Rocks Plantation, Eutawville South Carolina
The Rocks Plantation was built between 1803 and 1805 by Peter Gaillard, who recorded its construction in detail in his letter book. Originally one of several plantations of its type in St. John's Parish, it is one of the few that were not inundated by the Santee-Cooper project in the 1940s. The Rocks is also recognized as having been the home of two South Carolina families who pioneered in the state's agricultural development. Today it continues to be recognized as a local landmark, the surrounding lands being operated as the Rocks Pond Campground.
Captain Peter Gaillard, a Revolutionary War veteran, purchased the Rocks ca. 1795. Gatllard's prosperous agricultural livelihood, based on the cultivation of indigo, had been undermined by the Revolution. In an attempt to re-establish himself, Gaillard planted cotton at the Rocks ca. 1796, producing what has been considered one of the state's first commercial crops of cotton. This success harbingered Gatllard's financial well-being, as well as South Carolina's tremendous cotton production of the 19th Century. Gaillard's great-grandson, Frederick Augustus Porcher, recorded in his memoirs, "His reputation as a planter was immense. As long as I lived in the country I heard his opinion quoted, even by those who never had known him, and it was considered presumptuous in any one to act in opposition to his practice." Gaillard's letter book, considered a "model book concerning a model plantation," contains the annals of the numerous agricultural experiments in which he was continuously involved.
Gaillard gave the Rocks plantation house and part of the lands to his son Samuel. According to family records, it continued to be farmed by the Gaillards until 1907 when T. L. Connor purchased the plantation. The Connors introduced diversified farming and livestock raising to the Rocks.
The erection of the Rocks is uniquely chronicled, for Peter Gaillard recorded its construction in detail in his account book. The overall design of the structure can be characterized by the mantels Gaillard ordered: "two chimney pieces to be done in a genteel but plain style and five others being for bedrooms to be very plain...." A high degree of craftsmanship is nevertheless evidenced by the mantels, cornices, and wainscoting which appear far from plain according to present-day standards.
The Rocks also exemplifies a regional style of architecture which features a type of paired, separate front doors. In this feature, the Rocks is similar in design to other structures in the upper St. John's vicinity of South Carolina.
Tilts and tournaments were a popular form of entertainment and means of social gathering during the late 19th Century. In 1879 a company called the Eutaw Light Dragoons began holding competitions at the Rocks. These tournaments continued through the 1890s. In 1892 the Charleston News and Courier carried a detailed account of a tournament held at the Rocks. It was reported that:
The ball was a brilliant affair and was successful in every particular. It took place at Mr. James Gaillard's residence and was well attended. Charleston sent some of her loveliest daughters who were much admired by the Eutaws, and the graceful and beautiful daughters of St. John's captured the hearts of the Charleston soldiers. News and Courier, December 31st, 1892
Unfortunately, in April 1992 a fire destroyed the house.
Building Description
The Rocks, under construction from 1803 until 1805, is a two-story frame structure set upon a raised brick basement (not original). Featuring a hip roof with two interior chimneys, it is essentially symmetrical in design.
The Rocks is constructed of hand-hewn cypress and pine. Six Tuscan columns support a one-story portico, the right side of which has been screened in. Two separate, single doors with six panels each lead into the interior.
The left side has four windows on both stories. The right side is identical except for three narrow, eight-paned windows at the far end of the second story (in place of two windows). At the rear of the structure is a one-story shed addition with exterior chimneys at both ends.
Windows are 9/9 with shutters (some louvered, others paneled).
The Rocks is essentially unaltered except for the screening of a portion of the front porch, and the early 20th Century addition to the rear. Some of the boards on the front of the house were replaced ca. 1900 due to storm damage. The brick basement, chimneys, and steps are not original as the house was moved in 1942 to save it from destruction.
The original part of the first floor contains a living room, dining room, master bedroom, and another large room. At the rear is the early 20th Century addition which contains a kitchen, porch, and bath. The second story has two bedrooms on each side of a central hall.
The carved mantels and cornices in the parlor and dining room are notable. Doors are paneled, floors are heart pine, and the walls and ceilings are plastered. Wainscoting appears throughout the house.
In 1927 plumbing and electricity were added. In 1942, when the structure was moved, the walls and ceilings had to be replastered.
The Rocks was originally located on a rocky promontory near the Santee River. In 1942 the Santee-Cooper project threatened to inundate the structure as it did a number of others in the area. To preserve the Rocks, the owner, J. Rutledge Connor, moved it (along with slave quarters, smokehouse, and several other structures) approximately 1.6 miles.
(1976)
(1976)
(1976)
(1976)
(1976)
(1976)
