252 Rockton Thruway Road
“An upcountry S.C. treasure of architecture, gardening, and history…..”
City Directories and History: Tocaland (originally called To-Kalon), is a very intact example of an antebellum residence with Greek Revival elements set on a raised basement. Tocaland, ca. 1854, is a one-and-one-half story, weather boarded frame residence with a lateral gabled roof with cross-gabled pedimented porch. The home is double pile with a central hall floor plan. Four 8-foot high stuccoed granite piers support a
pedimented front porch that has a tripartite window in the gable end. The porch is supported by four paneled wooden pillars, pilasters, and has a plain balustrade. The façade fenestration is a central door with sidelights and transom flanked by two single, six-over-six, shuttered windows. The door and windows in the basement story are aligned with those of the first story. The end gables have boxed cornices and two interior brick chimneys pierce the rear roof slope. A concrete stairway with a cast-iron balustrade on the façade and a central rear addition are modern alterations. Listed in the National Register December 6, 1984. [Courtesy of the S.C. Dept. of Archives and History]
The home was originally constructed by Major Woodward for his daughter, Regina Woodward – Gadsden, who married Christoper Gadsden of Charleston, SC. The family resided at #34 South Battery. Mr. Gadsden was a enthusiastic horticulturist and landscape gardener. They lived happily here until Mr. Gadsden was killed in the war. Following the death of Mrs. Gadsden, the property went to their son, Frank. He and his wife, Lilla Rabb, lived here until his death. Other owners include; George Bigham and Mr. and Mrs. John T. Johnson, Jr. The home is an outstanding example of vernacular architecture commonly found in the midland section of South Carolina. Tocaland is one of the finest examples! Mr. and Mrs. John T. Johnson, Jr. are the current owners.
The owners have returned to the original name of the farm, “To-Kalon” named for the favored vines of that variety, a Hungarian gape, that were grown here by noted horticulturist and landscaper gardener, Christopher E. Gadsden, Jr.
His nurseries called To-Kalon sold wide varieties of trees and vines. The 1860 published catalog from his nursery lists the following; 84 varieties of apples, 12 of cherry trees, 46 varieties of pear trees, 43 varieties of peaches, 6 of the nectarines, and 24 varieties of plums. Other items offered included apricots, quinces, grapes, raspberries, figs, and strawberries. Most of the fruit trees cost twenty-five cents and some foreign grape varieties were listed at $2.00 each. [Contribution and information provided by Mr. and Mrs. John Johnston]
Click on the More Information > link to find additional data – A Fairfield County Sketchbook, by J.S. Bolick, 2000
(Courtesy of the FCHS)
“Tocaland, near Rockton, south of Winnsboro, now the home of the John Johnsons, was built in 1854 by Major Woodward for his daughter Regina, who married Christopher Gadsden, Jr., of Charleston, the son of the Episcopal Bishop Christopher Edwards Gadsden, friend and Yale classmate of John C. Calhoun. Christopher, Jr., a horticulturist and landscape gardener, designed and planted many gardens in Fairfield. The grounds of Tocaland he beautifully landscaped with boxwood, flowers, and rare shrubs. The orchards here were also famous for apricots, pears, peaches, and pomegranates. But most famous of all were the vineyards of Tocaland. There were grapes of many varieties but most highly favored were the Tokay vines, native of Hungary, and renowned for their sweetness and the excellent wines made from them. From these rare grapes the plantation takes its name.
Christopher was killed in the Confederate War and he is buried in the Woodward-Gadsden burying ground just across the railroad and highway from Tocaland.”
Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC
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