The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-02-14
Turning of the Perrin Mansion.

About half-past o'clock yes
tcrday morning the roof of the dwell
ing of Hon. T.. G.. Perrin, Of this vii
lage, was discovered to be on fire, AM
this ornament and pride of the vii
lage, surrounded by the most support
garden Of choice evergreens and train
cd shrubberry to be found anywhere
in the State, was soon a mass o
smouldering ruins.
The erection Of this massive struct
ure was commenced in 1886. at 4 time
when Mr.. Perrin was immensely rlcl
the expense then being of little con
sideration with him-and it was moi
until 1858 that it was ready for occu'
pancy. after requiring more than Two
years for its completion, and in the
meantime giving employment TO
large number of men, including some
of the best artisans and mechanics
that have ever been in the South.
DAILY, the architect, and Cownovcr,
the builder, with scores OF the BEST
Northern workman, came to AbbeHllle
f,r the express purpose or put
ting up this building, and their
skill produced a structure, the equal
of which, for architectural design,
beauty OF finish ana elegant proper
tons, is perhaps noe to be found any
where in the up-country. Above the
finely finished basement OF brick ana
stone were two high stories of wood
the top being surmountcd by all orna-
mental cupola or observatory. mere
were seven large rooms on each OF the
three floors, divided by elegant halls
and Joined by portentous folding
doors. In each of which rooms might
have been found an abundance OF eX-
pensive marble, a we'll as walnut and
mahogany woods. The plasterlng
was the most elaborate and of
the finest cast, while the frcs-
Going and stuccoing would have
adorned the royal palace of an
Eastern prince. Each Of the rooms
and halls were lighted by magnificent
gas chandeliers. a thorough system
of water works pervaded the whole
house, and every other conceivable
comfort or luxury which the modern
improvements in mansion architec-
ture had suggested up to that time was
included.
In the burning of this building we
have lost a structure, the like of
which will never again he erected in
Abheville.
Mr.. Perrin commenced to insure
his house before it was finished and
since then has paid the insurance
premium regularly for twenty years,
until last "Wednesday at II o'clock,
when he allowed the insurance to eX-
pire.
When the fire was first discovered
it was clear to the minds of every one
that nothing which could be done
would save the building from the
grasp of the consuming element, and
the assembled citizens and neighDors
at once went to work with u Will to
save the contents of the house, and
we are glad to be able state that nearly
everything was removed, though 1t Is
to be regl cited that some articles were
much injured by the hasty removal:
It seems that the fire originated
from a spark in the roof, the shingles
being dry and Ethe wind blowing a
stiff breeze. The alarm was given by
the neighborS, and 1t was a minute or
two after the alarm before Mr.. Perrin
and the family became aware OF the
proximity of the angry flames to their
own chambers.
At the time of the fire Mr.. l.. W.
Perrin and family, and DR.. J. 5.
Thomson and family were living III
the house with Mr.. Perrin, and Mrs.
Joel S. Perrin and Miss Watkins, Of
Richmond, Va, were visiting the
family.
Mr.. and Mrs. It. G. Perrin have
gone back to their old homestead, now
occupied by their son-in-law Col. j
S. Cothran ; DR.. Thomsoh and family
are stopping with Mr.. l.. w. White;
Ir. l.. ". Perrin and family are with
his uncle, Mr.. Robert II. Wardlaw;
Mrs. Joel S. Perrin and Miss Wad-
kins are the guests Of Mr.. w. Joel
Smith.