Historical Discovery in Spartanburg: Harriet Trail House Could Be Oldest Structure in the County

Historical Discovery in Spartanburg: The Harriet Trail House May be Oldest Structure!

Waking up in lovely Spartanburg this morning you would’ve enjoyed abundant sunshine with the highs around 54F, brought to you with a light breeze from the WNW. Fast forwarding to tonight, clear skies are forecasted with a slight chill at low 21F, with Northern winds at 10 to 15 mph. But enough about the weather, let’s talk about the really cool news that’s been buzzing around our dear old Spartanburg recently.

Imagine stepping into a house that’s been standing since before the Revolutionary War. Picture those old wooden beams and worn-out stones whispering tales from centuries ago. No, this isn’t Disneyland, folks — I’m talking about the Harriet Trail House. Tucked away in our beloved Spartanburg, it could hold the title for the oldest structure in the county!

The Inquiry Begins: A Flashback to the 1950s

Until now, everyone thought that the Walnut Grove Manor House, built in 1765, held that honor. However, Brad Steinecke, assistant director of local history at Spartanburg County Public Libraries, recently stumbled upon some interesting photographs and notes from the 1950s focusing on the Harriet Trail House. Surprisingly, his discovery traces the house back to 1757. Yup, eight whole years before the Walnut Grove Manor House was erected.

By the way, the house got its name from Harriet Trail who lived in it for 71 years until 1958. Steinecke found the house marked in a map of historic landmarks in the county from 1976.

Uncovering More about the Harriet Trail House

The house is conveniently located within a mile radius of the Walnut Grove Manor House, near the North Tyger River, an area where some of the first European settlers resided. An official confirmation is still awaited, but parts of the Harriet Trail House could very well be the oldest in the county.

Expounding on this, Steinecke explained how buildings, like people, evolve over time. Various additions and renovations would’ve been made maintaining the core, making it likely that parts of the Harriet Trail House may still remain from its original formation.

Reaction from the Spartanburg County Historical Association

David Wood, president and CEO of the Spartanburg County Historical Association, sounded surprised by this revelation. Until now, he always pitched the Walnut Grove Manor House as the oldest building in the county. This exciting discovery certainly highlights the rich history of Spartanburg and its long-standing homes.

Conclusion

It’s quite a story, isn’t it? Just imagine, the oldest standing structure of Spartanburg might have been hiding in plain sight all these years. It’s a kind of discovery that brings dimensions, depth, and an even richer sense of history to our beloved Spartanburg. And the fact that one day soon, we all can get to peek into – or perhaps even step into – the room where our district’s history was made more than 250 years ago is indeed something to look forward to.