1700 Boundary Street – Historic Coateswood

City Directories and History: Historian C.G. Davidson wrote in The Last Foray, Johnstone, Chancellor Job of “Coateswood” plantaion. Born June 7, 1793 (S.C.), married Nov. 14, 1816, Eliza Meek Johnstone (Feb. 11, 1794 – Jan. 23, 1843) and Aug 7, 1844, Almira Amelia DeWalt (Aug. 7, 1821-Dec. 3, 1870); died April. 8, 1862. Education College of S.C., N.Y. College of Physicians and Surgeons, M.D., 1815 (never practiced); read law (admitted to bar – 1818). 1832 – Chancellor of the Associate Justice, S.C. Supreme Court, Newberry Academy, Reidville High School, Laurensville Female College, Newberry Female Academy. Slaves: 164 (Newberry District).

Courtesy of the Davie Beard Postcard Collection – 2017

The Last Foray, C. Gaston Davidson, SC Press – 1971

“Coateswood was built by Chancellor Job Johnstone in 1835, and is located at 1700 Boundary Street. Chancellor Johnstone was bom in Fairfield District and was of Scotch-Irish descent. After studying and practicing medicine for a short while, he sought a career in law. He later assisted in drawing up the Ordinance of Nullification in 1832.

Aveleigh Presbyterian Church in Newberry was primarilly organized by him, and was so named since it was the name of the Chancellor’s forefather’s church.

Courtesy of the Davie Beard Postcard Collection – 2017

Johnstone’s home, Coateswood, has been called the most “historic home in Newberry.” The house exemplifies the architectural combination of English Country and Early American styles. It is a house of four stories. Brick, finished with stucco, comprises the first level; but the attic and middle two stories are frame. The walls of the first floor are about twenty inches thick. Brick used in the house was made at Coateswood. Wagon loads of lime were brought from Charleston for the mortar and plastering. Wooden pegs and hand-wrought nails were used in constructing the house. The wide porch which surrounds the house is floored with granite. Phillip Schoppert, the contractor and builder of the house, did all of the inside carving by hand.

Coatswood

Coatswood

Coatswood – Images courtesy of the Segars Collection, 2011

Interesting features of the old Johnstone home include a winding staircase with mahogany rails, and old sundial, and the brass door-knobs and hinges which were imported from England.

Alan Johnstone, Jr., a grandson of Job Johnstone, lived in the home for awhile. He remodeled Coateswood, but the old brick slave quarters still stand. The quarters were given the name the Longhouse.

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. Pope, Jr., are the owners of Coateswood today. They have also done some remodeling of the house. A large pine bookcase which is on the rear sun porch was moved to the main house from the slave quarters.”

Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English

(Job Johnstone House) Coateswood, originally the home of Chancellor Job Johnstone, was built in 1841 by Phillip Schoppert. Schoppert and his father, George, master builders with trained craftsmen working for them, built many of the houses in Newberry. Johnstone was a prominent leader in political, social, and economic affairs in antebellum Newberry District. The gabled roof Greek Revival style house was originally three stories; the third floor, however was removed and the roof lowered about 1940, probably for heating reasons. The first floor is stucco over brick and the second level is clapboard. Two monumental Roman Doric columns support a gabled portico, while two smaller square columns support a balcony on the second floor. The front door has sidelights and an elliptical fanlight, as does the door on the second floor. Three outbuildings are located to the rear of the house: a garage, a well house, and a building referred to as the Long House. The Long House, probably built prior to construction of the main house, was used as a kitchen and plantation office. The house was possibly named for John and Henry Coate who laid out Newberry Court House Village in the late 18th century or Marmaduke Coate, surveyor in the antebellum years. Listed in the National Register April 28, 1975. [Contribution by the S.C. Dept. of Archives and History]

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R&R HISTORY LINK: the Newberry Cotton Oil Mill

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R&R HISTORY LINK: SCHOPPERT FAMILY – MECHANICS AND CONTRACTORS

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