City Directories and History: “Ivy Hall”, home of Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Blair, has twelve large rooms, six upstairs and the same downstairs, with two wide halls the entire length of the house. An interesting feature is the two beautiful winding stairways, one at each end of the hall. The present owner, Mr. L. M. Blair, purchased this home and 580 acres of land from the estate of Captain Thomas M. Lyles (1811-1902) following his death. Captain Lyles was a descendant of Arramanus Lyles, the first white child born in Fairfield County.
The house is said to be about 175 years old. It is put together with wooden pegs and all the lumber was hauled from Charleston in wagons. The horses wore sleigh bells so the family could tell when the entourage was returning with the lumber. It took more than a week to make a round trip. During General Sherman’s march through South Carolina a detachment of his soldiers took an old trunk, filled it with trash and set fire in an upstairs room. A faithful old slave, “Uncle Billy Mosely”, discovered the fire in time to extinguish it. The hole which was burned in the floor is still in evidence, with a piece of thick leather nailed over the burned section.
The old home has been well preserved by its present owner. It still retains the original charm, with huge fireplaces, wide floor boards of hardwood and lovely plastered walls. The entire front is covered with ivy vines over a hundred years old, from which it derives its name, “Ivy Hall”. [Our Heritage Book]
The sadness of this house is a testimonial to all legacies who can control the destinies of their legacy homes. The legacies of the L.M. Blair family who purchased this plantation in 1902 is a bittersweet testimonial of how a grand legacy might be lost. Heirs who inherited the estate about 1980 left the house unoccupied, so it has been subjected to vandalism and theft. Disputes between heirs has left this relic blowing in the wind…. Its survival would be a legacy the Blair family might save as early Fairfield history and a tribute to their incredible history in Fairfield. [Contribution by J.M. Lyles, III]
“Lyles, Thomas Minter of “Lyles Quarter” plantation. Born Oct. 13, 1811 (S.C.) ; married June 20, 1832, Eliza Roselin E. Peay (Feb. 16, 1816-Dec. 25, 1897) ; died Feb. 7, 1902. Education: College of S.C., A.B., 1831. Church: Baptist (doubtless, Deacon, Rock Creek Baptist). Slaves: 184 (Fairfield District).”
The Last Foray, C. Gaston Davidson, SC Press – 1971
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Also see link: Fairfield County History / Sites and Structures
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Agnes Love says
Thank you for sharing this information. My husband descends from Arromanus Lyles through his son Ephraim who moved to Chester County. We have visited this home with permission from the Blair family and would love to see the property preserved. It is a treasure.
Agnes Love
Linda Lyles says
I love it…my Roots too. 🙂
Tanya says
Can someone confirm this is WB Lyles family? Thank you.
Pelham says
Hi, Tanya,
William Boykin Lyles, the brother of my great grandfather John Woodward Lyles, was born at Ivy Hall November 23, 1835, Fairfield Co., S.C.; d. May 31, 1862, Civil War, Seven Pines, VA, S.E. of Richmond, VA. Are you a descendant? We have a very active Facebook Page at Lyles Descendants. Also, for lookups on family information contact me at fairfieldmus@truvista.net where I am the local museum director. Write Mr. Killian (also related through a previous generation) in our genealogy research room at fairfieldgenealogy@truvista.net.