The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-08-07
A. R. p. ASSEMBLY GROUNDS

Guerard, M. A, B. s., M. d., OF
Charleston, a mar of wide culture,
great artistic taste and thorough
education, developed at Flat Rock,
North Carolina, one of. the most
beautiful estates in "The Land of
the Sky" DR.. Guerard was edu-
Gated at the University of Heidel-
berg, Germany, and he called his
place Heidelberg Gardens" The
estate contained sixty-fve acres of
land, of which area twenty-five
acres were thrown into park and
gardens filled with "a great variety
of trees, shrubs, and vines, with nu-
merous avenues, gravelled walks
lawns, terraces, flower beds, shady
hooks, rustic seats" and the rest OF
the properties" inviting the soul to
think of the glory that shall be. The
remainder of the estate, containing
forty acres, was reserved for farm
and orchard and in the orchard
there were planted 1900 apple trees
now coming into full bearing, and
within the charmed circle of this
wonderful place set down in. the
midst of a settlement distinguished
for the intelligence and culture OF
it's people, particularly Of the men,
bers of it's summer colony, the build
er of Heidelberg Gardens" thought
it all very good. An Academia gar
den-school-was tried with many
courses-preparatory, academic, art
and commercial, and with a full body
of experienced and competent in
structors. The school did not reach
the success desired by the founder
and was discontinued. Several chang
es were made in the uses of the prop
erty, and, finally, after ill fortune
he could not avert or withstand, the
founder felt impelled to abandon the
work of his life.
For eight years the place was
closed and last year Robert Spear
Galloway, Editor of the Associate
Reformed Presbyterian at Due West,
and member of a committee of the
A. R. P. Synod of the South, ap-
pointed to find an assembly place
for that peculiar sect, of Christians"
as they were called by old Parson
Brownlow, heard of Heidelberg
Gardens" that it was for sale and
could be bought at a fair price, and,
Immediately he saw it, he said, in
effect, "Here is $1,000 to ecure an
option on the property" and the
other members of the committee, or
so many of their number as neces-
sary, "came-a-running' and the deal
was closed and the first $4,000 Of
the purchase money was paid in
cash. The remainder will be paid in
two equal annual instalments of So
600 each, bearing interest at 6 per
cent. The name of the place was
changed with the change of owner
ship, unfortunately, in our opinion.
from heidelberg Gardens" which
meant something, to "Bon-Claken,'
which means little or nothing, in our
opinion, consistent with the digni-
fed service to which. the property
will now be devoted,
: "Bon-Clarken" is beautiful for
situation. With an elevation of g.
221 feet above the sea, in the centre
of n of the oldest and most cul-
tivated communities in the country,
a region noted for its healthfulness,
and within easy reach of the great
Southern Railway System, nothing
is left to be desired. The main build.
ing of "Bon-C larken" is ga well.
built, three-story structure in the
Swiss style Of architecture, covered
with cement stucco. The roof Is met.
al; the foundation is brick. 1t has
large double windows on all floors
Broad verandas extend almost en-.
tirely around the house; in all, 1900
square feet of porch space is avail.
able" The interior of the building