[© THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]
By AMY GRIER EDGAR
A year ago, the Civil War-era Lace House had mildew-infested walls, scuffed floors and faded furniture stacked in storage upstairs. Today, the historic building on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion Complex has been cleaned, polished and freshly painted and is ready for the public.
The house, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, is one of the few buildings that survived the burning of the capital city during the Civil War.
The butter-colored Lace House was named for the intricate black ironwork that graces the front of the building. It was built in 1854 by Columbia banker John Caldwell as a wedding gift to his daughter. It served as a rooming house and headquarters for the state branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union before it was purchased by the state in 1968.
The building became an official guest house of the governor’s mansion, providing a place to sleep for overnight guests and room to entertain for official functions.
But the Governor’s Mansion located across the brick pathway was renovated in 2001, and there became less need for the Lace House. The once elegant building slowly fell into disrepair.
South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford decided it was a waste to keep the building mostly empty. While the building still occasionally was rented out for wedding receptions or business luncheons, the conditions made it less than appealing for future brides or businesses.
So Sanford, along with the Governor’s Mansion Foundation, raised money to make aesthetic renovations.
“Our hope is that you see the grandeur of the home a little bit more,” she said.
Gone are the dark green Victorian wallpaper, heavy drapes and drab carpet. In their place are fresh coats of gold and brown paints, neutral wallpaper and window dressings and new carpet laid over some of the original wood floors. The detailed parquet floor downstairs has been cleaned. Original brass chandeliers have been polished and mirrors regilded. Sofas and chairs have been reupholstered or fitted with slipcovers.
Upstairs, two bedrooms have been renovated with a bride and groom in mind. The centerpiece of the “Bride’s Room” is the bed of Arthur Middleton, a S.C. signer of the Declaration of Independence.
The renovations cost $175,000 in private money and were completed with the help of Charleston interior designer Kathleen Rivers. An additional $20,000—taken from the proceeds of rentals last year—was spent on lead paint abatement, Sanford said.
The first wedding at the renovated house was held Saturday. Sanford said she hopes more people will use the property. It costs $1000 to rent the house from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and $2,000 for the same time on Saturdays.
“It’s such a glorious home. Our hope for it is that we can make it very productive,” Sanford said. “It is the people’s home, so we would like to see more people using it.”