This old house

Keeping history alive at county landmark

Bill Henley
The Post and Courier

Bill Henley
The Post and Courier

Jim Way of the Upper Dorchester County Historical Society talks about the heavy building materials that were used in constructing the Koger-Murray-Carroll House in the early 1800s. The historical society has been renovating the landmark structure to preserve the oldest building in the county.

Bill Henley
The Post and Courier

This fireplace is one of two on the second floor of the Koger House

There's nothing like crawling under an old home to admire its craftsmanship.

Maneuvering under the Koger-Murray-Carroll House on the outskirts of St. George, Jim Way pointed out the thick wooden beams that make up the foundation of what is believed to be the oldest house in Dorchester County.

"Look at how substantial this structure is here. These are big timbers holding this together," he said.

Way, a 70-year-old town of Dorchester resident, is a member of the Upper Dorchester County Historical Society, which has spent the past five years raising funds to renovate the Koger House. The building dates back to at least 1812, although it's believed to be older. It's just that nobody has been able to find the documents to prove it.

Regardless of how old it really is, the house has held up well. Wind and sand were wearing through the center of the brick pillars supporting the house and there's evidence that some of the wood near the attic was blackened by a fire. But walking through the old home, Way marvels at how much attention each part of the house was given during the building process.

"I don't think it was near collapse because it still had plenty of support. It was still standing strong," Way said.

The historical society has been working for the past five years to turn back the effects of time on the house, raising money for renovations to bring the landmark back to life.

To date, the group has shored up the foundation by replenishing the brickwork on the pillars under the house, repaired the front and back porches, and systematically replaced the windows in the six-room structure with period glass and as much original material from the frames as could be salvaged.

Soon, the third phase will be completed with the interior walls getting a fresh coat of plaster.

In celebration, the historical society plans an October Festival 3-11 p.m. Saturday at the plantation house, which is on S.C. Highway 19 about three miles west of Grover.

There will be music, dancing and live local bands. Attendance is free, but proceeds from food and hayrides will help raise money for future renovations.

Local merchants and individuals have donated a variety of items to be included in the silent auction 7-9 p.m.

Children's games, artisan displays and storytellers also are part of the celebration.

Way said the house has become the centerpiece of the organization's efforts to better document the county's history.

"A group of us started doing history on Dorchester County — update it," Way said. "As we started looking around, we started finding things.

"Out of that grew that we needed the historical society. Someone then mentioned this old house and said something should be done before the house was lost."

The house, which was dedicated as a historical landmark in 2003, was used as a stagecoach stop between Charleston and Augusta, Civil War prison and makeshift corn silo. When renovations are complete, it will be used as the historical society's home, as the back room on the first floor will be converted to a meeting place.

Structurally, the house has been in great shape, but the biggest challenge to any renovation generally boils down to one thing.

"Money. Really that's been the problem," Way said. "Finding money to do it, looking for grants. You have to have grants. We just can't have enough festivals to raise what we need."

Way said the society wants the building to become a point of interest for people but doesn't believe it would become a museum.

"That might be carrying it a little far. But, it'll be here for people to enjoy and see and take a look at how things used to be built. It will be an office for us if things come out like we plan," he said. "We would like to see period items in it, but that stuff isn't just laying around. A period piece from 200 years ago is a long time.

"Even now, something 75 years or 100 years old is still precious stuff."

Reach Bill Henley at 745-5865.