Wichita eagle., 1888-07-15
CALHOUN AND HOUSE AT FORT HILL

Tho place is beautifully situated at the
poin. of intersection OF Oconee, PickenS and
Anderson counties The Seneca river runs
along tho side for 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-
eSGue 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. 1t pre-
sents striking appearance from the road
and tue valley Of the Seneca river, but on
closer inspection is found to be unpretentious
and to be built very much in the style of the
houses of we'll to do South Carolina planters
before the late war.
Within the house is 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 the escritoire of Calhoun and
massive mahogany scellerette over which sre
two enormous black deer horns, a gift to Cal
houn when he was vice president The library
is in small building at a short distance in
the rear of the house. The books are not Of
special value, many being damaged and In
broken sets, and many having besn lost or
| stolen. Perhaps the most interesting book in
the library is manuscript of the first volume
of life of Calhoun prepared by Mr.. Clemson
and the late Mr.. Pinckney Starke. It is
written in a peculiar shorthand character,
| the invention Of Mr.. Starke, and IL is. feared
that no one will be able to deciphsr it. Messrs.
Starke and Clemson had the use of number
of manuscripts collected by tho Hon. r. NJ
T. Hunter, Of Virginia, who had gathered
material for a life Of his friend and political
/ teacher but was compelled to relinquish the
/ task A trunk of manuscript letters and docu-
ments of Calhoun, of great value to tho
future historian, has also been found In the
library The entire contents OF tho house,
with the exception Of family portraits, has
been also bequeathed to the Agricultural
college
1 The value Of the real and personal property
bequeathed the state for college is esti-
mated at 500 900, exclusive Of the furniture
and relics of Calhoun within the house.
/ The property is given to the state TO be
used as an institution for instruction In agri-
/ culture, but the will directs that the college
shall not be exclusively agricultural, and that
proper attention be given to other studies and
/ to a general collegiate course for students.
/ Pendleton, the neighboring village, was
/ once a popular resort for many wealthy
planters from tidawater South Carolina, and
/ many handsome residences were built In ths
[ vicinity On the summit Of one Of the highest
/ hills adjoining Fort HiA Is Seneca, the els-
/ CANT country seat Of tho Ravenels, Of Charles
/ ton, and next adjoining is once splehdid
residence "Keowee," the property Of another
branch Of the Calhoun family.