George Pawley House, 1019 Front Street, Georgetown

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS SC,22-GEOTO,8-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

tectural features. PART I. HISTORICAL ..INFORMATION A. Original and Subsequent Owners: Built for George Pawley, who sold it soon after the Revolutionary War to Benjamin Allston; it passed from the Allstons to their descendants, the Pyatt family. Mayam W. Pyatt was in possession in the I940's-Now owned by the Parker family. B. Date of Erection: Reputed date, WP C. Notes on Known Alterations and Additions: Two front rooms were added. D. Sources of Information: Bolick, JulianS. Georgetown Houselore. Clinton, S. C: Jacobs Press, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce. Historic Trail of Old Homes and Buildings of Georgetown, 5. C. Georgetown,, S. C.: Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Works Project Administration. South Carolina, a Guide to the Palmetto State.

New York: Oxford University Press, (Referred to on page 278 and illustrated as the Pyatt House.) Prepared by Harley J. McKee, Architect National Park Service August PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural interest: Pine waterfront mansion, GEORGE PAWLEY HOUSE HABS No. (Page 2) 2. Condition of fabric: Well preserved and cared for. 3. Number of stories: Two-and-a-half stories on elevated basement. 4. Number of bays: Five-bay front, two bays deep. 5. Layout: Large rectangular block facing river, with addi- tion of a one-story wing on street front with apsidal ends, 6. Foundations: Stuccoed masonry probably brick in main block, brick in addition. 7. Wall construction: Main block is probably brick, stuccoed and coursed to resemble ashlar masonry.

The addition is brick. The entire exterior is painted white. 8. Porches: Small porch, elevated on brick foundations, across street front of house, is part of nineteenth- century addition to original house. It has iron railings, brick steps from ground, turned columns of stuccoed brick, a simple entablature and a small pediment over stairs. On the waterfront side of the house there is an elevated porch with double stairs and turned newel, all of stuccoed masonry. This porch is on masonry arch arcade; turned columns are simple and undecorated, and the wooden railing is simple and has square balusters. Boarded ceiling. 9. Doors: Wide door to porch opening on water. Door, partly glared, is a late nineteenth-century replacement of orig- inal- Simple frame with four-light rectangular transom.

10. Windows; Double-hung wooden sash, nine-over-nine lights; simple molded frames. 11. Shutters: Solid, four-paneled shutters on first floor. 12. Roof: a. Shape, covering: Hipped roof flared at eaves; asphalt shingles. On one-story addition there is a tin roof with standing seams. In basement are stacks of old, red tiles which were apparently once used as roofing. b. Cornice: Large molded cornice to main block. c. Dormers: Two dormers on waterfront, one on street front. Hipped roofs. GEORGE PAVffiEY HOUSE HABS No, (Pago 3) 13. Chimneys: Two, tall, stuccoed "brick, triple mitered chimneys at both sides of house, in main block. In low, one-story addition, are two tall brick chimneys with double miters. C. Technical Description of Interior: 1.

Floor plans and miscellaneous descriptive material: Front addition has two rooms, both with fireplaces; six- over-six light, double-hung wooden sash above grade and interior sash to central hall. In main portion of house the basement has arched brick foundations for upstairs fireplaces, brick walls, double-hung wood sash above grade (six-over-six lights). One door to outside. First floor: Central hall from street entrance through to water side. Original, main, two-story block of house on water side with stair in central hall. In one-story addition in street front of house, there is one room (each with apsidal ends) on each side of the central hall; the right-hand room is now divided into a modern kitchen and breakfast room; the left-hand room is the dining room.

On the left in the main block of the house is the principal living room with arched, sliding double doors opening onto central hall; right side is a smaller room used as a bedroom. Second floor; Central hall with two rooms on each side. Central hall is closed off at water side to make bathroom. Stair has turned mahogany balusters; Victorian newel and railing; open string. From landing up is earlier newel stair, turned at the second floor. 2. Flooring: Wide pine boards, nailed through. 3. Wall and ceiling finish: Plaster and simple wooden wain- scoting in most rooms, stair hall and on stair. The wainscoting consisting of baseboard, chair rail, and flush, unmolded board paneling.

