The Historic American Buildings Survey ( HABS ) conducted in 1958 in Charleston describes the house in detail . The house has wide piazzas ( porches ) on the south side . The north entrance leads into a large hall . One passes through an arch into a large staircase hall . The hall goes from north to south on the lower porch leading to an outside door . The staircase at the entrance leads to the two drawing rooms on the second floor . The small rooms behind them served as withdrawing spaces , one for men and the other for women . A room of books for library use and reading are at this level . The interior walls and ceilings are finished in ornamental plaster . A balcony was destroyed in the 1886 Charleston earthquake and replaced with the present cast-iron balcony
1886 Charleston earthquake
1886 Charleston earthquake
Edmondston–Alston House