Burt-Stark Mansion – Abbeville, South Carolina

Burt-Stark Mansion – Abbeville, South Carolina

It was here, on November 22, 1860, on Secession Hill in Abbeville, that the first meeting was held to launch South Carolina’s secession from the United States of America. One month later, the state of South Carolina became the first state to secede. For years the war ravaged the county, thousands were injured or killed and lives ruined.  Plantations were burned, livelihoods destroyed and in the end, the slaves freed.

This tragic period in history began in Abbeville and ended at the Burt Stark Mansion on May 2, 1865, less than a month after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, the war council of the Confederate forces met with President Jefferson Davis and disbanded the armies. Present at this meeting were cabinet members Benjamin, Mallory, Reagan and Breckinridge and five Brigade Commanders, Ferguson, Dibrell, Vaughn, Duke and Breckinridge. 

It was at this meeting that President Davis was convinced by his generals and Cabinet that the Southern resources were exhausted had that to continue the battle would only bring more misery to the region.  President Davis finally admitted, “All is indeed lost.”

The mansion was built in the 1830′s by David Lesley, planter, lawyer and Abbeville District judge.  He had the mansion built in the Greek revival style.

The construction of the house was supervised by Cubic, a slave and master carpenter.  Story has it that the Lesleys saw a house on a trip north and patterned this house on that one.  They sent Cubic north to study the house before construction began.

The house is a two-story white frame structure with four square columns supporting the pediment front portico, two stories height and extending across the central section of the house.  There are ornamental supports to give the house a more gracious feel.  Beneath the pediment is a small second=story balcony with wooden latticework.  There is a floor-height window opening onto the main portico on either side of the front door.

The main entrance is a central great hall with an Adam fanlight.  A drawing room opens on each side of the entrance where the wide double door to each of these rooms could be opened permitting the use of the entire front area a s a ballroom.

Upstairs the most significant bedroom was the one located in the northeast and the northwest corners of the house which were used by President Davis in 1865.

Today it is furnished with Southern antiques, including furniture, silver, crystal, rugs and paintings.  The dining room with its plantation hunt board shows the hospitality for which the home was always known.

A first floor bedroom and four upstairs bedrooms are furnished in the early 19th century mode with marble-topped dressers, hand-carved chests, and tester beds with hand-made coverings.  The desk of the home’s first owner stand in the upstairs hall.

The grounds have some of the original plantings such as boxwood-bordered walks which extend from the broad piazzas at the side and rear of the house.

Tours: Allow 60 minutes per tour.
Cost: $10 per person.

Days and Hours of Operation: F-Sa 1-5pm year round and by appt.
Days and Holidays Closed: Closed January and major holidays

Location: 400 N Main ST
Abbeville,SC 29620

Phone: (864) 366-0166