From the center hall to the living room are a pair of large sliding doors, appar- ently added after the construction of the house. The house has some original, raised panel, six-paneled doors. Most doors, however, are replacements. 4. Decorative features and trim: Of particular note in the main section of the house is the original and handsome Greek Revival plaster cornice which has palmettes in the cove. There is plaster trim on the ceiling itself. Center hall has large oval plaster medallions on ceiling and single and double architraves around doors. The dining room has an open-beam ceiling that is not original. Inscribed on pane of glass in dining-room window Is "John Pawley, September The v/indows in dining room are recessed, and paneled down to the floor with paneled reveals.

GEORGE PAWIEY HOUSE HABS No. (Page 4) 5. Fireplaces: First-floor fireplaces with black stone hearths appeared to be of approximately same period (early nineteenth century). The mantelpieces in main living room, in bedroom and in dining room are similar. Second-floor bedrooms have fireplaces Yirith stone hearth angled in the corner. Mantelshelves have been added. 6. Lighting: Electric. 7. Heating: Forced hot air. D. Site: 1. Setting: On main street of town with an attractive> large yard opening onto waterfront. 2. Landscaping: Mature shrubs, numerous trees; lawn slop- ing down to water. 3. Walks9 drivev/ays: Driveway and walk from street with "turnaround." 4. Outbuildings: Recent frame garage at one side of prop- erty ^ near street. Prepared by James c.

Massey_, Architect National Park Service February ADDENDUM TO: HABS GEORGE PAWLEY HOUSE HABS SC,22-GEOTO,8- (Stewart-Parker House) Front Street Georgetown Georgetown County South Carolina WRITTEN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA REDUCED COPIES OF MEASURED DRAWINGS FIELD RECORDS HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior C Street NW Washington, DC ADDENDUM TO: HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY GEORGE PAWLEY HOUSE HABS No. Pages 1-4 were previously transmitted to the Library of Congress. Robert Stewart, the primary constituent of the George Pawley House, was the son of an indentured servant from Jamaica, Patrick Stewart, whom is also one of the original settlers of South Carolina.

Robert Stewart recognized that Georgetown, South Carolina would be an ideal location for early trade and commerce and frequently applied for land as it was made available for settlement by the colonial government. His forward vision of progress and mercantile interests awarded him the reputation as a prominent land owner, militia Captain, and rice planter. By Robert Stewart already owned several tracts of land in the Georgetown township and acquired acreage situated on the Sampit River on lot number 220 on Front Street, present day Front Street.

According to architectural evidence, it is estimated that the two-story masonry, Georgian plantation house which still stands on this property was constructed sometime between The George Pawley House remains today as the only masonry residence in Georgetown built prior to the American Revolution still surviving and in use. Ownership of the house changed several times and a series of additions and remodeling followed, with the original Georgian appearance modified with Federal Period features. After the death of Robert Stewart, an executor of his will sold the house in to Daniel Tucker, a well- known and successful Georgetown merchant.

While under the ownership of Daniel Tucker, a significant event occurred in Georgetown s history that would place the George Pawley House in historical perpetuity - President George Washington arrived in Georgetown during his southern tour on April 30, Upon his arrival, a militia and local reception committees met him at the river and escorted him to the house where he was generously entertained and honored. Daniel Tucker offered President George Washington overnight accommodations as his guest. Taken from President George Washington s diary from an entry on April 30, he states: Crossed the Waggamaw [sic] to George town by descending the River three miles. At this place we GEORGE PAWLEY HOUSE HABS No.

(Page 6) were rec[eive]d under a Salute of Cannon, & by a Company of Infantry handsomely uniformed. I dined with the Citizens in public and in the afternoon, was introduced to upwards of 50 ladies who had assembled (at a Tea party) on the occasion. George Washington Following Tucker s ownership, wealthy plantation owner Benjamin Allston, Sr. gained possession of the house in approximately Upon his death, heirs of the Pyatt and Parker families inherited the property and eventually in the house was passed out of the estate. In First Federal Savings and Loan Association bought the property to preserve it as one of Georgetown, South Carolina s most historically significant landmarks.

