Clemson University was established on the Fort Hill plantation site in 1889, and in accordance with the terms of its inheritance, has maintained the house and its immediate parcel as a museum and library — all that remains of what originally was an approximately 1,000 acre plantation estate.
The house was originally built as a four-room house about 1803 and was called Clergy Hall by Dr. James McElhenny, who was the pastor of Hopewell Presbyterian Church. The house later became the home of John C. Calhoun and his wife Floride Calhoun in 1825. Calhoun enlarged it to 14 rooms and renamed it Fort Hill for nearby Fort Rutledge, which was built around 1776. The architectural style is Greek revival with Federal detailing and with simple interior detailing.[4]
After John Calhoun's death in 1850, the property and the 50 slaves there passed to his wife to be shared with three of her children: Cornelia, John, and Anna Maria, wife of Thomas Green Clemson. Anna sold her share to Floride Calhoun. Floride Calhoun sold the plantation to her son, Andrew Pickens Calhoun, and held the mortgage. After Andrew died in 1865, she filed for foreclosure against Andrew's heirs before her death in 1866.
After lengthy legal proceedings, the plantation was auctioned at Walhalla in 1872. The executor of her estate won the auction, which was divided among her surviving heirs. Her daughter, Anna Clemson, received the residence with about 814 acres (329 ha) and her great-granddaughter, Floride Isabella Lee, received about 288 acres (117 ha). Thomas Green and Anna Clemson moved into Fort Hill in 1872. After Anna's death in 1875, Thomas Green Clemson inherited Fort Hill.
In his 1888 will, Clemson bequeathed more than 814 acres (329 ha) of the Fort Hill estate to the State of South Carolina for an agricultural college with a stipulation that the dwelling house "shall never be torn down or altered; but shall be kept in repair with all articles of furniture and vesture...and shall always be open for inspection of visitors."[5]Clemson University has operated Fort Hill as a house museum as stipulated in the will. The house is all that remains of what was once an extensive plantation estate.[6]
Fort Hill was closed for a two-year restoration project and was reopened in the spring of 2003. Fort Hill was named a national treasure by the Save America's Treasures program, and its artifacts are currently[when?] undergoing a comprehensive conservation program funded by this federal grant and matching funds.
^ abBlanche Higgins Schroer (May 14, 1975), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Fort Hill(pdf), National Park Service and Accompanying eight photos, from 1974 and undated(32 KB)
^ ab. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
^Edgar, Walter. South Carolina Encyclopedia (2006). p. 334, ISBN1-57003-598-9
^E. M. Lander, Jr., The Calhoun Family and Thomas Green Clemson: The Decline of a Southern Patriarchy (1983) University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, SC.
^"Fort Hill, Pickens County (Clemson University)". National Register Properties in South Carolina listing. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Hill.
Fort Hill: National Historic Landmark, at Clemson University
Fort Hill, Pickens County (Clemson University), including 12 photos, at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. SC-344, "Fort Hill, Clemson University Campus, Clemson, Pickens County, SC", 122 photos, 19 color transparencies, 28 measured drawings, 41 data pages, 13 photo caption pages
HABS No. SC-344-A, "Fort Hill, Office, Clemson University Campus, Clemson, Pickens County, SC", 1 photo, 4 measured drawings, 4 data pages, 1 photo caption page
Fort Hill Historical Marker
February 15, 2024
fort, hill, clemson, south, carolina, fort, hill, also, known, john, calhoun, house, library, national, historic, landmark, clemson, university, campus, clemson, south, carolina, united, states, fort, hill, john, calhoun, house, national, register, historic, p. Fort Hill also known as the John C Calhoun House and Library is a National Historic Landmark on the Clemson University campus in Clemson South Carolina United States Fort Hill John C Calhoun House U S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic LandmarkU S Historic districtContributing propertyShow map of South CarolinaShow map of the United StatesLocationClemson University campus Clemson South CarolinaCoordinates34 40 40 5 N 82 50 20 W 34 677917 N 82 83889 W 34 677917 82 83889Built1802 1 Architectural styleGreek revivalPart ofClemson University Historic District II ID89002139 NRHP reference No 66000708Significant