Olympia-Granby in Columbia in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Clothes Washing Station

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026

1. Clothes Washing Station Marker

Inscription. Because original mill houses had no indoor plumbing or running water, families had clothes-washing stations in their back yard. A large wash pot was placed on an open fire, and dirty clothes were boiled with homemade lye soap to get them clean. The wet clothes were draped over fence lines to dry. This wash pot came from the Barfield Family who lived on Church Street in Granby Mill Village in the early 1900s.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 33° 58.713′ N, 81° 1.68′ W. Marker is in Columbia, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is in Olympia-Granby. It can be reached from Olympia Avenue east of Virginia Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1170 Olympia Ave, 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

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

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: Original Mill Village Outhouse (here, next to this marker); Vintage Tool and Toy Collection (here, next to this marker); Outhouse (here, next to this marker); Mill Village Yard (here, next to this marker); Quarry - 'Rock Hole' (a few steps from this marker); Olympia Mill School/Museum House (a few steps from this marker); Jaco's Corner (a few steps from this marker); Mill Village Design (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.

Several markers along the railing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026

2. Several markers along the railing

Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 25, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 36 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 25, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.