James T. Wade, Jr., was a prolific cotton gin maker in 1850, age 35, when he was listed on the Lancaster County Manufacturing and Industrial census. At that time he had four employees in the factory.
City Directories and History: Two story frame residence built circa 1840 by George Wade and remained in his family until 1866. Hal Beckham Sr. purchased the property in that year and it remains in the possession of his decedents. The old store building, dating from circa 1900 that is located on the property was moved from near the road.
The Wade-Beckham House is a two-story frame residence, one of the last surviving mid-19th century plantations or farmhouses in Lancaster County. This rural residence blends the Greek Revival and Neo-Classical styles. Originally one room deep, the structure was doubled in size in 1916. At that time the original end chimneys were removed and interior fireplaces were constructed between front and rear rooms on both sides of the central hall. The original porch on the front remains basically intact with its massive box columns, which project past the first floor porch as freestanding elements. The lower portion of these columns was replaced with brick piers during the 1916 renovation. The original windows and doors with transoms and sidelights are intact. A one-story kitchen wing and porch on the rear of the structure were part of the 1916 addition. The original Greek Revival period moldings and doors remain in the ca. 1840 portion of the house, as do the original plaster walls. The house’s history parallels the history of an agrarian and rural society that has faded. Owners of the house include James T. Wade, who built the home, James Rinaldo Massey, Jr., who served as a state legislator from 1884-1885, and H.J. Beckham, who built the 1916 addition that doubled the size of the house. Two outbuildings – a small wooden store and a barn – are also included in the nomination. Listed in the National Register June 17, 1988. [Courtesy of the SC Dept. of Archives and History]
Note that J.T. Wade is listed on the SC Database of artisans as a gin maker from Lancaster County, S.C.
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
Thanks!