Photograph of Oconee Station State Historic Site — Photograph by Jack Boucher, Public domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Oconee Station and Richards House

Built in 1792. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

From the record

“Oconee Station was established in 1792 as a blockhouse on the frontier of the US state of South Carolina. The site also encompasses the Williams Richards House, which was built in the early 19th century as a residence and trading post.”
Wikipedia article Oconee Station State Historic Site, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 24 National Register listings published here for Oconee County · listed in 1971 · category: Building · built in 1792.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 2 buildingss as contributing to the listing.
Address. 11 mi. N of Walhalla via SC 11 and CR 95, Walhalla, 29691
When was it listed? February 1971
Category. building
Census division. Walhalla
When was it built? 1792
National Register reference number. 71000792 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

113 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 113 fires within 5 miles of Oconee Station and Richards House between 1992 and 2020, burning about 334 acres in total. 8 started naturally. 12 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	41
Debris and open burning	36
Arson/incendiarism	12
Natural	8
Equipment and vehicle use	5
Power generation/transmission/distribution	4
Recreation and ceremony	3
Smoking	3
Misuse of fire by a minor	1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
7 September 2002	Debris and open burning	8.0 acres	South Carolina Forestry Commission	not named
7 September 1998	Natural	5.0 acres	Francis Marion & Sumter National Forests	DODGE MOUNTAIN
21 September 1999	Natural	under an acre	South Carolina Forestry Commission	not named
19 September 1999	Arson/incendiarism	under an acre	South Carolina Forestry Commission	not named
1 September 2007	Natural	8.0 acres	South Carolina Forestry Commission	not named
9 August 1999	Smoking	under an acre	Francis Marion & Sumter National Forests	TUNNEL
5 August 2008	Natural	1.0 acres	South Carolina Forestry Commission	not named
31 August 1999	Power generation/transmission/distribution	under an acre	Francis Marion & Sumter National Forests	WHITE HOUSE

Every fire recorded in Oconee County

Mines and quarries near this property

1 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Oconee Station and Richards House: 1 prospect. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Marble, Dimension. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where	Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
	Marble Prospect	Marble, Dimension	Prospect