datesAdded to NRHPOctober 15 1966 2 Designated NHLDecember 19 1960 3 Designated CPJanuary 4 1990From 1825 1850 the house was the home of noted proponent of constitutional Nullification John C Calhoun the 7th Vice President of the United States Clemson University was established on the Fort Hill plantation site in 1889 and in accordance with the terms of its inheritance has maintained the house and its immediate parcel as a museum and library all that remains of what originally was an approximately 1 000 acre plantation estate Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory edit nbsp Fort Hill nbsp State historic marker for Fort HillThe house was originally built as a four room house about 1803 and was called Clergy Hall by Dr James McElhenny who was the pastor of Hopewell Presbyterian Church The house later became the home of John C Calhoun and his wife Floride Calhoun in 1825 Calhoun enlarged it to 14 rooms and renamed it Fort Hill for nearby Fort Rutledge which was built around 1776 The architectural style is Greek revival with Federal detailing and with simple interior detailing 4 After John Calhoun s death in 1850 the property and the 50 slaves there passed to his wife to be shared with three of her children Cornelia John and Anna Maria wife of Thomas Green Clemson Anna sold her share to Floride Calhoun Floride Calhoun sold the plantation to her son Andrew Pickens Calhoun and held the mortgage After Andrew died in 1865 she filed for foreclosure against Andrew s heirs before her death in 1866 After lengthy legal proceedings the plantation was auctioned at Walhalla in 1872 The executor of her estate won the auction which was divided among her surviving heirs Her daughter Anna Clemson received the residence with about 814 acres 329 ha and her great granddaughter Floride Isabella Lee received about 288 acres 117 ha Thomas Green and Anna Clemson moved into Fort Hill in 1872 After Anna s death in 1875 Thomas Green Clemson inherited Fort Hill In his 1888 will Clemson bequeathed more than 814 acres 329 ha of the Fort Hill estate to the State of South Carolina for an agricultural college with a stipulation that the dwelling house shall never be torn down or altered but shall be kept in repair with all articles of furniture and vesture and shall always be open for inspection of visitors 5 Clemson University has operated Fort Hill as a house museum as stipulated in the will The house is all that remains of what was once an extensive plantation estate 6 The home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 1 3 Fort Hill was closed for a two year restoration project and was reopened in the spring of 2003 Fort Hill was named a national treasure by the Save America s Treasures program and its artifacts are currently when undergoing a comprehensive conservation program funded by this federal grant and matching funds See also editList of National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina National Register of Historic Places listings in Pickens County South CarolinaReferences edit a b Blanche Higgins Schroer May 14 1975 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Fort Hill pdf National Park Service and Accompanying eight photos from 1974 and undated 32 KB National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 a b Fort Hill John C Calhoun House National Historic Landmark summary listing National Park Service Archived from the original on June 6 2011 Retrieved March 21 2008 Edgar Walter South Carolina Encyclopedia 2006 p 334 ISBN 1 57003 598 9 E M Lander Jr The Calhoun Family and Thomas Green Clemson The Decline of a Southern Patriarchy 1983 University of South Carolina Press Columbia SC Fort Hill Pickens County Clemson University National Register Properties in South Carolina listing South Carolina Department of Archives and History Retrieved March 21 2008 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Hill Fort Hill National Historic Landmark at Clemson University Fort Hill Pickens County Clemson University including 12 photos at South Carolina Department of Archives and History Historic American Buildings Survey HABS No SC 344 Fort Hill Clemson University Campus Clemson Pickens County SC 122 photos 19 color transparencies 28 measured drawings 41 data pages 13 photo caption pages HABS No SC 344 A Fort Hill Office Clemson University Campus Clemson Pickens County SC 1 photo 4 measured drawings 4 data pages 1 photo caption page Fort Hill Historical Marker Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fort Hill Clemson South Carolina amp oldid 1196374376, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
