests who come every so often. Guests often come to see the history of the area and to shop in the historic shopping district. The guests come from around the United States of America, but some guests have come from other countries, including Germany, Australia, and Britain. Most guests come from the southeast because they often are traveling through the area to get to somewhere else. One guest who commented on the establishment said, "the inn is located in the heart of Beaufort in a beautiful home that has been wonderfully restored. The views from the porches are spectacular. Upon arriving, we were warmly greeted by staff and given a glass of champagne. Our room was lovely, nicely furnished, very clean, and the bed was extremely comfortable. Every evening they left cookies and lemon water (such a nice treat). The breakfast was also wonderful. It was a hot breakfast with many options on the menu, and the portions were large." Another guest complimented on the "beautiful setting - enjoying a cocktail on the top porch and breakfast outside was so relaxing and with the perfect views. The staff was kind and welcoming."
On the property, weddings are sometimes held in the designated event area. The event area is a grassy patch of land surrounded by small gardens. Available to the guests who wish to do weddings on the property are three different options: the Elopement Package, Small Group Weddings, and the 1770 Buy-Out. The Elopement Package comes with a two-night stay in one room, a glass of champagne on arrival, private use of a porch or the Water View Garden for the ceremony, and officiant, a bottle of champagne for after the ceremony, a 6" cake, chocolate and fruits in the bride and groom's room, and breakfast each morning. More than four additional guests must buy their own rooms, and the cost of the event is $950 plus the tax and guest room fees. Small-Group Weddings can have up to 20 guests, and five rooms must be booked for a two-night minimum. Provided are a small cake, flowers, and fresh cookies in the bride's room, an officiant, private use of a porch or the Water View Garden for the ceremony, a full breakfast each morning for the guests, and chocolate and fruits in the bride and groom's room. The cost of the event is $3,000 plus tax and room rates. The 1770 Buy-Out holds up to 75 people and provides 15 rooms with a required two-night stay, flowers in the bride's room, private use of the entire property, breakfast each morning, chocolate and fruit in the bride and groom's room, and the Water View Garden for the ceremony. The cost of the 1770 Buy-Out is $10,000 in January, February, July, and August, while the cost is $13,000 in March, June, September, and December. Other events can also be held on the property that accommodate up to 20 people. The staff try their best to meet the patron's needs during events.
The Anchorage 1770 main house is a historic house that is a Tavy structure. It is the oldest Tavy structure in the area, though there is some speculation as to when the house was originally completed. According to Lena Wood Lengnick, the house is pre-Revolutionary and was built by William Elliott I, who was the father of William, Ralph, and Steven. Another account claims that the house was built by Ralph Emms Elliott, who then willed it to his nephew, William Elliott III. The original completion of the house is unknown, but in 1971 the U.S. Department of Interior placed the home on the National Register and gave the house the construction date of 1770. William Elliott III took care of the house for many years and was a planter, politician, author, and sportsman. As mayor of Beaufort in 1825, he entertained Marquis de Lafayette in the house during his brief visit to town. The city of Beaufort later named a street after him as a monument to Lafayette's impact.
In 1861, William Elliott III fled the house because of the approaching Union army. The Union occupied Beaufort as part of its plan to blockade the Atlantic coast after the Battle of Port Royal. The town became a central hospital for wounded soldiers, and the house became Union Hospital No. 11. William Elliott died in 1863 before he could return to Beaufort, but the house escaped from being burned by Sherman's Army.
When the family returned to the house, they found that it had been occupied by slaves or northern families who had made their way south during the war. Most of the houses in the area were sold by the government in 1866. When the Anchorage 1770 house was put up for bidding, William Elliott's son, Thomas Rhett Smith Elliot, managed to buy the house back. The home was auctioned again in 1872, and the winning bid was by S.D. Gilbert, who won the house for $3,000. One year after winning the home, Gilbert sold the house to Alfred Williams. In 1880, Alfred William sold the house to James Anderson of Spartanburg, SC, for $2,000.
In 1891 a group of men gathered together and called themselves the Ribaut Social Club (R.S.C. for short). Their meetings were held in the Elliott House. The group stayed in the house for around a year before the house was bought by a Naval officer called Rear Admiral Lester Beardslee for $4,000. He served for years before eventually marrying Evelyn Small in 1863 during the Civil War. He continued to serve for years after his marriage. Finally, in 1902, he began renovating the house. Shortly after the completion, the Admiral died suddenly on November 10, 1903. His wife, Evelyn, owned the house for 20 more years before dying on December 14, 1923. The house was given to Evelyn's niece, Ann Usher, who died in 1924 shortly after Evelyn's death. Her husband continued to live in the house before dying on January 8, 1931. The Anchorage was inherited by their daughter Susan S. Usher.
In the 1930s, the building was used as an annex to the Gold Eagle Tavern on Bay Street. In December of 1936, Mrs. P.E. Bellamy leased the house from Susan Usher and opened it as a tourist home to winter visitors. Susan Usher sold the home to Charles E. Townsend in 1939, and Lena Townsend later sold it to Sidney S. and Dreka W. Stokes. In 1969 the Anchorage was bought from Sidney Stokes to two brothers: Joe and Randall Horne. After renovating the place, they opened the Anchorage House Restaurant.
In 1971 the building was in danger of being destroyed because the new owners, the Bay Street Corporation, requested that the building be demolished. The Historic Beaufort Foundation (HBF) stepped in and demanded the building not be destroyed. The Board acknowledged their request and gave them until December 30 to find suitable owners for the home. One day before the deadline, the HBF found a qualified buyer for the home. Several people owned the Anchorage before eventually being bought by the current owners, Frank and Amy Lesense. It has functioned as a bed and breakfast ever since they have owned it.
1103 Bay Street
Beaufort, South Carolina 29902
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Frank & Amy Lesesne
