City Directories and History: (Charles C. Chamberlain House) The Chamberlain-Kay House was built ca. 1854 as a residence for Charles C. Chamberlain. Chamberlain served as the first supervisor of the rail line from Belton to Greenville and after Belton was incorporated, he was chosen as the first intendant. The Chamberlain-Kay House is considered to be the oldest surviving residence in Belton. Architecturally, the Chamberlain-Kay House exemplifies the effect of the changing architectural tastes and fashions on a vernacular house form in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. The house is an adaptation of the Piedmont Farmhouse, or I-House, type, with period elaborations and additions. The original board and beveled batten siding, as well as the
Note the popular design motif, the Palmette being used on the front door and elsewhere. A 1979 image of the front door details. Courtesy of the S.C. Dept. of Archives and History
barge boards and brackets, represent the Carpenter Gothic fashion, while the doorway, with its transom and sidelights and the Palmette motif, anthemion ornament, represents the Greek Revival. The metal shingles on the roof, as well as the cedar shingles on the second story represent the variegated textures of the Queen Anne style. Each successive style was imposed upon the basic form, creating the amalgamated building surviving today. The house was re-positioned to its present northwest orientation between 1911 and 1922. Several alterations or additions have also since occurred. Listed in the National Register November 25, 1980.
(Courtesy of South Carolina Department of Archives and History) Also see this Fairfield Co home featuring much of the same style: https://www.rootsandrecall.com/fairfield-county/buildings/915-old-camden-road/
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R&R HISTORY LINK: the 1854 Map of Anderson Co., by Colton
R&R HISTORY LINK: A LAURENS CO PLANTATION HOUSE – SIMILAR ACRCHITECTURE
R&R HISTORY LINK: ANOTHER UPCOUNTRY SC PLANTATION HOUSE USING THE PALMETTE DESIGN
R&R HISTORY LINK: NATIONAL REGISTER IMAGE(S)
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[…] the Palmette design varies widely and is sometime hard to recognize. Note the front door of the Charles Chamberlain House in Belton, S.C. is also decorated with the style, described as a plant based […]