Every working recorded in Oconee County

Storms near this property

60 of 91 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Walhalla, the town this property stands in, in 91 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 49 thunderstorm wind, 35 hail, 3 flash flood, 2 tornado. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
January 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	1 hurt, $5,000	no account filed
February 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	$130,000	no account filed
June 2006	Flash Flood	Walhalla	$25,000	Levi Lane, Debra Lane, and Seed Farm Road were all washed out, and numerous other roads were closed due to flooding, mainly in areas from Walhalla south to between Seneca and Westminster. Most of the flooding was due to poor drainage, but some of it was likely due to flooding streams. Closed roads included E Halfway Branch, Antebellum, Avondale, Mauldin Mill, Sertoma Field, and Camp.
July 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	$25,000	Trees were blown down in the Lake Keowee area. A number of homes were damaged by falling trees.
September 2022	Flash Flood	Walhalla	$10,000	Multiple sources reported flash flooding developed over western Oconee County after 4 to 7 inches of rain fell in around 6 hours. Impacts were generally limited to inundated roads, including Stribling Shoals Rd and Coffee Rd at the confluence of White Fork and Coneross Creeks. The Chauga River and Ramsey Creek caused significant flooding of Chau Ram Park and Ramsey Creek Rd. Multiple roads were reported flooded and closed closer to Westminster, including Clearmont Rd, which was inundated by Colonels Fork Creek.
June 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	$10,000	Multiple trees were blown down in the Walhalla area, with one tree on a house.
January 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	$10,000	no account filed
January 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	$5,000	no account filed
September 2004	Tornado (F0)	Walhalla	$2,000	This weak tornado blew down numerous trees and power lines along its 5-mile track.
April 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	$1,000	A tree was blown down on Main St, bringing down a power line that fell on a vehicle, briefly trapping an occupant.
August 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	$1,000	A few trees and powerlines were blown down.
February 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	$300	no account filed
May 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Law enforcement reported a few trees blown down west of Walhalla.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	County comms reported trees blown down at Church St and West Union Rd.
July 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Law enforcement reported a few trees blown down between Walhalla and Westminster.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	County comms reported trees blown down in the Walhalla area.
April 2022	Hail	Walhalla	-	Sheriff deputy reported quarter size hail near Walhalla.
September 2022	Flood	Walhalla	-	Although heavy rain tapered off across Oconee County during the late morning, flooding due to the overnight and early morning rainfall persisted into the early afternoon before receding.
August 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	County comms reported a few trees blown down on South Tugaloo St.
August 2018	Hail	Walhalla	-	Public reported (via Social Media) penny size hail in the Walhalla area.
May 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	FD reported a few trees and powerlines blown down off Highway 183 near Walhalla.
July 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	County comms reported a tree blown down near Mountain Rest and another tree down near downtown Walhalla.
May 2016	Hail	Walhalla	-	Public reported (via social media) quarter size hail on Sertoma Field.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	HAM Radio operator reported multiple power lines blown down across Oconee County, from north of Walhalla to the Westminster area.
April 2015	Hail	Walhalla	-	Spotters reported penny to quarter size hail in the Walhalla area.
August 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	County comms reported multiple trees and power lines blown down on South Laurel St.
August 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	County comms reported a tree blown down in Walhalla and another tree down on Adams Sullivan Rd (2 SW).
June 2014	Hail	Walhalla	-	Spotter reported larger than golf ball size hail.
June 2014	Hail	Walhalla	-	Public reported quarter size hail.
August 2013	Hail	Walhalla	-	Up to quarter size hail was reported in the Walhalla area.
August 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	A few trees and power lines were blown down to the north of Walhalla, including on Rocky Noll Road at Lusk Road and Marino Lane.
January 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Multiple trees and power lines were blown down in the Walhalla area.
January 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Multiple trees were blown down, with one tree on a mobile home near Salem.
March 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	A few trees were blown down in the Walhalla area.
May 2011	Hail	Walhalla	-	Dime to nickel size hail fell at the intersection of Hesse Highway and Rock Crusher Rd.
June 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Multiple trees were blown down in the Walhalla area.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Multiple trees were blown down in and around Walhalla.
August 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Multiple trees and power lines were blown down from the west side of Walhalla to the downtown area. One tree was blown onto a home near Muller Rd and Coffee Rd.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Trees were blown down on Unity Church Rd.
July 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Several trees blown down in the Walhalla area.
August 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	A couple trees blown down.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Trees down and a power outage off highway 188 around Lake Keowee.
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Trees down.
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Several trees down across the county, with most of the damage concentrated along highway 183.
June 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Numerous trees were blown down.
July 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Several trees were blown down, and the tops were sheared out of several other trees in a small section of Oconee State Park. One tree fell through a tent, narrowly missing its occupants.
August 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Several trees were blown down. There were also sporadic power outages throughout the county.
November 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Trees blown down in the Friendship Community on Campbell Bridge Rd.
July 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	A couple of trees were blown down.
June 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Some trees were blown down along Highway 11.
July 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	A tree and several large limbs were blown down in and around Walhalla.
June 2001	Hail	Walhalla	-	Storm spotter reported golfball-sized hail.
July 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	Numerous trees and power lines down around Keowee Key, and as far west as West Union. One person was trapped in a car by a fallen tree. At least 100 trees were knocked down onto roads, and another 100 on private property.
July 2001	Hail	Walhalla	-	Quarter-sized hail reported just outside Walhalla.
April 2012	Hail	Walhalla	-	no account filed
March 2012	Hail	Walhalla	-	no account filed
June 2008	Hail	Walhalla	-	no account filed
June 2007	Hail	Walhalla	-	no account filed
May 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Walhalla	-	no account filed
July 2006	Hail	Walhalla	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Oconee County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Oconee State Park Historic District	2.3 miles	2004
Stumphouse Tunnel Complex	3.7 miles	1971
Tamassee DAR School	3.8 miles	2012
Walhalla High School	5.5 miles	2023
Walhalla Graded School	5.5 miles	1992
St. John's Lutheran Church	5.6 miles	1980

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 71000792 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia article	Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Oconee County	All 24 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.