Frampton Plantation House

The Frampton House property in Yemassee, SC, was part of an original King's Grant to the Frampton family in the 1700s. In 1865, General Sherman's troops burned the plantation house and all the farm buildings that stood on this site. In 1868, John Frampton rebuilt the present charming Lowcountry farmhouse and continued to work the land. About 1930, major renovations were made to the old house that included adding indoor plumbing and electrical wiring, and applying the first thin sheet rock or dry wall, replacing the old lath and plaster walls.

In December of 1993, Wymann Boozer, a Columbia SC developer, donated the Frampton House to the Lowcountry Tourism Commission for the creation of the Lowcountry Visitor's Center and Museum, thereby assuring restoration of the old farmhouse. The preservation of the magnificent old oaks that frame the building and the Civil War earthworks in the backyard were also guaranteed. 

The large earthwork is over 100 yards in length and was raised by General Robert E. Lee's troops about 1862. The fortification was a fall-back position from which to defend the Charleston to Savannah railroad, an important supply line for the Confederate army. The rail line is located about one mile north of the Frampton House.

Today, major renovations have taken place to prepare the Frampton House for resurrection and a new life. The Lowcountry & Resort Islands Tourism Commission has moved its offices into the upstairs of the Frampton House and the downstairs now serves as the Lowcountry Visitor's Center and Museum.

Sign on front porch

The large Live Oaks are approximately 250 years old and are cared for with pruning and periodic feeding. You can get an idea of how massive this oak tree is by looking for Jim in the lower left corner of the photo.

The tree's branches also support other plants such as the gray strands of hanging Spanish Moss (which is an epiphyte and not a parasite), and Resurrection Fern which grows along the tops of the main branches, and looks dead when dry but becomes green again after a rain.

The Lowcountry and its citizens played an important role during the final years of the struggle for American independence.

Throughout the four counties that make up the Lowcountry, there are many Revolutionary related locations: Skirmish sites and the temporary state capital in Colleton County, British Army bivouacs and a battle site in Jasper County, graveyards and encampment locations in Hampton County, forts in Beaufort County and key river crossings in all four. Connecting them are modern highways and roads that mostly follow the routes used by both American and British troops between 1779 and 1782. Ongoing archaeology works will provide more details about these places.

The trail retraces the footsteps of Dr. Uzal Johnson, a Loyalist from New Jersey, who provided medical care to the British troops here during the spring of 1780. Excerpts from his diary are included in the signs at some of the sites at this historic center. 

A display of Mourning Gowns. On the right, circa 1862, consists of a jacket and skirt with attachable sleeves and a decorative black sequined, bead color. It is complimented with lace and a satin shawl.

Center is a typical mourning outfit which a lady would have worn in the early nineteen hundreds, 1912 - 1920. This beautiful old costume was generously donated to the Lowcountry Visitor's Center by Mrs. Penny Mont Utecht. It belonged to her great-great grandmother, Helen Von Wender.

The Mourning Gown on the left was donated by Mrs. Donna Starkey. This dress, which is from 1900 - 1920, consists of a cotton lace over gown with a taffeta silk underskirt. Around the neckline and down the center back is a decoration of small silk bows. At one stage in its life time the sleeves and neck line were trimmed with a colored ribbon, unfortunately time has degraded and discolored what now remains.

Early weapons on display

(Most of the above information is from the self-guided tour and information signs around the property.)