Category Archives: Shooting A Grand Old House

Scenes From The Delta – # 4

Taking the old river routes through the Delta takes much longer than using the modern roads (and a car) but moving through the untouched marshes and rice fields is extraordinary, an opportunity very few will get.

First photo here is from Hampton Creek. The plantation buildings backup to the water. The far side of the creek is actually all rice along the tree line. For a short while I was convinced rain was going to change some of our plans, thankfully it held off.

Scenes From The Delta - # 4
Scenes From The Delta – # 4

Climbing up the creek bank the first building is the old kitchen. It’s still in pretty good shape.

Scenes From The Delta - # 4
Scenes From The Delta – # 4

Finally you reach the old plantation main house. I think it may be the most impressive of the plantation era. The main building dates to 1735, the top front peak, a frieze and pedimented gable, about 1790. After the Revolutionary War here.

Scenes From The Delta - # 4
Scenes From The Delta – # 4

I also think the house is a perfect example of what Hollywood used in any old movies. Since it’s pretty rural Hollywood typically used the plantations and land close to Charleston.

Scenes From The Delta - # 4
Scenes From The Delta – # 4

Members of the Rutledge family owned this property until 1971, when South Carolina purchased it. A Rutledge family member has been part of US history since the 1730’s.

Popular Spot, Plantation Porch

The US Revolutionary War is known for the battles and resistance in the northern colonies. Boston, New York, and Philadelphia are the places most written about.

Carolina (north and south) were the scenes of constant fighting. There were as many supporters of the British crown as there were revolutionaries. The British usually seemed to have come out on top most times. Large numbers of British troops were kept here freeing  up the northern colonies armies which eventually ended the war.

This porch, exactly as seen below, was important to that effort.

Popular Spot, Plantation Porch
Popular Spot, Plantation Porch

The Marquis de Lafayette hid here before joining Washington’s staff. The British were searching northern ports where he was expected to land. Instead he came to the US through little Georgetown Landing.

Francis Marion, Swamp Fox, came here to rest after skirmishes. His militia tied up General Cornwallis enough to allow Washington to move against New York. Marion is known as the father of modern guerrilla warfare. (Mel Gibson played him in the film ‘The Patriot’)

And finally after the country was founded George Washington went to this rural plantation acknowledging the local militia that had helped him. The southern campaign here may have been more brutal than the US Civil War.

It’s very cool to know they all sat on this porch, of course I’m pretty sure I was the only one in a rocker with a ham sandwich.

Scenes From The Delta – # 3

A trip to the old Hampton Plantation, using the original creeks and marsh route is beautiful, and long. It makes you realize just how deep in the delta this plantation actually is.

Scenes From The Delta - # 3
Scenes From The Delta – # 3

The home is first seen as you reached the end of Hampton Creek. The creek winds through marsh and rice fields, finally the house can be seen through the trees. Very impressive!

Scenes From The Delta - # 3
Scenes From The Delta – # 3
Scenes From The Delta - # 3
Scenes From The Delta – # 3

This is what you find at the end of the trip. Amazing to be built around 1730. Using the local wood, Black Cypress, made the basic structure almost indestructible.

Scenes From The Delta - # 3
Scenes From The Delta – # 3

Hampton Plantation, Santee Delta, South Carolina.

Around Strawberry Chapel

Built as a ‘chapel of ease’ in 1725 for planters who found it difficult to reach the main parish church, it is one of the few that still serves as a functioning church. Services are typical provided four times a year.

The chapel is surrounded by a small cemetery and overlooks the site of the former town of Childsbury, which faded with the decline of the surrounding plantations.

Around Strawberry Chapel
Around Strawberry Chapel

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Around Strawberry Chapel
Around Strawberry Chapel

Strawberry Chapel has Ball, Harleston, Waring and Stoney descendants actively working to protect its historic 1725 structure and graves. The property is privately owned in rural South Carolina.

 

South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum

James L. Petigru, Attorney General Of South Carolina ;

‘After South Carolina seceded  from the United States in 1860, Petigru famously remarked, “South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum.” Petigru opposed the Confederacy, although he did not believe that South Carolina would return to the Union.’ (Wikipedia)

James L. Petigru ;
James L. Petigru

He was right on one count.

The above is in the Charleston council room in city hall.

 

First Views Of Strawberry, Black And White

Strawberry Chapel, 301 years old, and one of the last complete chapel of ease standing in the US.

A ‘chapel of ease’ is just that. A chapel that was easy to visit. The Anglican Church Of England has one church per parish. Plantation families could not journey to the parish so small chapels were allowed at times. The actual parish church, Biggins, is right down the road. However there were no roads at that time, so it was a multi day trip.

The original plantation families still own this property, it was on the land of Strawberry Plantation and Comingtee Plantation when built in the village of Childsbury.

The gates were opened to a small group, mostly photographers I think, a week ago. Last winter a long restoration was completed. The goal was to have repairs finished for the 300th anniversary.

I believe the only original feature changed was a removal (about 100 year ago) of a small wooden balcony. The structure is in another church down the road, an African American church centuries old being repaired now.

First Views Of Strawberry, Black And White
First Views Of Strawberry, Black And White

The graveyards have various brick and rock walls through the property. Family members are still being buried here.

First Views Of Strawberry, Black And White
First Views Of Strawberry, Black And White

Most everything inside the chapel is original. The banner on the back wall is a repaired piece made up of pine cone seeds. The baptismal water urn is also new.

I counted seats for about 50-60 people.

First Views Of Strawberry, Black And White
First Views Of Strawberry, Black And White

Strawberry Chapel of Ease, Childsbury (now a field), South Carolina.

Spring Colors From A Walk

The colors are still out in full force. We have flowers most all year, but spring they all bloom at once (well usually).

Below a trail along the Ashley River on the grounds of the Middleton Plantation. A Live Oak and Spanish Moss provide a nice frame for the trail here.

Spring Colors From A Walk
Spring Colors From A Walk

Bright pink using streaming Spanish Moss as a blurred background.

Spring Colors From A Walk
Spring Colors From A Walk

The Swallow-tailed Butterfly have made an appearance. Not many yet though, and not the best shot. I’ll take given the amount of time he gave me.

Spring Colors From A Walk
Spring Colors From A Walk

Finally a White Rose going past it’s prime. But the bright Azalea behind gave it a second chance.

Spring Colors From A Walk
Spring Colors From A Walk

Shot at Middleton Plantation, OM-1 (1), OM 12-100 f4.