History
Philip Simmons’ work is a significant character-defining feature in Charleston, a city that prides itself on its historic architecture and its preservation ethic. In the early 1930s, Simmons was one of 15 blacksmiths operating in the community, but now his forge is one of only two on the Charleston peninsula.
Threat
Since Simmons did not mark all of his earlier pieces, he can’t recall everything he has made. There have been efforts to catalogue his work and every week, Simmons is driven around the city to hunt for his creations. More than 550 pieces have been located to date, but this task is made more difficult because many homeowners don't know they own a piece of Simmons’ work or aren’t aware of his reputation. While the Philip Simmons Foundation has done an extraordinary job with little resources, greater visibility, funding and interpretation would assure that Simmons’ work survives.
Simmons’ workshop draws tourists daily, but it desperately needs to be stabilized; currently, the structure has no interior walls or insulation and is not anchored, making hurricanes a constant threat.
Solution
A resource as important as Philip Simmons’ home and workshop should not remain in private hands, especially when Simmons himself is concerned about its preservation. One option is to assist the Philip Simmons Foundation to raise funds to purchase the site from Simmons and then provide him with a “life estate,” which would allow him to continue to live at the home he’s known for 48 years.
