Evening journal., 1888-07-09

The place Is beautifully situated at the
point Of intersection OF Oconee, Pielens and
Anderson counties. The Seneca river runs
along the side for a considerable distance,
and from the banks upward the place con-
sists Of elegantly sloping hills and rolling
lands, which are fringed with woodlands.
Twenty miles distant are clearly visible the
peaks Of the Blue Ridge mountains, and the
natural situation is one of the most pictur-
esqus in the state
The house Is situated on the summit Of a
gently rising hill, in the midst of park of
forest trees, beautifully laid out, through
which runs an avenue of noble old cedars to
the gate, about thousand yards down the
hill. The house is of wood and brick, with
two spacious porticos, supported by Doric
columns, facing the north and east. It pro-
sents striking appearance from the road
and the valley Of the Seneca river, but on
closer inspection is found to be beunpretentious
and to be built very much in the style Of the
houses Of well to do South Carolina planters
before the late war.
Within the house is a fine collection Of rare
| pictures and small bronze figures, which Cal
houn especially priced Perhaps the only
pieces of household furniture Of especial
value are tho escritoira Of Calhoun and O
massive mahogany scellerette over which are
two enormous black deer horns, a gift to Cal
! houn when he was vice president The library
is in a small building at a short distance in
the rear Of tho house. The books are not Of
special value. many being damaged and in
broken sets, and many having been lost or
stolen. Perhaps the most interesting book in
the library is a manuscript OF the first volume
Of a life of Calhoun prepared by Mr. Clemson
and tho late Mr. Pinckuey Starke. It i.
written in a peculiar shorthand character
the invention Of Mr. Starlse, and it is feared
that no one will be ableto decipher it, Messrs
Starke and Clemson had the use Of a number
Of manuscripts collected by the Hon. r. NJ
T. Hunter, Of Virginia, who had gathered
material for life Of his friend and politica
teacher, but was compelled to relinquish th,
task. A trunk Of manuscript letters and docu
ments of Calhoun, Of great value to th,
future historian, has also been found in thl
library Tho entire contents OF the house
with tho exception Of family portraits, ha
been also bequeathed to the Agriculture
college.
The value of the real and personal propert,
bequeathed the state for a college is esti
mated at SlO0,000 exclusive of the furnitur
and relics Of Calhoun within the house.
The property is given to tho state to b
used as an institution for instruction in agri
culture. but the win directs that the colleg
shall not be exclusively agricultural, and tha
proper attention be given to other studies an
to a general collegiate course for students.
J Pendleton, the neighboring village, wa
once a popular resort for many wealth.
planters from tidewater South Carolina, an
many handsome residences were built in th
vicinity On the summit of one Of the highes
hills adjoining Fort Hill is ''Seneca,n p tho elC
giant country seat of the Ravenels, Of Charlie.
ton, and next adjoining is a once splendi
residence "Keowee," the property Of anothe
branch Of the Calhoun family.