“Textile mills built this mansion….Buffalo, S.C.”
City Directories and History: Constructed in circa 1855 on the outskirts of Union, S.C. the house was originally owned by William J. Keenan and after the Civil War acquired by Benjamin H. Rice in circa 1876.
Merridun is a large antebellum house featuring a massive two-storied portico with Corinthian columns that shelters a one-story veranda that extends partially around both sides of the house. The veranda has a brick floor, pressed tin ceiling, Corinthian columns, and roof balustrade. Built ca. 1855 by W. J. Keenan, Merridun was considerably altered around the turn of the century. The house now presents a Neo-Classical Revival appearance that somewhat conceals its origins as a large but simple Georgian-styled house. Outstanding features of the house are the frescoed ceilings in the north parlor and dining room, and the Italian mosaic floor in the downstairs hall. One of Merridun’s previous owners, Thomas C. Duncan, built the first industrial mill in the area in 1893, the Union Cotton Mill. Mill architect, W. B. Smith Whaley of Columbia produced his first South Carolina design in 1893, the ten-thousand-spindle Union Cotton Mill, for Union County textile entrepreneur Thomas C. Duncan. Duncan also built the Buffalo Cotton Mill (see images below), the Union and Glenn Springs Railroad and the hydroelectric plant at Neal Shoals in conjunction with his textile operations. Duncan’s political career included terms as Mayor of Union, a South Carolina Representative, and a South Carolina Senator. Listed in the National Register June 20, 1974. [Courtesy of the S.C. Dept. of Archives and History]
The YK Enquirer reported on Dec. 1, 1886 – “The Columbia, Newberry and Laurens railroad has awarded a grading contract to Rice and Coleman of Union, S.C.”
The Yorkville Enquirer of March 15, 1893 reported that the foundation of the Union Cotton Mill will be laid shortly. Pres. Duncan hopes to have the mill completed in time to use this years cotton crop.
The Rock Hill Herald on Dec. 12, 1900 stated, “A commission has been issued by the Sec. of State, for the Union Furniture Manufacturing Co. The factory will be located one mile west of Union. The company has capital stock of $7,000. and will manufacturing furniture and coffins. Corporators are: W.H. Wallace, D.H. Wallace, A.H. Foster and T.C. Duncan.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Nov. 6, 1906 – “Mr. E. W. Robertson of Columbia has resigned the Presidency of the Buffalo Cotton Mills of Union, S.C. and the understanding is Mr. Aug. W. Smith of Spartanburg is to succeed him.”
The Herald reported on May 17, 1910 – “Architect J.S. Starr of Rock Hill is drawing plans for improvements to the home of T.C. Duncan of Union.”
In South Carolina alone, from 1894 to 1903 the firm designed and built sixteen mills, including four that W. B. Smith Whaley owned and managed himself in Columbia–Richland (1894–1895), Granby (1896), Capital City (1899), and Olympia (1899–1900). Other textile mills included the Courtenay Mill in Newry (1893–1894), the Enterprise Mill in Orangeburg (1896), the Warrenville Mill in Aiken County (1897), the Buffalo Mill in Union County (1899), the Lancaster Mills for the textile magnate Leroy Springs (1900), the DeKalb Mill in Camden (1900), and the Glenn-Lowry Mill in Whitmire (1900). In 1899–1900 Whaley built his masterpiece, the 2,400-loom, 104,000-spindle, four-story Olympia Mill near Columbia. Courtesy of the SC Encyclopedia Website
IMAGE GALLERY – K. Campbell, Preservationist
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GALLERY OF BUFFALO MILL SITE – Ann Helms, Photographer 2018
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