City Directories and History: “The impressive old home at 214 Church Street, Laurens, was constructed sometime around 1824 with Doctor John Wells Simpson as the builder. The house then faced Laurens Street.
Doctor Simpson, after moving from Milton to Laurens, took an active part in the affairs of the town and county. He was instrumental in the building or contracting of the old brick Presbyterian Church, the Laurensville Female College and the first brick courthouse. The Simpson house was sold to Doctor John A. Barksdale, a large landowner.
In the early 1900’s Joseph Warren Bolt bought the Barksdale plantation including the town house. The house was placed on huge logs and rolled down the hill to its present location, making available the hill-top site for the Laurens Graded School. In 1971 the site became the location of the new city buildings.
There were several unique features of the house including tinted window panes and scenic wallpaper which had been painted in England. The scene encircled the entire living room and pictured the hunt from the preparation and gathering of the hounds to the catch and kill of the prey. The paper has been removed and windows have been changed. The property is presently owned by William T. Bolt, son of Joseph Warren Bolt and an attorney in the city of Laurens. (Information was furnished by Attorney Bolt.)”
Information from: The Laurens County Sketchbook, Author – J.S. Bolick, 1973
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