City Directories and History: Harrietta Plantation, built ca. 1807, accurately represents the lifestyle of 19th century rice planters in South Carolina’s coastal region. Alterations to the structure reflect the economic prosperity of the planters in the years prior to the Civil War and the concern of recent occupants to carry out modernization within the original architectural context. With its raised basement and well-ventilated room arrangement, Harrietta Plantation house is a comfortable mix of Federal and Greek revival motifs adapted to the needs of a moderate and often humid locale. The owners of Harrietta Plantation conducted commercial rice cultivation until the early years of the 20th century. Ultimately, changing economic conditions decreased the profitability of this crop, and owner David Doar, one of the last large commercial planters in South Carolina discontinued rice production ca. 1903. The original two-story portion of the house consisted of two rooms with a hallway across the rear. Subsequently, the one-story wings with porches were added ca. 1931. A formal garden enhances the front façade of Harrietta. To the east are the old rice fields which separate the mainland from the South Santee River. To the north are the banks of an old rice field reserve (now a lake with cypress trees). To the west is the entrance to the grounds. This encompasses a portion of the plantation’s old slave avenue. The remnants of a rice threshing mill of the 1850s remain on the property as well as one of the slave cabins. Listed in the National Register September 18, 1975. [Courtesy of the SC Dept. of Archives and History]
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