Fort Hill

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Fort Hill

Fort Hill , also known as John C. Calhoun's mansion and library in Clemson , South Carolina, was the home of John C. Calhoun . It is now part of Clemson University and a National Historic Landmark .

history

It was originally designed by Dr. James McElhenny, a pastor of Hopwell Presbyterian Church, was built as a four room house and was then called Clergy Hall . In 1825 John C. Calhoun and his wife Floride Calhoun bought the house. Calhoun enlarged it to 14 rooms. He renamed it Fort Hill , after the nearby Fort Rutledge, a fortification from the late 18th century. The architectural style is the Greek Revival with simple local details.

After Calhoun's death in 1850, the property went in part to his wife and the rest to three of his children: Cornelia, John and Anna Maria, wife of Thomas Green Clemson . Anna sold her stake in Floride Calhoun. She sold the plantation to her eldest son Andrew Pickens Calhoun, but held a mortgage. After Andrew's death in 1865, she filed for foreclosure against Andrew's heirs and held on to it until her death in 1866. After a lengthy legal battle, the plantation was finally auctioned off in 1872 in Walhalla , South Carolina. Floride Calhoun's administrator was awarded the contract. The profit was divided among their heirs. Her daughter Anna Clemson received the manor house with a total of 814 acres of land, the rest went to her great-granddaughter Floride Isabella Lee, who received approximately 288 acres of land. Thomas Green and Anna Clemson moved to Fort Hill in 1872. After Anna's death in 1875, Thomas Green Clemson inherited the property. When he died in 1888, he left more than 814 acres of land. The inheritance was given to the State of South Carolina on condition that an agricultural college be established here and that the house "must never be demolished or remodeled; but it should be restored with all furniture and clothes ... and always should." open for visitors to see. " Clemson University set up Fort Hill as a museum under this condition.

John C. Calhoun's mansion and library was granted National Historic Landmark status in December 1960 . It has been listed as a building on the National Register of Historic Places since October 1966 . Fort Hill is also a Contributing Property of Clemson University Historic District II , which was established in January 1990.

Fort Hill was closed for restoration for two years and reopened in spring 2003. Fort Hill has been designated a national treasure by the Save America's Treasures program and its extensive conservation is made possible by government funding.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Edgar, Walter. South Carolina Encyclopedia (2006). p. 334, ISBN 978-1-57003-598-2
  2. ^ EM Lander, Jr., The Calhoun Family and Thomas Green Clemson: The Decline of a Southern Patriarchy (1983) University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, SC.
  3. ↑ Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State: South Carolina. National Park Service , accessed February 16, 2020.
  4. ↑ Fort Hill on the National Register of Historic Places , accessed February 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Clemson University Historic District II on the National Register of Historic Places , accessed February 16, 2020.

Web links

Commons : Fort Hill  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 34 ° 40 ′ 40.5 ″  N , 82 ° 50 ′ 20 ″  W.