Ashford – Hawthorne House “Fairfield’s Rural Plantation”

“An outstanding piece of upcountry S.C. architecture…..”

City Directories and History: This early Fairfield County log cabin and its brick dependencies, including what is most likely a slave cabin, was once one of the areas outstanding examples of 18th century heritage. Unfortunately, the log dwelling was demolished and the early 19th century brick buildings are being used as utility sheds. Fairfield County citizens can only hope the remaining buildings are cared for in an historic manner.

Gate image courtesy of the Fairfield County Museum Collection, 2016

The historic survey of Fairfield County which was conducted in 1983, recorded this dwelling and outbuildings as that of the Ashford – Boyd – Sanders home and smoke house constructed in two periods between circa 1770 and later additions dating to circa 1832.

Fairfield County’s Museum Director, Pelahm Lyles contributed the following information in 2016 – “This was the Hawthorne Ashford house that stood just off the west side of Rd. #54 (south of #70 at red historic site number 94 here) where Sue Sanders lived.  She sold it to a person, who tore it down in 2007, to build a modern hunting lodge.  They started on the 1830s frame addition and  Ed Gates and I tried to save the log structure.  We brought DeWayne Anderson into the project, who was going to help us remove the log original section, so he could develop a small apartment in town in it.  When DHEC was alerted about the asbestos siding being removed without proper oversight, preservationists were run us off the property. Consequently, the new owners dug a hole, then pushed the log structure into it for burning and burying.  I believe they left the brick smokehouse standing.

However, volunteer Ed Gates found the discarded gate on a road debris pile, after having seen it stored in the attic some time before.  It was later loaned to John Sherrer for the big “Fall Line” exhibit, (Historic Columbia Foundation), they hosted back some time around then. I was always impressed with the fact that, when the floor had been removed, you could see the old configuration of the logs rising several rows above the floor with small window holes that must have been barely visible under the eaves.  A later addition of the upstairs brought new larger windows and the rest of the height seems to have been extended with thick half-log construction up to the top.”  (This information has been altered slightly to remove some remarks. WBF)

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