Photo

Click on photo to enlarge

Jessica Nelms

The fate of Hopewell Plantation, on the campus of Clemson University, lies in a plan formulated by the State Historic Preservation Office, through which grant measurements and drawings were made of the house. Maintenance suggestions have been made to preserve the house until further renovations can take place, preserving once and for all the home of one of America's leading Revolutionary War heroes.

CLEMSON — There is hope for Hopewell Plantation.

The home of one of America’s “most forgotten men” — Andrew Pickens — is under renovation on the campus of Clemson University.

The plantation once belonged to American Revolutionary militia leader Brigadier General Andrew Pickens, who chose the land for its view and location on the Seneca River. Pickens utilized his position on the river to run a ferry, as he was not only a great military leader but also a farmer who found wealth by trading with the Cherokee Indians.

“Without General Andrew Pickens we might be singing ‘God Save the Queen’ instead of the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’” said Barbara Abernethy, a local historian and advocate for saving Hopewell Plantation.

Pickens’ military expertise won crucial battles including The Battle of Cowpens, at which he led the militia under the command of Daniel Morgan.

His military accomplishments prompted the use of Pickens’ name all over the Upstate including the monikers for Pickens County, the City of Pickens, Pickens Nose Mountain and the Pickens building at Tri-County Technical School.

As a historian, Abernethy has long focused on the life of Pickens, leading to her currently being involved in the movement to restore his home to its original beauty. Her main goal is for people to remember the contributions of a man who helped in the formation of our country.

Abernethy is an active member of the Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution.

According to the group’s Web site, their goal is to “… facilitate the exchange of information on the Southern Campaign’s Revolutionary War sites, their preservation, historic signage, interpretation, artifacts and archaeology as well as the personalities, military tactics, units, logistics, strategy, and the political leadership of both sides …”

With this thought in mind, Abernethy began investigating the reconstruction of the Hopewell Plantation site in order to suitably remember a man she says is “one of our country’s most forgotten men.”

Pickens acquired the land through a South Carolina land grant in 1784 and began building the plantation in 1785. He and his family lived there for several years. Eventually, the home and land passed through a number of hands, and the United States government ultimately issued federal land grants to universities, through which Clemson University acquired Hopewell Plantation.

According to Abernethy, the renovation is being conducted by the Historic Property Alumni Advisory Committee and is being overseen by William Hiott, the director and curator for historic properties for the university. This committee was established to oversee all of the historic properties controlled by Clemson University including Fort Hill, Hanover House, Hopewell Plantation and several other historical buildings that belong to the university.

Clemson University recently faced some scrutiny as to the upkeep of the home, but Abernethy defends the university’s effort. “Clemson does have other jobs they must do as well,” Abernethy said, “but Clemson has not forgotten about it.”

The house, most recently used to house faculty, is empty. However, the renovations that occurred while occupied by Clemson staff included the addition of air conditioning units in the windows and sheet rock added to the walls. Recent work includes the addition of a tin roof after a tree fell, destroying part of the existing roof. The former roof had asbestos shingles that needed replacement despite the tree. A collateral descendant of Pickens, Pickens Roofing of Anderson and Greenville, installed the new roof.

The house has also taken part in an experimental termite-baiting program with the Dow Chemical Company, which now produces the chemical commercially and protects the home with this baiting program.

The fate of Hopewell Plantation lies in a plan formulated by the State Historic Preservation Office, through which grant measurements and drawings were made of the house. From here, maintenance suggestions have been made to preserve the house until further renovations can take place. One of these suggestions included the recent removal of the lead-based paint that covered the plantation and the addition of an oil based primer and two coats of latex paint.

“They have done what they can to stabilize it,” Abernethy said, adding, “The university has a long way to go in restoring a house that was once home to a man who played a vital role to the founding of America.”