Today, the house is known as the Stewart-Parker House and is owned by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. The City of Georgetown leases part of the property as a museum and event space. Description: Built between and the George Pawley House was originally built as a Georgian brick house. In the original part of the house, the floor joists and cross ties have pegged joinery at the connections, and the nails in the house are hand wrought. The mantels in both first and second story are patterned after the designs of Abraham Swan, who in published a pattern book The British Architect. The second story fire places located in the corners of the rooms. Around the brick was covered in stucco to resemble a stone house and lintels and keystones were added above windows.

In the early the semi circular rooms were added. The windows in the addition are framed with reeded molding and rosettes in the upper corners. The walls were given a chair rail with wainscot beneath. By the rear chimneys had been added to the rear wall of each room and a rectangular back porch was built on the street side. A porch facing the Sampit River was added in but the current porch is fairly modern and is composed of terra cotta tiles and newer brick supports. History: The George Pawley House was constructed by owner Robert Stewart after he obtained the dead in from the city of Georgetown. Robert Stewart was the son of Patrick Stewart, an indentured servant who helped settle South Carolina.

The Stewart-Parker house was described as a rather plain Georgian house that faced the Sampit River, for a rice planter of modest means. It is the only example of a Georgian brick house from the century still extant in Georgetown. GEORGE PAWLEY HOUSE HABS No. (Page 7) Robert Stewart died in naming Ebenezer Dunnam to sell his real estate in his will. Daniel Tucker, a plantation owner, purchased the property in The house stayed within the Tucker family, as it passes to his son John H. Tucker in The records for the years between and were lost due to a fire during the Civil War.

What is known about this time period is that the circular additions and decorative moldings were installed early in the century, while a river side porch was constructed circa There are Allston family traditions that state that Benjamin Allston Sr. acquired the house in before records can show that the houses passes from Benjamin Allston Sr. to his grandson Joseph B. Pyatt in More architectural changes are made in the time period between and the turn of the century that affect the street side of the house. The chain of ownership is continued when the house is inherited by James Rose Parker Jr. and his wife Sally DeSaussure in The Stewart- Parker house then passes through DeSaussure to her daughters; Penelope Parker Peterson, Sarah Parker Lumpkin, and Martha Parker Allison.

These women proceed to sell the estate to First Federal Loan in as it will remain until when the house is given to the Stewart- Parker Foundation. The lot is given by the Stewart-Parker Foundation to the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in who currently are using the building for office space and as a landmark for Georgetown.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS SC,22-GEOTO,8-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Charleston Deeds, vol. MM, p. 14. Map MB 18, Folder 1-A, Map of Georgetown, South Carolina Dept. of Archives and History, Columbia, SC. Circa Map of Georgetown, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Georgetown. Harriet Kershaw Leiding, Historic Houses of South Carolina. McCrady Plats, no Agnes Leland Baldwin, First Settlers of South Carolina, Southern Historical Press. George C Rogers, Jr. The History of Georgetown County, South Carolina. The Reprint Company. GEORGE PAWLEY HOUSE HABS No. (Page 8) Will of Daniel Tucker, in the Tucker Family Papers, South Carolina Historical Society, Charleston SC. Architectural Survey of Front Street, Georgetown, SC June 17, Virginia and Lee McMaster, A Field Guide to American Houses, New York: Alfred A Knopf, Samuel G.

Stoney, Plantations of the South Carolina Lowcountry Charleston: Carolina Art Association, A Walk Down Front Street -- Georgetown South Carolina.Georgetown County Historical Society, City of Georgetown cultural resources survey : final survey report / prepared by Historic Preservation Consultants. Agnes Leland Baldwin, First Settlers of South Carolina, Southern Historical Press. Historical atlas of the rice plantations of Georgetown County and the Santee River / Suzanne Cameron Linder and Marta Leslie Thacker with preliminary research by Agnes Leland Baldwin. (Benjamin Allston, Sr)