The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-12-24
The STATE CAPITOL
OF SOUTH CAROLINA
aFACrs ABOUT HUILDING NOW NEAR
ING COMPLETION.
swill ho Interesting to Rlany-When aud
How the Work Was B-gun-The War
Period-rh" x, sumption OF
Operations.
(The State. J

Slbg completion. Designed origin
ally to cost $1,000, 900 and intended,
as some of the political patriarchs of
Sthe State aver, to serve as the capi-
tol of the Southern Confoderacy, it
B today but a semblance of tho con-
Geptlon Of John II. Niernsee, who
s Designed it. AS it stands, it has cost
'the State of South Carolina $780,,
WO0. 1t is intimately associated with
Sany tragic incidents in tho States
1story, and has become already one
s@the historic structures Of tho coun-
At the session of the general as.
>dnbly of 1850, while tho State was
|he throes of the first great agta
pt the secession question, which
in the affirmation of the RIGHT
hState to secede, the Legislative
tinnaittee on the State house re-
Ted thal the State records were in
or of destruction by fire and
amended that tireproof build
be erected for their safe-keeping.
oonse 'ence of this report, the
Separation bill that year contained
1se authorizing the use of the
tseds Of the sale of lots in the CITY
qColnmbia for this purpose. No
'&5authorizing the erection Of
ssw8 State house wes passed,
0ugh it is clear that it was
{ntention of the leaders at
Ytime to provide for the erection
osRgcreditable public building.
1adge O'Neal gave tho credit to Hon.
$njamin Hunt of Heading the
alature imperceptibly into tho
Ae#of building new State
dec Cornerstone of two story
lhing was laid December Is, 1851.
@his Building was erected on the
sStlare then occupied by the old
ESfate house, fronting on Main street,
lae old building then standing at the
Il SIsSOrner of Senate and Assembly
Rtreets. 1t was modest struot ure,
Ssnfended to serve as wing Of the
Yojected capitol 1t WAS about COM
:, YtsdSat a cost OF $250,00O and some
kherecords had been removed to
mtheSsummer of 1854, when the
Amissioners in charge noticed
Eacksinthe door and window arches.
hese defects, becoming more pro
sisSsaQunced, tho commissioners employed
II. Nlernsee, then residing in
more, aa consulting architect.
see had designed the Smith
pstitute and many other famous
gs, and was one Of the fore
SSfE{ rchitects Of his time. Arch,
lernsee absolutely condemned
n pure, and under his advice,
eed to the ground, only Il
the foundations being left,
I ow remain under the wept
the present capitol. 1t was
that Niernsee designed the
sbture which now stands, the
}seral assembly giving sanction to
pan. issue of bonds for tho "continua-
lion" of the construction of new
&aSsate capitol. The adjoining square
purchased, and the building
upon its present site
In anticipation of the approach
fig great conflict the work WAS fever
Ahly pushed until the war practi-
sAlly stopped it. A tramway was
Bsanstrncted to the granite qnarries
The river, aud hundreds of labor
were employed quarrying and
Esesslng the huge pieces of granite
fNSInired. When the work Of build
ng was thus rudely stopped, the
lented architect exchanged his
assFawing Instruments for the sword
sAgid did valiant service in the army
the Southern Confederacy.
asOn that momentous day to the
Neople of this State, February Is,
300, when the army commanded
y den. W. T. Sherman reached the
helgh"s across the Congaroe river
overlooking Columbia at Casey's-