Historic House Listings

The history! James McDonald House, Circa 1888. One acre in South Carolina. $249,000

August 11, 2019

So much history with this one! And it’s pretty original inside! The James McDonald house was built in 1888. It is located on one acre in Winnsboro, South Carolina. James played a pivotal role in founding the Shriner’s Hospital. His daughter, Mary, inherited the home and ran it as a bed and breakfast. It is said she would play the baby grand piano for guests. The last McDonald generation to live in the home; Camilla was disabled and spent her entire life in the home. One grandson became a professional singer and attorney, another became a newspaper columnist and author. The home has original shutters. Original floors, windows, doors, trim and plaster. Five bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 4,589 square feet. $249,000

From the Zillow listing:

 

The moment you walk thru the front door you can feel the love of the McDonald family. The story starts with James E. McDonald, who built this beautiful home on granite stone in the late 1800s. It was passed down thru the generations. Oh, the stories this majestic Italianate home could tell! Like how James played a major role in founding the Shriner’s Hospital, how daughter Mary, a champion for civil rights, played the baby grand piano for her guests when she ran a Bed & Breakfast here. The last generation to live here: Camilla was disabled and spent her entire life right here. They say she had a heart of gold.  One grandson became a professional singer and attorney, and another is a voracious reader, former newspaper columnist and author. But all of them loved this house and for the most part left it as granddaddy had wanted it to be. That’s a rare find.

 

Original shutters still hang outside; the grand staircase and wide front entrance, still intact. The arched doorway and doors, still in great condition. Windows, original. Doors, original. Floors, fanciful trim, beautiful old cracked plaster, all original. No nasty aluminum siding! No asbestos ceiling tiles. No crazy chopped up rooms. It’s a gorgeous old home ready to be restored and almost entirely original! What does it need now? For sure–paint, kitchen and bath remodels, floors refinished, plumbing and probably electrical work and a new HVAC system. Inspections welcome but selling AS-IS. Already priced accordingly.

 

Let them know you saw it on Old House Life!