Tag Archives: Monochrome

1850 Plantation Chapel

Prior to 1850 this small building was a spring house. When repaired it was turned into a chapel for a plantation.

In 1865 most of Middleton Plantation was burned by the 56th New York Regiment marching towards Charleston. The chapel remained.

1850 Plantation Chapel
1850 Plantation Chapel

Middleton Plantation, South Carolina.

Magnolia Plantation House (circa 1870)

The main plantation house at Magnolia Plantation.

I believe the current building dates to the 1870’s. The previous house was burned, along with neighboring Runnymede Plantation, and Middleton by federal troops as they past the Charleston ‘Plantation Row’. Drayton Hall, 5 miles up the row (Ashley River) was ignored due to Yellow Fever being active in the house (or someone smart enough to fly the yellow warning flags out front).

Magnolia Plantation House (circa 1870)
Magnolia Plantation House (circa 1870)

A thought; hardly any plantations look like what we have been shown in the movies for years. The old Hampton Plantation (Santee Delta, SC) comes close. Forest Gump was filmed in several local plantations that come close.

Truth is most plantations either had no buildings being just big rice/cotton fields, or the homes were made of clay bricks. Termites and fires destroyed many homes. Only the wood from Black Cypress was as strong as clay bricks.

Charleston, South Carolina.

Plantation House

Taken from a short bridge we use when walking out to the Ashley and marshes. A nice looking shortcut.

This house was rebuilt in the 1870’s. A section even pulled up river by boat. Everything along the river here, up to this plantation, was damaged or burned during the US Civil War.

Plantation House
Plantation House

The land and home is in the 15th generation of family ownership. Original rice plantings and cultivation dates to 1676.

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, South Carolina.

Marsh Reclaiming The Land

Military grave site alongside the salt marsh. This was off by itself instead of being with the military ‘Soldiers Ground’ graves near the entrance.

Marsh Reclaiming The Land
Marsh Reclaiming The Land

The marsh, and Ashley River, will claim this soon.  You can Charleston Harbor and ports from here.