200 Palmetto Street | Built 1883; Rebuilt After 1886 | Current Owners: Peter and Linda Shelbourne
Originally built in 1883 on land owned by Julia Drayton Hastie, Linwood Inn is closely tied to one of the Lowcountry’s most prominent families. The 1886 earthquake significantly damaged the structure, lifting it two inches north and crushing joists against its piers, requiring extensive rebuilding.
Julia Drayton Hastie, connected to the Drayton family and related to the Grimké sisters, inherited Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in 1886, becoming the first and only woman to own the property.
The home is noted for technological innovation as well. Records state that Mrs. Hastie installed one of the first working gas systems in Summerville, fueled by coal processed in a separate “Gas House” on the property. It is also believed she was among the first in the Lowcountry to incorporate a kitchen within the main house rather than in a detached structure.
The gardens have endured their own trials, including devastation during Hurricane Hugo in 1989, followed by careful restoration by later owners. Today, Peter and Linda Shelbourne serve as the home’s stewards, continuing its legacy of hospitality and preservation.
This home is part of the 2026 Summerville Historic Homes & Gardens Tour. Explore all five featured homes in our Legacy in Bloom series.
Photography by, Bianka Lamb
By AZALEA Magazine
