McConnells in York County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Brattonsville Academy 1840
Photographed by Mark Parker, May 3, 2025
1. Brattonsville Academy Marker
In 1839, George and Catharine Ladd moved their family to the new Brattonsville Female Seminary located in Colonel William Bratton's renovated log house. Catharine ran the school while George traveled the area painting portraits. Catharine was a gifted teacher and attracted students from much of upcountry South Carolina. She taught the English course of study and "polite subjects" such as fancy needlework, painting, and music.
Her abilities caught the attention of the Feaster family of Fairfield County, South Carolina. In the early 1840s, the Ladds moved to a newly built school in the Feasterville community.
The Brattonsville Academy 1840 is a replica of the Feasterville school where Mrs. Ladd became the teacher. The exterior details of the school were faithfully reproduced, and the interior was changed slightly to accommodate use by visiting students and teachers. It is used to teach students 1840s curriculum and history in an authentic setting.
Construction of the reproduction Brattonsville Academy was a joint project of the Historical Commission of York County and Rock Hill
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.
Location. 34° 52.001′ N, 81° 10.42′ W. Marker is in McConnells, South Carolina, in York County. It can be reached from Brattonsville Road (South Carolina Route 165) north of Percival Road ( Road 46-380), on the right when traveling north. The marker and replica school is accessible by walking trails. The nature trail trailhead is behind the Brattonsville Visitors Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1458 Brattonsville Rd, Rock Hill SC 29730, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands and in the Olde English District. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of
Photographed by Mark Parker, May 3, 2025
2. Replica of Brattonsville Academy. Marker is at the far right corner.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Combatants (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Huck's Defeat (about 300 feet away); Attack on the British Provincials (about 300 feet away); Attack on the Loyalist Militia Camp (about 300 feet away); Martha and Watt (about 400 feet away); Huck's Death (about 400 feet away); Backwoods Cabin (about 500 feet away); McConnell Home (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in McConnells.
Also see . . .
1. Historic Brattonsville. Historic Brattonsville presents the history of the Scots-Irish and African-Americans in the South Carolina upcountry through preserving and interpreting the buildings and stories of the Brattonsville community. Featuring more than 30 historic structures from the 1760s to the late-19th century, the site provides visitors with an opportunity to see the evolution of Southern culture and architecture in the Carolina Piedmont. (Submitted on June 9, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
2. Brattonsville Female Seminary, Historic Brattonsville.
Photographed by Mark Parker, May 3, 2025
3. Brattonsville Academy interior
In early 1840, Catherine Ladd (1808-1899) opened the Brattonsville Female Seminary inside the renovated ancestral home of the Brattons of Brattonsville. Today, the preservation team of Culture & Heritage Museums is working to restore the house to its appearance during the Seminarys earliest years of instruction.(Submitted on June 9, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
Photographed by Mark Parker, May 3, 2025
4. Follow the Nature Trail from behind the visitors center
Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 134 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 9, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
