Edward C. Jones Archives - Spartanburg County

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 9, 1873 – “The State Supt. of Education has ordered the integration of the Deaf – Dumb and Blind School at Cedar Springs near Spartanburg, the order states that colored students must be sought out and must be admitted. They must be domiciled in the same building and eat at the same table as white students. All officials and teacher of the school have resigned and the school is now closed.”

The Yorkville Enquirer of Jan. 17, 1878 reported – “A Spartanburg correspondent gives high praise for the musical proficiency of the blind pupils at the Instruction at Cedar Springs. They are taught by prof. North of Charleston, on various instruments and in voice music. Prof. North is totally blind.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 30, 1879 – “The instruction for the deaf, dumb and blind at Cedar Springs in Spartanburg Co., opened on Wednesday of last week with thirty students.”

355 Cedar Springs Road

City Directories and History: Walker Hall, built ca. 1857-59, is an example of Greek Revival and Italian Villa architecture situated on the 147-acre campus of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. It stands as a monument to the Walker family, who for 127 years have been involved in the education deaf and blind children in South Carolina. The school was founded in 1849 as a private endeavor by Reverend Newton Pinckney Walker, a young Baptist minister who had become Walker Hall (SC School for the Deaf & Blind)

Walker Hall – Images courtesy of the Segars Collection

interested in the work for the deaf because his wife had three deaf relatives. In 1885 a Department for the blind was added, the same year in which Walker petitioned the legislature to take over the school as a state supported institution, which it did in 1856. In 1857, the well-known Charleston architect Edward C. Jones was commissioned to design a new building. A contract was drawn with Owen, Allen & Brothers to build the center edifice and the east wing, which were completed in 1859. The original building was constructed of brick and the dome originally was surmounted by a Mansard roof, replaced by a flat roof in the late 1880s. In 1884, a contract was made with the Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan to design the west wing that was completed in 1885. Its design is identical to the east wing, giving the structure a symmetrical appearance. The front façade features a pedimented portico supported by Corinthian columns on an arcaded base. A rear annex, also in conformity to the original structure, was constructed in 1921 by Pittman Construction Company of Atlanta. Listed in the National Register December 6, 1977.

View the complete text of the nomination form for this National Register property.(Courtesy of South Carolina Department of Archives and History)

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R&R HISTORY LINK: Noted architect, Mr. Edward C. Jones of Charleston and N.C.

R&R HISTORY LINK: NATIONAL REGISTER – IMAGE(S)

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Courtesy of the Willis Collection – 2016 “

“The Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institution, located four miles south of the city at Cedar Springs, was founded many years ago by the father of the present superintendent. Originally a private facility, it now has been taken over by the State, which annually appropriates about $12,000 for its support. At present there are seventy-four deaf mutes and thirty blind in the institution. Besides the white department, there is a colored department into which colored people are admitted under certain conditions. The present superintendent, N.F. Walker, is assisted by a staff of sixteen.”

Historic Cedar Springs Institute, courtesy of the Beard Collection – 2017

Reprinted from South Carolina in the 1880s: A Gazetteer by J.H. Moore, Sandlapper Publishing Company – 1989

“A Methodist Institution – Wofford’s Fitting School for Boys”

City Directories and History: Wofford College is a small liberal arts institution that is Methodist affiliated. Its 80-acre, and 30+ building complex, has grown from the original campus of 35 acres containing the Main Building and five faculty residences. The college was opened in 1854 through the $100,000 bequest of a local minister, Reverend Benjamin Wofford. The historic district consists of the main building and six Georgian derived houses. The Wofford Main Building was designed by the Charleston architect Edward C. Jones in the Italian Villa style that had been popularized Woffard Main Building (Old Main)

Wofford Main Building (Old Main) – Images courtesy of the Segars Collection

Woffard Main Building (Old Main) nationally by Alexander Jackson Davis. It is a three-story stucco structure with square giant order columns supporting a massive portico framed by twin towers. Large side wings abut the central section. The six two-story brick residences have wide central halls flanked by rooms to either side. They are in a vernacular style that was popular for southern homes. Four of the buildings date to 1854. All have one-story front verandas. Listed in the National Register December 27, 1974. Main Building was designed by noted architect; Edward C. Jones of Charleston, S.C.

(Courtesy of South Carolina Department of Archives and History)

“Wofford College was founded at Spartanburg in 1854 and has never closed, not even during the War Between the States. Affiliated with the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, Wofford is named for Rev. Benjamin Wofford, traveling Methodist minister. In his will, he left $100,000 for endowing a college for men in his home district of Spartanburg. Wofford is still a college for men, with a present enrollment of 1,000.”

R&R THREAD LINK: A SCHS Article, “Albert C. Guerry, Artist” by L.P. Jones

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

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 19, 1883 – “The following gentleman have given $1,000. each to the endowment fund of Wofford College: George W. Williams, Esq. of Charleston, the Honorable Simpson Bobo of Spartanburg, Dr. H. Baer of Charleston, and Mr. T.W. Stanland of Summerville.”

The Rock Hill Herald reported on Dec. 2, 1886 – “There were two fires in Spartanburg on Monday night. One was in the stables of Dr. Wofford, who lost a horse, a mule, a phaeton and a supply of forage. The other fire was the house of Mr. Steen, which burned however he saved most of the furniture.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 6, 1892 – “Mrs. James H. Carlisle, the wife of Pres. of Wofford College died last Thursday. She was the daughter of James H. Bryce of Columbia.”

“Wofford College, created by the Rev. Benjamin Wofford’s bequest of $100,000, began its work in 1854. The high moral tone of Wofford College students has always been a subject of congratulations to the board of trustees and faculty. There are at present 103 students in attendance.

The faculty is as follows: James H. Carlisle, president, mathematics and astronomy; the Rev. Whitefoord Smith, emeritus professor of English literature and elocution; Daniel A. DuPre, chemistry, physics, and geology; J.A. Gamewell, Latin; Granville Goodloe, Greek; the Rev. A. Coke Smith, metaphysics and political science; Augustus W. Long, English language and literature; J.H. Marshall, French and German; and the Rev. John C. Kilgo, financial agent.

The Wofford Fitting School, located in the old Spartanburg Female College property, was organized in 1887 to prepare students for higher education. The enrolment books for the current year show the handsome sum total of 105 matriculates. Headmaster A.G. Rembert is assisted by William G. Blake and E.D. Smith.” (Reprinted from South Carolina in the 1880s: A Gazetteer by J.H. Moore, Sandlapper Publishing Company – 1989)

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R&R HISTORY LINK: Noted architect, Mr. Edward C. Jones of Charleston and N.C.

R&R HISTORY LINK: TEXT – NR NOMINATION

R&R HISTORY LINK: NATIONAL REGISTER – IMAGE(S)

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.