Comments on: Historic House, 1531 Blanding Street: 2011

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:32:27 +0000

@Del- no she never lived there. She was so saddled with debts when her husband died unexpectedly that she had to sell the house and all the new furnishings that he had bought for it before ever moving in.

By: Del

Del — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:29:44 +0000

I thought that Ainsley Hall's wife stayed there for a short time before the Seminary moved there. I do know that after CBC moved out from there they were in the old Colonia Hotel where the AT&T building stands now.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:34:24 +0000

@Del- it is on the register. The area around it is call Columbia Historic District 2. (#1 is the area around the Governor's Mansion.)
BTW- Ainsely Hall never lived in that house nor was it ever used as a private residence. It was a Presbryterian semminary and later the original home of Columbia Bible Colle, now CIU.

By: Del

Del — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:28:36 +0000

And the house that's now called "The Robert Mills" House should be called it's true name, and that's the "Ainsley Hall House"

By: Del

Del — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:27:26 +0000

I'm surprized that this house isnt on the Historical Register yet...I wonder if the Historic Columbia people know this?

By: Terry

Terry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:01:05 +0000

Good story, Tom.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:01:39 +0000

This house was built around 1850 and was the home to Dr. George Howe, a professor at the Presbryterian Seminary located in what is now the Robert Mills House. Howe was married to Anna Roosevelt who was the sister of the mother of Theodore Roosevelt. Because of the family's northern ties, the house was spared during Sherman's visit. Ironically, the Howe's son married the sister of Woodrow Wilson (who's father also taught at the school). Wilson would defeat Roosevelt in the 1912 presidential race.

By: ted

ted — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:10:58 +0000

Do'h! Good catch, Terry. That's a consequence of posting a 4am! Of course this is 1531 BLANDING Street, not 1531 LAUREL Street, and I've got to issue a full retraction! (Well, except about it being a historic house at 1531 that's been converted to offices..)

By: Terry

Terry — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:46:54 +0000

It is interesting that the photos on the Loopnet links and Ted's photos are of different houses.