The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-04
cation

Tho place j. beautifully situated at the
point Of intersection of 0coacc. Pickcns 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 eloping hills and rolling
lands, which are triugc1 Win woodlands
Twenty miles dstan, arc clearly visible the
peaks Of the Blue Ridge mountains, and the
natural situation J. one of the most pciur
osquc an the state
The house is stucrcd on the summit Of
gently rising Hill, IN tho midst of park OF
forest trees, beautifully laid out, through
which runs an avenue OF noble od cedars to
the gate, about q Thousand yards down tho
hill Tho house is oi wood and brick, with
two spacious porticos, Imported by Donc
columns, facing the north ald cast. II pre-
scnts a striking appearance from the road
and the valley Of the Seneca river, but on
closer inspection is found to Interpretations
aud TO bo built very much in the style OF the
houses Of well to DO South Carolina planters
before the late w1r.
Within the house is cine collection Of rare
pictures and small bronze figures, which Cal
houn especially priz.d. Perhaps the only
value are the escritoirc of Calhoun and
massive mahogany sccllcrette over which are
two enormous blac, deer horns. a gift to Cal
houn when ne was vice president Tholbrny
is in IA small binding at "a snort distance ia
the rear Of tue house The books are not oi
special value, many being damaged and in
broken sets, and many having been lost OF
stolen Perhaps the mos. interesting bOOl. in
the library is a manuscript Of the iir>. volume
of life of Calhoun prepared by Mr. Clemson
and the late Mr. PmckEey Starsc. II j.
written in a peculiar shorthand character
the invention OF Nh SlIrkc, and 1t D. feared
mat no one will b. able to decipher ii. Mcssrs
StarEe and Clemson had the use OF a number
OF manuscripts collected 10y the Hon. r. vi
T Hunter, Of Virginia who had gathered
material for Il life of his friend ana political
teacher, but was compelled 10 relinquish the
task A trunk of manuscript letters and docu
Inents of Calhoun, of great value to the
future historian, has also been found in the
library. The entire contents Of the house
with the exception of family portraits, has
been also bequeathed 10 the Agricultural
college
The value Of the real and peisou,,i property
bequcathed the state for college is csti-
mated at 100000, exclusive Of the furniture
and relics of Calhoun within the house.
Tho property il given to tho state 10 be
used as an institution foT instruction iii agri-
culture. but the will directs that the college
shall not be exclusively agricultural, and that
proper attention be given to other studies and
10 general collegiate course for students
Pcndleton, the neighboring village, was
once n popular resort for many wealth.
planters from tidewater South Carolina, AMI
many handsome residences We're built in the
vicinity On the summit of one of the highes,
hills adjoining Fort Hi Is Seneca" the ele-
CANT country scat of the RGvencls, of Charles
ton. and next adjoining Is once splendid
residence "Keowee,' the property OF another
branch Of the Calhoun family.