1321 Pendleton Street
Situated across the street from the University of South Carolina's historic Horseshoe, this structure currently houses the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology and the Office of the State Archaeologist. It was constructed in 1953 by Baker and Baker, a real estate development company owned by cousins David Baker (1918-2002) and Lee Jacob Baker (1919-2004).
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Lee Jacob Baker, his mother, Esther Kligerman Baker, his brother-in-law, Jack Alion (1909-1994), and his father, Jake Baker, at the wedding of Jack Alion and Evelyn Baker (1917-2000) on April 13, 1940. Lee entered the United States Navy a few months later. Image courtesy Larraine Moses
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David Baker and his wife, JoAnn Schreiber Baker (1932 - 2001), at their wedding in Augusta on June 25, 1950. Image courtesy Larraine Moses
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1321 Pendleton Street, 2017. Historic Columbia collection
David Baker, the son of Ukrainian immigrant Clara Kligerman Baker (1892-1969) and Frank Baker (1884-1941), was born in Estill, South Carolina, and moved to Columbia in 1926. Clara operated Baker's Grocery at 931 Gates (Park) Street, and the family lived in two rooms at the rear of the store. Lee Jacob Baker, the son of Ukrainian immigrant Esther Kligerman Baker (1890-1985) and Jake Baker (1887-1951), was born at Columbia Hospital but lived in Estill until 1931, when his parents moved the family to Columbia. They lived in an apartment on the 1500 block of Park Street, and Jake and Esther ran a store on Assembly Street.
The "double cousins" joined the United States Navy in 1940 and served throughout World War II. Both also attended the University of South Carolina, where they received bachelor and law degrees. Together they opened a law practice in Five Points in 1947. After their success with 1321 Pendleton, Lee and David continued to develop properties, including the Baker Building at 1600 Hampton Street, which is now owned by the University of South Carolina, and Baker Apartments at 724 Maple Street. Other developments included the Midlands Shopping Center and the area's first K-Mart. The prosperity of the partnership led to the creation of the Baker and Baker Foundation in 1983. The foundation has supported major cultural institutions in Columbia, including Richland Library, the Columbia Museum of Art and the United Way, as well as the Columbia Jewish Federation and the Jewish Day School. Both David and Lee were staunch supporters of many organizations. David served as the president of the Richland Kiwanis Club, the Tree of Life Congregation and the Columbia Jewish Community Center. He also chaired the local United Way and raised funds for the Columbia Museum of Art and Richland Library. Lee served as president of the Columbia Museum of Art and Columbia Music Festival Association and on the board of Beth Shalom Synagogue and the Salvation Army. Today, Baker and Baker is run by David's son, John Baker, and Lee's son-in-law, Steven Anastasion.