Millford Plantation
Encyclopedia
Millford Plantation is an historic place located on SC 261 west of Pinewood
, South Carolina
. Its monumental two-story Greek Revival mansion built in 1839 for John L. Manning
, Governor of South Carolina from 1852 to 1854, and his wife, Susan Frances Hampton Manning, has been called "South Carolina's finest residential example of the Greek Revival style." It was called Manning's Folly, though, when first built because of its remote location in the High Hills of Santee section of the state and because of its elaborate details. On November 19, 1971, Millford Plantation, also called the Governor John L. Manning House, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
and on November 7, 1973, it was declared a National Historic Landmark
.
Millford Plantation is one of three National Historic Landmarks located on SC 261, the Kings Highway, in the High Hills of Santee
. The other two are Borough House Plantation
and Church of the Holy Cross
, both in Stateburg
.
and his wife, Susan Frances Hampton Manning by Nathaniel F. Potter of Providence, Rhode Island
, who may have also done the design work. Its facade features six large carved columns on granite bases that support the portico. Its 2 foot (0.6096 m) walls are of brick made on the premises while the granite was shipped from Rhode Island. The central interior feature is an "unsupported flying circular staircase in the central rotunda."
John and Susan Manning furnished Millford in the Empire style including "an enormous quantity of Duncan Phyfe
furniture," much of which is still in the house.
Susan Frances Hampton was the daughter of General Wade Hampton I
and his wife, Mary Cantey, and half-sister of Colonel Wade Hampton II
, who, though he alone inherited their father's considerable fortune, shared it equally with her and another sister. She died in 1845 giving birth to her third child with John L. Manning. In 1848 Manning married Sally Bland Clarke and had four children by her.
Millford was threatened with destruction by Union troops
on April 19, 1865, but was saved by the intervention of their commander, Brigadier General Edward E. Potter of New York, whose exchange with Governor Manning was recorded as follows:
Millford Plantation remained in the Manning family until 1903 when it was sold to Mary Clark Thompson. It remained in the Clark family until recently.
, one of the founders of the New York investment banking firm, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
and a collateral descendant of Susan Hampton Manning.
In 1995, Jenrette received a South Carolina Historic Preservation Award for Millford and in 2006 he received the Governor's Award for his work on Millford and the Robert William Roper House
in Charleston, another National Historic Landmark he owns and restored.
The mansion was donated in December 2008 to the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust.
Pinewood, South Carolina
Pinewood is a town located on South Carolina Highway 261 at the southern entrance to the High Hills of Santee in Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 459 at the 2000 census...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Its monumental two-story Greek Revival mansion built in 1839 for John L. Manning
John Lawrence Manning
John Laurence ManningJohn Laurence Manning, was the 65th Governor of South Carolina from 1852 to 1854.In 1838, John L...
, Governor of South Carolina from 1852 to 1854, and his wife, Susan Frances Hampton Manning, has been called "South Carolina's finest residential example of the Greek Revival style." It was called Manning's Folly, though, when first built because of its remote location in the High Hills of Santee section of the state and because of its elaborate details. On November 19, 1971, Millford Plantation, also called the Governor John L. Manning House, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and on November 7, 1973, it was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
.
Millford Plantation is one of three National Historic Landmarks located on SC 261, the Kings Highway, in the High Hills of Santee
High Hills of Santee
The High Hills of Santee, sometimes known as the High Hills of the Santee, is a long, narrow hilly region in the western part of Sumter County, South Carolina. It has been called "one of the state's most famous areas". The High Hills of Santee region lies north of the Santee River and east of the...
. The other two are Borough House Plantation
Borough House Plantation
Borough House Plantation, also known as Borough House, Hillcrest Plantation and Anderson Place, is an historic place in Stateburg, in the High Hills of Santee near Sumter, South Carolina....
and Church of the Holy Cross
Church of the Holy Cross (Stateburg, South Carolina)
Church of the Holy Cross, also known as the Holy Cross Episcopal Church, is an historic church in Stateburg, in the High Hills of Santee near Sumter, South Carolina. It is located on land donated earlier by General Thomas Sumter, a resident of Stateburg, and its walls were constructed of rammed...
