October 25th Beaufort SC City tour- The Verdier House

Verdier House

1. Verdier House Marker   Inscription. John Mark Verdier 1759-1826 Builder Of This House 1795-1800 General Lafayette Spoke To The People Of Beaufort From This Portico March 18, 1825 Erected by Beaufort County Historical Society. Marker series. This marker is included in the South Carolina, Beaufort County Historical Society marker series. Location. 32° 25.846′ N, 80° 40.265′ W. Marker is in Beaufort, South Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker is on Bay Street, on the right when traveling west.  Marker is at or near this postal address: 801 Bay Street, Beaufort SC 29902, United States of America.   By Mike Stroud, February 2008 2. Verdier House with Marker   Regarding Verdier House. National Register of Historic Places : Verdier, John Mark, House ** (added 1971 - Building - #71000746)  ♦ Also known as Lafayette Building ♦ Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering ♦ Architect, builder, or engineer: Unknown ♦ Architectural Style: Federal ♦ Area of Significance: Architecture ♦ Period of Significance: 1750-1799 ♦ Owner: Private ♦ Historic Function: Domestic ♦ Historic Sub-function: Single Dwelling ♦ Current Function: Commerce/Trade ♦ Current Sub-function: Organizational, Professional Also see . . .  1. The Verdier House,. The house is in Beaufort's National Historic Landmark District. 2. John Mark Verdier House. John Mark Verdier House, also known as Lafayette Building, is a building in Beaufort, South Carolina., South Carolina.) 3. John Mark Verdier House. The John Mark Verdier House has been a Beaufort landmark since the 1790s, when it was built by John Mark Verdier. 4. Historic Beaufort Foundation. The mission of Historic Beaufort Foundation is to support the preservation, protection and presentation of sites and artifacts of historic, architectural and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County, South Carolina. (   By Mike Stroud, February 2008 3. Verdier House, 801 Bay St   5. Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), often known as simply Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer born in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France.   Additional comments.  1. John Mark Verdier House - National Register Nomination Form (1971) Description The house is frame with clapboarding. It has two stories on an elevated stuccoed tabby basement. The roof is hipped. On the front is a double-tiered portico. The interior, which follows a modified Adams style, has the traditional center hall with drawing room on the right, dining room on the left, and two additional rooms behind. In the hall, an archway frames the staircase. On the landing is a handsome Palladian window. From the landing a divided stairway leads to the second floor where there is a large ballroom with a retired room. Exceptionally, fine, handcarved mantels featuring allegorical figures, ribbons, fruit, flowers, and sheaves of wheat. The molding and cornices are beautifully decorated. The house is in good condition, and    4. Verdier House   partially restored. Historic Beaufort Foundation, for which the house is headquarters, plans to continue restoration already begun: restoration of elaborate plaster molding; scraping and painting of walls, ceilings and mantels in five rooms; exterior painting; replacing of porch banisters and shutters will follow comprehensive restoration plan by Charleston architect Albert Simons. Also planned is restoring of historic garden area, according to Simons plan. Significance Beaufort landmark since the 1790s, when built by john Mark Verdier. Son of a french Huguenot emigrant, Verdier was a wealthy planter and merchant whose house typified Beaufort's gracious architectural style and was a focal point of the town, providing entertainment for Lafayette during his Southern visit, and in the 1860s, headquarters for Union troops. (Historic Beaufort Foundation has a picture of the house with Union troops in front.) In the ballroom, Beaufort's first telephone was installed. The heirs of the builder owned the house until 1940 when it was bought by a committee for the Preservation of the Lafayette Building through public subscriptions. In 1967, this committee founded the Historic Beaufort Foundation, which now owns the house as headquarters, and makes it the focal point of the Historic Beaufort District which is listed on the National Register of    Historic American Buildings Survey, 1940 5. Verdier House Historic American Engineering Record HABS SC,7-BEAUF,6-1 Significance: A late 18th century house where Lafayette was a guest in 1825, with elegant architectural features. Click for more information.   Historic Places.

