James Sparrow House, Federal style residence in Charleston, United States

The James Sparrow House is a Charleston single house in the late Federal style at 65 Cannon Street: two and a half stories of stuccoed brick raised on a basement of the same material. A dog-tooth cornice with full return runs along the gable rake, stuccoed quoins mark the corners, and a stringcourse separates the floor levels. Two interior chimneys with Gothic arched hoods stand on the east side.

James Sparrow, a Charleston butcher, acquired the property at 65 Cannon Street in 1797, and the house is named for him. Other butchers owned and lived in it until Christian David Happoldt bought it in 1825; it stayed in his family until 1907. The two interior chimneys with Gothic arched hoods on the east side were rebuilt after the 1886 earthquake.

The house displays the hallmark features of a Charleston single house, with fine details that reflect the prosperity of its neighborhood during the early 1800s. The way it sits close to the street shows how homes in this area were built to make the most of tight urban spaces.

The house is located in a residential neighborhood with narrow streets and closely spaced buildings, so expect limited parking and a quiet street setting. The area is best explored on foot, and visiting during daylight hours allows you to see all the architectural details on the exterior clearly.

The property underwent a major restoration in 1995 with an addition designed by Charleston architect Randolph Martz, which shows how careful renovation can bring historic buildings back to life. This work demonstrates the balance between respecting the original design and meeting modern needs.