Midtown - Downtown in Columbia in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Out With the Old and In With the New
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026
1. Out With the Old and In With the New Marker
The Mann-Simons family had modern conveniences soon after they became available in Columbia during the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Buildings on the property were wired for electricity by 1903. In the 1910s, they were plumbed for gas and running water. With bathrooms now indoors, the family abandoned the privy (represented here) that it had used since the 1840s. Having such comforts conveyed success in a modern world.
[Captions:]
Above
Indoor plumbing was among handful of amenities expected to be found in modern homes by the early-20th century. Historic Columbia collection
Above
By 1919, the family added an interior bathroom to their house by filling in the left-hand side of their back porch. Image courtesy of the Columbia Housing Authority
Left
While the Mann-Simons family had indoor plumbing in the 1910s, some poorer black and white Columbians still used outhouses and alleyway sinks as late as the 1970s. Image courtesy of South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia
Erected by Historic Columbia Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:
this page online
Location. 34° 0.726′ N, 81° 2.057′ W. Marker is in Columbia, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is in Midtown - Downtown. It is on Marion Street north of Richland Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1403 Richland St, Columbia SC 29201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Uncovering Traces of the Past (a few steps from this marker); From Historic House to Modern Museum (a few steps from this marker); Prosperity and Property Ownership (within shouting distance
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 16, 2026
2. Out With the Old and In With the New Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 49 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
