Barbers Alley

Barber's Alley

Named for Joseph Hayne Rainey (1832-1887), an African-American, who fled the U.S. during the Civil War.

While in Bermuda he owned a barbershop and his wife worked as a seamstress for Mrs. Walker, wife of a confederate solider.  The irony is when he returned to Charleston after the war he became politically active and was the first African American Congressman elected in 1870 (and subsequently re-elected four times).

Barber’s Alley was named in his honor and was the first project of The St. George’s Foundation.