Midtown - Downtown in Columbia in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Uprooted and Paved Over
By 1947, subdivision of the property led to the destruction of the garden, most of its eight-foot-tall brick wall and a gate house. This corner of the estate once featured an antebellum greenhouse that was lost sometime before 1945. In 1948, Wilson Motors, Inc. built a large, modern Ford dealership and paved car lot that stretched to Blanding Street.
[Captions:]
Low hedges, sandy pathways and vine and rose-covered arbors were originally found where sleek, modern cars were later sold.
While stationed at Fort Jackson in 1941, William G. Haynes, Jr. sketched the property's garden, buildings and the ruins of a greenhouse destroyed sometime after 1890.
Between June 1948 and November 1968, Wilson Motors operated this Streamline Moderne-style facility at 1600 Laurel Street that contrasted sharply with earlier, 19th- and early 20th-century buildings in the neighborhood.
Erected by Historic Columbia Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Places • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1948.
Location. 34° 0.658′ N, 81° 1.821′ W.
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Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands. 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 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: Rooms for a Day, Week or Month (here, next to this marker); From Glass House to Glass Block (a few steps from this marker); Botanical Luxury (a few steps from this marker); Hampton-Preston Sustainers Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); A Natural Showcase (within shouting
Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 34 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