Historic American Buildings Survey, March 1979 6. Verdier House , southeast view Historic American Engineering Record,HABS SC,7-BEAUF,6-5	Historic American Buildings Survey, March 1979 7. Verdier House stair landing ,first floor, rear Historic American Engineering Record, HABS SC,7-BEAUF,6-11
Historic American Buildings Survey, March 1979 8. Verdier House Northeast room, first floor Historic American Engineering Record,HABS SC,7-BEAUF,6-22

October 25, 2014 Charlesfort/Santa Elena Site Parris Island SC

Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site

1. Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site Marker   . Has Been Designated A National Historic Landmark  This site possesses National significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America 2001 National Park Service United States Department of the Interior Erected 2001 by U.S.Dept. of the Interior. (Marker Number # 74001822.) . Location. 32° 18.376′ N, 80° 40.54′ W. Marker is in Parris Island, South Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker is on Belleau Wood Road, on the right. . At the end of Belleau Wood Rd, north end of the circle. Marker is in this post office area: Parris Island SC 29905, United States of America.     2. Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site Marker located at the Belleau Wood Rd circle   Also see . . .  1. Charlesfort-Santa Elena.  2. Charlesfort - Santa Elena.

3. Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site Marker along the north hiking trail National Historic Landmark: Charlesfort--Santa Elena Site *** (added 1974 - Site - #74001822) • Also known as Ribault Monument;San Marcos;San Felipe;38BU51 • Address Restricted, Beaufort • Historic Significance: Information Potential • Area of Significance: Military, Historic - Non-Aboriginal • Cultural Affiliation: Spanish Colonial, French Colonial • Period of Significance: 1500-1599 • Owner: Federal • Historic Function: Defense • Historic Sub-function: Military Facility • Current Function: Landscape, Recreation And Culture • Current Sub-function: Museum, Underwater •

4. Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site Marker ( AKA Ribault Monument;San Marcos;San Felipe ); see nearby Markers for Ribault Monument

5. French Tribute The first French stronghold on this continent

6. Tabby pylons outline a part of the : Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site -Ribaut Monument;San Marcos;San Felipe site

October 24th The Corner Store and Office Frogmore, Beaufort County SC

The Corner Store and Office, also known as the McDonald Wilkins, and Company Store and Mark D. Batchelder Office, is a historic general store and office building located on Saint Helena Island near Frogmore, Beaufort County, South Carolina. It was built about 1877, and is a two-story, wood frame building with a gable roof. It features a two-story wraparound porch. The adjacent one-story office was built about 1905. The store sold provisions to the islanders, most of whom were African American, and became one of the major centers of commercial and social activity on St. Helena.  It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

2 Additional locations in Palatka, Florida

Hit two locations on the National Register today in Palatka:  Also did 7 markers at the courthouse, and 1 out at the airport.   

First up was something called the Central Academy.  The Central Academy (also known as the Old Central Academy High School) is a historic site in Palatka, Florida. It is located at 127 Washington Street. Established in 1892, Central Academy became the first accredited African-American high school in Florida in 1924. The first Central Academy building was destroyed by fire in 1936. The present building replaced it in 1937. For a time it served as the school district's transportation office. The building, which the district turned over to the Palatka Housing Authority, fell into disrepair. A committee is working to raise money for its restoration. On November 12, 1998, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
I can vouch for the fact it is certainly fallen into disrepair. The roof is totally gone, can expect the interior is much better.  Probably a candidate for removal.  

Next was the Larimer Memorial Library on Main Street downtown: 

It had survived much better!  Larimer Memorial Library is a historic library at 216 Reid Street in Palatka, Florida, United States. It was given to the Arts Council of Greater Palatka in 1992, and renamed the Larimer Arts Center. On March 12, 2008, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.  It as you can see, has been repurposed as an Arts Center.

Bronson-Mulholland House, Palatka Florida

Visited this fine home last Sunday on my Palatka visit-  it is and was a fine example of antebellum homes here in town.  This one was actually built in 1854, and occupied during the Civil War.  Had a 45 minute tour by a very knowledgeable guide.  

Issac Bronson gravesite

The house from the street 

The museum on the grounds very well done. 

The later family of the house