City Directories and History: The William Berly house is important for its association with the early history of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of South Carolina – a dominant force in the history of Lexington County. Located upon part of the 102 acres purchased in 1833 by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of South Carolina and Adjacent States for the establishment of a seminary and classical academy, it was later used as a residence by the Reverend William Berly, a leading religious and educational figure in area Lutheranism during the mid-nineteenth century. The seminary and classical academy closed in 1856 when it moved to Newberry, becoming Newberry College. In 1860 the property was purchased by Reverend William Berly. It is not clear as to when the building was erected. However, it was probably in existence at the time of the Synod’s land acquisition and was believed to have been used as one of the campus buildings in the seminary’s early years. The house is a two-story clapboard structure characterized by a one-story porch supported by four square columns. The house originally featured a central open breezeway known as a “dogtrot.” The one-story wing on the left side was also connected to the main portion of the house by a dogtrot. These breezeways were enclosed around 1900. Included in the nominated acreage is an outbuilding which was originally the ice house. Listed in the National Register November 23, 1977. (Courtesy of South Carolina Department of Archives and History)
The Fox House, owned by the Lexington County Museum Commission, takes its name from John Fox of Lexington — county sheriff, clerk of court, state senator — who purchased the house in 1858. Its historic value lies in the fact that it was built for and housed, from the early 1830s to 1855, the newly founded Southern Lutheran Seminary, second oldest organized Lutheran theological school in the United States. The two-story white clapboard house is significant as a farm home of early 19th-century central South Carolina, and is particularly representative of the early German/Swiss settlers of the Lexington area. Also important because of its association with the early history of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of South Carolina — a dominant force in the history of Lexington County — is the William Berly House, another property in the Fox House Museum Complex. Located upon part of the 102 acres purchased in 1833 by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of South Carolina and Adjacent States for the establishment of a seminary and classical academy, the house was later used as a residence by the Rev. William Berly, a leading religious and educational figure in area Lutheranism in the mid-19th century. Completing the Lexington Museum Complex is a third National Register property, the Hazelius House, occupied from 1834 until 1853 by Ernest L. Hazelius, a clergyman of the Luthern Church, academician, philosopher, author, and educator.
(Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC)
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