Scott Howell named manager of Magnolia’s main house
September 10, 2012
CHARLESTON, SC – September 10, 2012 – Scott Howell has been named manager of the main house at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.
Howell oversees daily tours of the house, a nine-room Victorian-stylemansion that reflects Charleston society following the Civil War. Hejoined the Magnolia staff last year as assistant house manager.
Tom Johnson, Magnolia’s executive director, said, “Scott brings alevel of enthusiasm and expertise to the house. I look forward toworking with him in the future.”
Howell is a graduate of Elon College, now Elon University, in Elon inNorth Carolina. A 1979 graduate of the High School of Charleston,Howell majored in English and minored in accounting.
Although he is drawn to history, literature and sharing his knowledgewith others it is his skill with numbers that sustained his career. Heis a retired corporate controller for non-profits organizations. Howellsaid he studied accounting because of the advice of his college advisorwho said, “I had to do something practical in life like T.S. Eliot, whowas a banker.”
During the summers months and holidays when he was in high school andcollege, Howell worked as a docent for several of Charleston’s historichomes. He also led special tours and served as the archivist for theCathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul on Coming Street.
Filled with the possessions of generations of the Drayton family, themain house has evolved from a modest pre-Revolutionary War huntingcottage built on the burned-out first floor and steps of a second housethat was destroyed during the Civil War.
As house manager, Howell supervises a staff of five interpreters wholead 30-minute tours through the house. During the daily tours, theguides convey the importance of the Drayton family in American history,and that the house is indicative of post-Civil War Charleston.
The house tour will begin to reflect Howell’s desire to “provide anaccurate depiction of an early 20th century country house; to make whatis unique there shine.”
The expansion of the house, he said, was carried out by a verypowerful woman, Julia Drayton. At the end of the 19th century, Julia,was a woman of means. She transformed the house into a place toentertain guests during the weekends and for family gatherings.
Another side of the history of the house that needs to be told,Howell added, are those individuals, black and white, who worked in thehouse. “We want the tour to reflect accurately the role that everyonewho lived or worked in the house played for Magnolia’s success, and thatmeans both the family and those who served the family.”