, both in Stateburg
Stateburg, South Carolina
Stateburg is a census-designated place in the High Hills of Santee in Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,264 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sumter, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Early history
Millford Plantation's monumental two-story Greek Revival mansion was built in 1839 for John L. ManningJohn Lawrence Manning
John Laurence ManningJohn Laurence Manning, was the 65th Governor of South Carolina from 1852 to 1854.In 1838, John L...
and his wife, Susan Frances Hampton Manning by Nathaniel F. Potter of Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, who may have also done the design work. Its facade features six large carved columns on granite bases that support the portico. Its 2 foot (0.6096 m) walls are of brick made on the premises while the granite was shipped from Rhode Island. The central interior feature is an "unsupported flying circular staircase in the central rotunda."
John and Susan Manning furnished Millford in the Empire style including "an enormous quantity of Duncan Phyfe
Duncan Phyfe
Duncan Phyfe was one of nineteenth-century America’s leading furniture makers.Born Duncan Fife near Loch Fannich, Scotland, he emigrated to Albany, New York, at age 16 and served as a cabinetmaker’s apprentice...
furniture," much of which is still in the house.
Susan Frances Hampton was the daughter of General Wade Hampton I
Wade Hampton I
Wade Hampton was a South Carolina soldier, politician, two-term U.S. Congressman, and wealthy plantation owner. He was the scion of the politically important Hampton family, which was influential in state politics almost into the 20th century...
and his wife, Mary Cantey, and half-sister of Colonel Wade Hampton II
Wade Hampton II
Wade Hampton II was an American plantation owner and soldier in the War of 1812. He was a member of the Hampton family, whose influence was strong in South Carolina politics and social circles for nearly 100 years....
, who, though he alone inherited their father's considerable fortune, shared it equally with her and another sister. She died in 1845 giving birth to her third child with John L. Manning. In 1848 Manning married Sally Bland Clarke and had four children by her.
Millford was threatened with destruction by Union troops
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
on April 19, 1865, but was saved by the intervention of their commander, Brigadier General Edward E. Potter of New York, whose exchange with Governor Manning was recorded as follows:
- Potter: This is a fine structure.
- Manning: Yes, it was built by a man from New England by the name of Potter, and I suppose a man by the name of Potter from New York will destroy it!
- Potter: No, sir. That is not my intention. Your house shall be protected.
Millford Plantation remained in the Manning family until 1903 when it was sold to Mary Clark Thompson. It remained in the Clark family until recently.
Recent history
Millford Plantation was bought in 1992 and meticulously restored by Richard Hampton JenretteRichard Jenrette
Richard Hampton Jenrette was one the founders of the Wall Street firm, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette .-Education and Business Career:...
, one of the founders of the New York investment banking firm, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette or DLJ is a defunct U.S. investment bank founded by William H. Donaldson, Richard Jenrette and Dan Lufkin in 1959. Its businesses included securities underwriting; sales and trading; investment and merchant banking; financial advisory services; investment research;...
and a collateral descendant of Susan Hampton Manning.
In 1995, Jenrette received a South Carolina Historic Preservation Award for Millford and in 2006 he received the Governor's Award for his work on Millford and the Robert William Roper House
Robert William Roper House
Robert William Roper House was built about 1838 in Charleston, South Carolina on land purchased by Robert W. Roper in May 1838. The authors of the nomination form for the National Register of Historic Places speculated that Edward B. White was the architect, although no evidence is given in...
in Charleston, another National Historic Landmark he owns and restored.
The mansion was donated in December 2008 to the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust.
See also
- List of Registered Historic Places in South Carolina
- List of National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina
- St. Mark's Episcopal Church (Pinewood, South Carolina)St. Mark's Episcopal Church (Pinewood, South Carolina)St. Mark's Episcopal Church is an historic Episcopal church located in the High Hills of Santee west of Pinewood, South Carolina in the United States. On January 20, 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as St. Mark's Church....
, the parish church for Millford Plantation.
External links
- Classical American Homes Preservation Trust, history & photos of Milford Plantation
- Tour of the house video
- Millford Plantation listing within National Historic Landmarks program
- National Register listings for Sumter County
- Historic and notable landmarks of the U.S.
- South Carolina Department of Archives and History listing for Milford (sic) Plantation
- Historic American Buildings Survey index for Milford Plantation
- South Carolina Plantations listing for Milford Plantation