This was the estate seat of a huge complex of area plantations


Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina
Date added: May 14, 2024
General view (1977)

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The history of Arcadia Plantation dates from the 18th Century when it was known as Prospect Hill and was the seat of a large productive rice plantation. Located in Georgetown County, Prospect Hill was one of many rice plantations which together eventually led the nation in rice production.

Between 1732 and 1737 Anthony and George Pawley (brothers) received royal grants for three tracts of land totaling 775 acres. This property remained in the Pawley family until 1769 when it was acquired by Joseph Allston. During Allston's ownership, the southern portion of the tract became known as Prospect Hill. Allston left this property to his son Thomas who began construction of the present house. (His will of 1794 left to his wife Mary the plantation and "house frame.") Although Mary Allston later married Benjamin Huger, she retained ownership of her property. In her will of 1837, however, she stated that she had sold all her real estate in All Saints Parish to Joshua John Ward. Ward's will (dated 1848) left the plantation to his son Benjamin Huger Ward.

In 1906, Dr. Isaac E. Emerson bought Prospect Hill and gradually added several neighboring plantations to his holdings. Emerson made Prospect Hill the seat of his estate, called it Arcadia, enlarged the house, and landscaped the grounds.

Prospect Hill was one of numerous plantations along the Waccamaw River in Georgetown County, an area which was a leading rice producer. In 1790, Thomas Allston, owner of Prospect Hill and 203 slaves, was one of the largest rice planters in All Saint's Parish. However, the peak of rice production at Prospect Hill came during the ownership of Joshua John Ward. In 1850, Ward's plantations with a work force of approximately 1,100 slaves produced 3,900,000 pounds of rice. In 1860, Ward's estate (he died in 1853) yielded 4,410,000 pounds of rice, "a crop larger than that grown by any other family in the entire district."

Evidence indicates that the gardens at Prospect Hill were begun while Mary Allston Huger resided there between ca. 1794 and ca. 1837. William Hasell Wilson (1811-1902), who as a youth spent his summers on the Waccamaw, states in his reminiscences: "… Prospect Hill, where resided Mrs. Huger, the widow of Benjamin Huger; this was a showplace, conspicuous in the southern states; the mansion house was large and handsomely furnished, and the adjacent grounds in which were many rare plants were kept in beautiful order."

After Dr. Isaac E. Emerson acquired the property in 1906, he expanded and developed the grounds. Today, the grounds feature terraces and include a variety of azaleas and camellias.

In 1788, Thomas Allston was one of two delegates representing All Saint's Parish at South Carolina's ratification convention of the U.S. Constitution. Between 1796-1797 and 1806-1813 Benjamin Huger was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Huger served in the United States Congress between 1799-1805 and 1815-1817, and in the South Carolina Senate between 1818-1823, presiding over that body from 1819-1822. When President James Monroe visited Georgetown in 1819, he stayed at Prospect Hill, and his host, Huger wrote the welcoming speech.

Joshua John Ward, another owner of Prospect Hill, served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1832-1835, the South Carolina Senate from 1842-1850, and was Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 1850-52.

Although dating from ca. 1794, Arcadia is a superb example of the late Georgian style as influenced by Palladio. A strong similarity exists between the design of Arcadia and that of the Miles Brewton House in Charleston, dating some twenty years earlier. Such refined details as a double portico of both Roman Doric and Ionic order, a dentil cornice with fretwork, and Adam-style interior embellishments outweigh the vast 20th-century alterations the house has undergone.

Building Description

The Arcadia Plantation House is a two-story clapboard structure on a raised brick basement. The main portion of the structure was built ca. 1794 and is flanked by wings that were added in the early 20th Century.

The front (west) facade has a hipped roof with a centrally located pedimented portico. The portico is double-tiered, each level having a balustrade and four slender columns, the first level being Doric in order and the second being Ionic. A double stairway with a landing leads to the lower level of the portico. In the pediment of the portico is a semicircular inset with a 6/6 window. The first-floor entrance has a paneled door with a rectangular transom, the muntins of which form a semicircular motif in typical Georgian fashion. This facade faces terraced gardens which lead toward the Waccamaw River.

A screened porch, added ca. 1914, dominates the rear (east) facade. Above the porch is a balustraded deck that is accessible by a door cut into the original Palladian window at the stair landing.

The right (south) wing is octagonally shaped and features a convex Mansard roof. It was constructed ca. 1912 as a dining room. The left (north) wing was constructed ca. 1920, is rectangular in shape with a hipped roof, and houses the master bedroom.

The windows are 6/6 with paneled shutters. The roof is hipped covered with standing seam tin and accentuated by hipped dormers. The cornice features dentil moldings and delicate fretwork. Chimneys are exterior (4) and are presently painted white.

Interior: The original section of the house follows a four-room with a central hall plan. This was altered (early 20th Century) when the two rooms to the right (south) of the main floor central hall were converted into one large room. Another alteration to the main floor was the paneling (ca. 1960) of the northeast sitting room for use as an office. The walls have paneled wainscoting and dentil cornice moldings. The mantels in each room are Federal in design, having pilasters, paneled overmantels, and decorated friezes.

A two-flight stairway with a Palladian window (now door) at the landing leads to the second floor. There are two bedrooms on each side of the central hall. Wainscoting and cornice details are simpler than those of the main floor. However, the northwest bedroom features the most elaborate decorative work in the house, having a highly embellished mantel, overmantel, and cornice.

The right wing consists of an octagonally shaped dining room with a convex Mansard ceiling. Wall and mantel details have been modeled after those in the main house. The left-wing is a large master bedroom with detailings also similar to those in the original portion of the structure. The full basement follows the plan of the floors above.

The floors are original as are the six-panel doors.

Arcadia is situated near the Waccamaw River amidst numerous live oaks. A series of terraced gardens (including a swimming pool) extend from the front (west) of the house toward the river. Near the rear (east) of the house is a large two-story guest house (early 20th Century). Also located at the rear are stables, a bowling alley (both early 20th Century), tennis courts, and several other plantation-related structures. Located to the south of the house are several tenant houses and an antebellum Negro church (St. Ann's) which has been brick veneered.

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina General view (1977)
General view (1977)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina West (front) elevation (1977)
West (front) elevation (1977)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina East (rear) elevation (1977)
East (rear) elevation (1977)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina East (rear) elevation (right side) and south side (1977)
East (rear) elevation (right side) and south side (1977)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina South side, with wing (1977)
South side, with wing (1977)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina Front two-story porch (1977)
Front two-story porch (1977)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina Main entrance door (1977)
Main entrance door (1977)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina Southwest room, first floor (1977)
Southwest room, first floor (1977)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina Northwest room, first floor (1977)
Northwest room, first floor (1977)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina Northwest room, second floor (1977)
Northwest room, second floor (1977)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina Historic photo showing the front side of the house (1893)
Historic photo showing the front side of the house (1893)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina Historic photo showing the front side of the house (1900)
Historic photo showing the front side of the house (1900)

Arcadia Plantation - Prospect Hill Plantation, Georgetown South Carolina Historic photo showing the rear side of the house (1900)
Historic photo showing the rear side of the house (1900)