The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-12-25
THD CAPITOL OF
SOUTH CAROLYN
The Building Now Nearing Com
pletlon-When and How the
Work Was Begun.

pletion-When and How the
Work Was Begun.
The STATE Dec 1s.
The splendid granite edifice which
is the official domicile Of the State of
South Carolina, after having been so
years in building, is at last neallng
completion. Designed originally to
cost IS 1000, 900 and intended, as some
of the political patriachs of the State
aver, to serve as the capitol of the
Southern Confederacy, it is today but
semblance of the conception of John
II. Niernsee, who designed it. AS it
stands, it has cost the State of South
Carolina $2,500,O00. 1t is intimately
associated with many tragic incidents
IN the States history, and has become
already one of the historic structures
of the country.
At the session of the General As
sembly of 1850, while the State vas in
the throes of the first great agitation
oil the secession question, which ended
in the affirmation of the right of a
State to secedo, the legislative COM
mittee on the State house reported that
the State records were in danger of
destruction by fire, and recommended
that hre-proof building b. erected
for their safe-keeping. In conse-
quence of this report, the appropria-
tion bill that year contained clause
authorizing the use of the proceeds of
the saleof lots in the city of Columbia
for ..>is purpose. No bill authorizing
the erection of new State house was
passed, although il ls clear that it was
the intention of the leaders at that
time to provide for the erection of
creditable public building. Judge
O'Neall gave.the credit to Hon. Ben
jamin Hunt of "leading the Legisla-
ture imperceptibly into the scheme of
buildinga new State house."
The cornerstone of two, story build
ing was laid December 10, 1861. This
building was erected on the square
then occupied by the old State house,
fronting on Main street, the old build
ing then standing at the corner of Sem
ate and Assembly streets. IL was
modest structure, intended to serve as
a wing of the projected capitol. 1t
was about completed at cost of $780,
600 and some of the records had been
removed to it., in the summer of 1854,
when tho commissioners i'm charge
noticed cracks in tho door and window
arches. These defects, becoming more
pronounced, the commissioners en-
ployed JGhii Il. Nfernsee, then resid-
ing in Baltimore, as consulting archi-
Smithsonian institute and many other
famous buildings, and was one of the
foremost architects of his time Archi-
tect Niernsee absolutely condemned
the structure, and under his advice, it
was razed 10 the ground, only por-
ton OF the foundations being left,
whicn Row remain under the west
wall Of the present capitol. 1t was
then that Niernsee designed the struc-
ture which now stands, the General
Assembly giving sanction to an issue
OF bonds for the coordination" of the
construction of new State capitol.
The adjoining square was purchased,
and the building located upon its pres
ent site.
In anticipation of the approaching
great conflict the work was feverishly
pushed until the war practically stopped
it. A tramway was constructed to the
granite quarries on the river, and hun
dreds of laborers were employed
quarrying and dressing the huge pieces
of granite required. When the work
of building was thus rudely stopped,
the talented architect exchanged his
drawing Instruments for the sword,
and did valiant service In the army OF
the Southern Confederacy.
On that momentous day TO the peo.
| pie OF this State, February 15, 1866
when the army commanded by Gen
/ w. Il. Sherman reached the heights
across the Congaree river overlooking
Columbia--at Casey Mayor Good
win surrendered the city, as 1T was alb
solutely defenseless. Notwithstand
ing this defenseless condition the cit,
was shelled and the new capitol, will
its white wallis completed to the friez
line. was the mark of every guaner
Several shells entered the bare windo,