Burt-Stark Mansion facts for kids
|
Burt-Stark Mansion
|
|
.jpg)
Stark House
|
|
 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 306 N. Main St., Abbeville, South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
| Built | 1830s |
| Architect | Lesley, David; Cubic (slave) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000559 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | April 3, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | October 5, 1992 |
The Burt-Stark Mansion, also known as the Armistead Burt House, is a very important historical building in Abbeville, South Carolina. It's famous because it was the location of the last major meeting of the Confederate government's leaders during the American Civil War.
On May 2, 1865, Jefferson Davis, who was the President of the Confederacy, met with his top advisors here. He still hoped to continue fighting, but everyone else disagreed. It was at this meeting that Davis realized the Confederate cause for independence was truly lost. Because of this significant event, the mansion was named a National Historic Landmark in 1992.
Contents
The Mansion's Story: A Glimpse into History
The Burt-Stark Mansion has had several owners over the years. The first owner was David Lesley, who built the house in the 1830s. He owned it until he passed away in 1855. Lesley hired an English landscaper named Johnson to design the beautiful gardens around the property.
Key Owners of the Burt-Stark Mansion
After Lesley, a Presbyterian pastor named Thomas A. Hoyt owned the house for a few years. Then, a banker from Charleston, South Carolina, Andrew Simonds, bought it. In 1862, Simonds sold the mansion to Armistead Burt. Burt was the owner when President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet used the building.
Varina Davis's Stay at the Mansion
Armistead Burt knew Jefferson Davis's wife, Varina Davis. They had met when Jefferson Davis first became a member of the United States Congress in 1845. As the Civil War was ending, Varina Davis and her children were sent away from Richmond, Virginia, which was the Confederate capital.
Burt invited Varina and her children to stay at his house for safety. Varina worried that Union soldiers might burn the house for helping her. However, Burt bravely said there would be no greater reason for his house to be destroyed. Varina moved into the mansion on April 17, 1865.
The Last Confederate War Council
Just a few days after Varina left to go further south, Jefferson Davis himself arrived at the Burt-Stark Mansion. On May 2, 1865, in the late afternoon, Davis held his final war council. Important leaders were there, including Secretary of War John C. Breckinridge and Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin. Several military officers, like Braxton Bragg and Basil W. Duke, also attended.
Davis still wanted to continue the fight, perhaps using forces west of the Mississippi River. But all his advisors disagreed. When Davis asked why they were still with him, they replied it was to make sure he got to safety. After thinking for a few minutes, Davis accepted their decision. This meeting effectively marked the end of the Confederate States of America.
Even though this meeting happened, the very last Confederate land force didn't surrender until June 24, 1865. That was when Stand Watie surrendered in Oklahoma. Later that year, the last Confederate naval ship surrendered in Liverpool, England. After the Abbeville meeting, Davis, his cabinet, a protective force of 3,000 soldiers, and the Confederate treasury all went their separate ways.
The Mansion After the War
After the Civil War, in 1868, Armistead Burt had to sell the house due to financial difficulties. A local farmer named James R. Norwood bought it. When he passed away in 1875, his wife and daughter inherited the property.
In 1900, James Samuel Stark and his wife bought the mansion and worked to restore it. Their daughter, Mary Stark Davis, inherited it after they died. When Mary Stark Davis passed away in 1987, the Abbeville Historic Preservation Commission took control of the house. They have been offering tours of this historic site ever since, allowing visitors to step back in time.
Building the Burt-Stark Mansion: A Look at its Design
The Burt-Stark Mansion is a beautiful two-story house built in the Greek Revival style. It has a white frame structure with horizontal wooden siding.
Architectural Features of the Mansion
A large, two-story front porch, called a portico, stands at the front of the house. It has a triangular top, known as a pediment, and is supported by four tall, square columns. Underneath the pediment, there's a small wooden balcony on the second floor.
The house sits on a brick foundation, and its walls are made of wood. The roof is a mix of aluminum and tin, with both asphalt and cedar shingles. All the window shutters you see today are the original ones from when the house was built!
Inside the Historic Home
In the past, there were several other buildings on the property, like a carriage house and a smokehouse. Today, only the kitchen building still stands. Inside the mansion, you'll find spacious rooms and very high ceilings.
The main entrance leads into a central great hall with a beautiful fanlight window above the door. On each side of this hall, there's a drawing room. It was in the left drawing room that Jefferson Davis held his final war council with his Secretary of War, John C. Breckinridge, and other military leaders. Before the war, the wide double doors between these rooms could open up to create one large ballroom for parties!
After the war, only a few changes were made to the house. A bathroom was added, and a small wing was built on the northwest corner to provide more kitchen space. Most of the furniture you see inside today dates back to the 1850s and 1860s.
The Master Builder: Cubic
David Lesley, the first owner, was a local lawyer, judge, and farmer. He had seen a house he admired in the Northern United States and wanted his own home to look just like it. He sent Cubic, an enslaved man who was a very skilled carpenter, to study that house. Cubic then oversaw the construction of Lesley's new mansion, making sure it was a perfect copy.
