MYSTERY PHOTO: Not a house in a subdivision

Here’s what this week’s mystery is not: A standard South Carolina subdivision house.  But what and where is it? Send your guess to:  editor@charlestoncurrents.com. And don’t forget to include your name and the town in which you live.

Our previous Mystery Photo

Our Nov. 11 mystery, “This puzzler might be impossible,” wasn’t impossible for one guy: Super sleuth George Graf of Palmyra, Va.

We had lots of great guesses of the photo of a graveyard through a second-floor window.  Among the guesses were the photo showed a view in Charleston from the Circular Congregational Church, the Unitarian Church and First Scots Presbyterian Church.  Another person guessed it was at Snee Farm in Mount Pleasant and another thought it resembled a house in Clemson at the S.C. Botanical Gardens.

Graf said close examination of the two obelisks gave away the location as Second Presbyterian Church and Cemetery, 342 Meeting Street, Charleston.

“I believe the two grave obelisks are the Rev. Thomas Smyth and his wife Margaret Milligan Adger.  According to presbyteriansofthepast.com, ‘Shortly after Rev. Smyth’s arrival in Charleston, he married Margaret Milligan Adger the daughter of James Adger who was a prosperous local businessman that made his sizeable fortune via Charleston’s harbor and its busy docks. Currently there are two cobble-stoned roads off of East Bay Street in Charleston, “North Adgers Wharf,” and “South Adgers Wharf,” which are reminders of the Adger era of Charleston shipping. Margaret and Thomas were married on July 9, 1832.’

“‘Though Dr. Smyth was loved by his congregation, it does not mean they were happy with every aspect of his ministry. He had a habit of preaching too long. In order to address this problem, a speaking tube was installed from the choir loft to the pulpit so the violinist could speak to Dr. Smyth and let him know he was preaching too long. Despite the warnings echoing through the sound tube’s horn so that they were loud enough for people in the front pews to hear them, he paid no attention and continued to proclaim the Word at length.’”

Great work, George — and thanks to everyone else for what was probably the hardest mystery we’ve ever offered!

Send us a mystery:  If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!)   Send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.