City Directories and History: Believed to be the first clapboard “board” house in town, this home was
built in 1774 by Colonel William McCreight, one of the leading citizens of the area. There are three stories, with two large rooms on each floor. The original shutters are on the twelve pane windows. [Courtesy Chamber of Commerce]
Informative link: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzet2n4j/index.html
This interesting and picturesque old home has the distinction of being the first frame structure built in Fairfield County. All homes prior to this were (routinely) made of logs. Built in 1774 by Colonel William McCrieght (McCreight), one of this section’s well known cabinet makers, it definitely reflects the spirit of the Scots Irish settlers in simple, utilitarian aspects whose homes were built for comfort and usefulness. The framework, walls, and floors are of hand hewn, hand
planed old pine boards, mostly pegged together. The few nails that were used are hand wrought. The house stands three stories high with two rooms on each floor. The kitchen and dining room on the first floor, living and bedrooms on the others. The original kitchen on the first floor has a quaint hand-made corner cupboard built in the wall with butterfly shelves. It originally had panes of blown glass. The mantels are all high and very wide. The windows have the old twelve-pane sash and still have the original shutters. [Our Heritage Book] It is commonly believed that Mr. McCreight constructed his own home.
Click on the More Information > link to find additional data – A Fairfield County Sketchbook, by J.S. Bolick, 2000 (Courtesy of the FCHS)
“The 1774 McCreight House, one of the county’s earliest frame structures, is three stories tall, with two large rooms on each floor, hand-hewn framing, boards hand planed and pegged, simple interior woodwork and trim, and shutters that are original to the house. Another 18th Century house, the Bratton Place, dates from before 1777 — a two-story “L shape” typical of the town with a wide one-story porch across the front and a semi-elliptical fanlight over the front door, which is flanked by sidelights. Still standing, too, is the two- and-one-half story Cornwallis House, its name derived from the local tradition that it was used as headquarters by Lord Cornwallis. Corinthian columns support the one-story porch of the 1855 Rion House, which has beautiful balustrades and exceptional front door sidelights and transoms of Tiffany glass. The Rion House is also noted for woodwork and plaster medallions of excellent design, a pegged mahogany stairway, and fine chandeliers. “Mosquito Cottage architecture,” also typical of Winnsboro, is used to describe the Robert Brice House built in the 1840s, its ground floor characterized by thick masonry walls and its main second floor by a wide slender-columned veranda extending along the entire front of the house beneath an overhanging gable. On the home site of Richard Winn, the town’s founder, now stands a two-and-one-half story frame house known as Malvern Hill. The house was built about 1884, its huge Ionic- columned portico added in 1914.”
Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC
COTTON GINS – York, S.C.
The undersigned has opened a SHOP in Yorkville, in rear of Messrs T. S. Pagan & Co’s Grocery Store, and near the Kings Mountain Railroad Depot, for the purpose of carrying on.GIN MAKING BUSINESS – His GINS will be made of the best materials and in a workmanlike manner. His make of GINS has given more general satisfaction to the Pee Dee country, and parts of North Carolina than any other that has been introduced there, and is much better liked and runs much better than the Georgia-made Gins, and are much easier repaired. He commenced learning the trade under Col. William McCreight in Winnsboro in 1818, and has followed the business every since. He has carried on business in Cheraw for many years, and gave general satisfaction.
REPAIRING done in the best manner. All those that wish to have repairing done, will do well to send in as early as possible, that they may not be disappointed in getting their work done on time. GIN SHOPS are generally crowded in the Fall, or just before they are wanted for use. Those wanting work done will find it to their advantage to give them a call.
Robert Morrison (Yorkville Miscellany, May 15, 1852)Note: Robert Morrison of York, S.C., had been a student of McCreight’s….
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Doug McCreight says
Thanks so much for your wonderful work here. This home was built by one of my direct ancestors and I hope, one day, to improve it and make it an attractive visiting point for people visiting the Fairfield County region.
rradmin says
I hope you can achieve this goal soon. If R&R can be of assistance and update the site, please keep us updated. Thanks for your input!