A National Register Property
City Directories and History: (Gassaway Mansion) One of Greenville’s most unusual buildings, the Gassaway Mansion is representative of the exuberance and prosperity of the 1920s and derives significance from its eclectic architecture. The building is also significant for its association with Walter Gassaway, a prominent member of Greenville’s burgeoning textile manufacturing industry. Built as a residence between 1919 and 1924 by Walter and Minnie Quinn Gassaway, the mansion is said to have been designed by Minnie Gassaway after she took a correspondence course in architecture. It is a three-story building with a full basement and is constructed of random bond stone masonry.
The façade is characterized by a massive Neo-Classical portico featuring a decorative frieze supported by six Doric columns. A bracketed cornice with dentil molding highlights the pediment which features a Palladian window. The remainder of the building is a blend of Neo-Gothic and Neo-Classical styles. Asymmetrical, the house features a Neo-Gothic castellated tower, two rooftop patios, an enclosed arcade with leaded glass, and a massive porte-cochere on its rear elevation. Contemporary buildings on the property include a stone carriage house with a slate roof and round-arched dormers. The other building is a stone masonry power house built at the same time as the carriage house and mansion. Listed in the National Register July 1, 1982.
The Historic Resources of Greenville, ca. 1810-ca. 1930 includes historical background information for this and other related National Register properties(Courtesy of South Carolina Department of Archives and History)
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TEXT – NR NOMINATION
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