From a July 2021, edition of the Charleston Post & Courier newspaper:
"No one wants to claim responsibility because of the inevitably high cost and the complications that accompany restoration of a historic structure in close proximity to gravesites.
The Rev. Cress Darwin, pastor of Second Presbyterian Church, said no engineering analysis of the wall has been done. Its current condition is the result of around 150 years of neglect — along with a significantly elevated cemetery that puts pressure on the interior part of the wall."
John, I think you are right. I’ll bet the other ends of these “earthquake bolts” go to (long) dead men who are right where they should be… six feet underground:
A variance for an H -pile system installed on the street side of the wall could arrest further lateral movement. Would look bad, but no worse than open coffins on the street.
The old wall has an interesting back story. Thought to have been built in the 1860s, during the American Civil War. Charleston endured a long siege, and bombardment during the war. While under siege, soil from higher parts of low coastal city were excavated for reuse in defensive fortifications. The area near the church is relatively high. The church/graveyard were there at the time.
