City Directories and History: 1917 – NA, 1948 – (#244) Ella Cain, 1975 – (#244) Joyce P. Gray
This was once one of the oldest structures in downtown Laurens. Known as the Ball house, it was reported to have been constructed in the circa 1850’s. Since the historic survey of Laurens it was demolished.
Thomas L. Badgett comes to Spartanburg County in the early 1830’s from Yanceyville. N. C. to help build the Bivings Factory at Glendale, S. C. for Dr. James Bivings of Lincolnton, N. C. It was a four story New England style mill with a stone first level and brick upper stories. He was in Spartanburg in 1844 were he contracted to build the First Presbyterian Church on 3 June 1844 for $1,820.00. He relocated from Spartanburg County to Laurens County sometime before 1846 when he designed and built the Church of the Epiphany on West Main Street in Laurens. Thomas Badgett owned a brick kiln in Laurens County as well as a cotton gin and grist mill.
In 1850 he built a Greek Revival house on Hwy. 49 north of Laurens, S.C. and used Asher Benjamin’s pattern book of 1833 in its design.
Thomas L. Badgett was born in 1814 in Yanceyville, N. C. and died in Laurens County in September of 1894 and is buried in the Laurens City Cemetery. He was the son of Thomas L. Badgett, Sr. who was born in Person, N. C. in 1779 and was listed in the 1840 census as a carpenter.
Thomas L. Badgett’s projects:
1835 J. Frank Wofford House Switzer, S.C.
1838 James Nesbit House (Mountain Shoals) Enoree, S.C.
1839 Christopher Garlington House, Laurens, S.C.
1844 First Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg, S.C.
1846 The Church of the Epiphany, Laurens, S.C.
1848 Drummond House Switzer, S.C.
1850 Enlarging of the Christopher Garlington House for Major John Adam Eichelberger, Laurens, S.C.
1850 Thomas L. Badgett House, Hwy. 49 Laurens County, S.C.
1854 Fontaine Martin House, near Gray Court, S. C.
1859 Brick House, Caroline Street, Laurens, S.C.
Thomas L. Badgett used two pattern books for some of his designs. They were: William Pane’s pattern book of 1792 and Asher Benjamin’s pattern book of 1833.
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