City Directories and History: This home demolished in the mid 20th century sat on the corner of South Congress and Palmer street on a narrow lot. The house was intended to face Palmer Street.
Viewing this house from Congress Street, one sees the characteristics of a building of the late 1850’s or early 1900’s. This “front” is deceiving, for the house is of a much earlier vintage. The character of the place changes when observed from Palmer Street (formerly called Depot Street). From this angle the original lines of the house are clearly defined, for it was designed to face this street. The original building was a small, rectangular, cottage-type house with a gable roof, out-side chimneys on either end, and a gabled portico protecting the doorway. The portico is flanked with a pair of steps on each end. This part of the house sits well above the ground and has a basement. In the early 1900’s the size of the house was almost doubled when the front wings and piazza were added.
The property on which the building was located was a part of Caleb Clarke’s Clarksville area. This house was built prior to 1850 at the same time or before the large MACFIE HOUSE next door. Both of these houses were sold by Dr. Caleb Clarke to William Naylor of the city of Charleston in 1863. Four years later, 1867, Harriet G. Naylor of Charleston deeded this house to Harriet G. Gaillard, wife of Henry A. Gaillard “. . . in consideration of natural love and affection and also in consideration of the sum of $5. Later Harriet G. Gaillard passed title to Louisa C. Gaillard. In 1893 Louise C. Gaillard had the property transferred to Elizabeth P. Dwight for $600.00 due by me to my daughter Elizabeth P. Dwight and natural love and affection. The Dwights lived here until 1907, and during their occupancy it became known as the DWIGHT HOUSE. Mrs. Dwight sold it to her son-in-law, Josiah J. Obear. The Obears sold the place to W. P. Blair in 1918. It is presently owned and occupied by Ernest P. Blair, a son of William P. Blair.
Click on the More Information > link to find additional data – A Fairfield County Sketchbook, by J.S. Bolick, 2000 (Courtesy of the FCHS)
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Pelham Lyles says
Rusty Clowney’s family lived in the house for some years in the 1950s-60s. He told me that he remembered drawings and writings on the wall in the basement that he suspected were put there “by Yankee soldiers”.