Laurens in Laurens County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Watts-Todd-Dunklin House

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 5, 2009

1. Watts-Todd-Dunklin House Marker - Front

Inscription.
[Front]:
The Watts-Todd-Dunklin House, built about 1818, is an excellent example of a Federal-era upcountry farmhouse. According to family tradition, it was built for Washington Williams (1777-1829), who gave it to his daughter Nancy (1799-1845) when she married James Watts, Jr. (1795-1833). In 1845 Nancy Watts sold the house and 30 acres to Samuel R. Todd (1809-1891). It remained in the Todd family until 1938.

[Reverse]:
The Todd family owned this house from 1845 to 1938. It then passed through a succession of owners until 1950, when James Gray Dunklin (1911-1973), an antiques collector and historic preservationist, acquired it. Dunklin, who restored the house, donated it to the Laurens County Landmarks Foundation as a house museum upon his death in 1973. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Erected 2001 by Laurens County Landmark Foundation. (Marker Number 30-9.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1818.

Location. 34° 29.783′ N, 82° 1.34′ W. Marker is in Laurens, South Carolina, in Laurens County. Marker is at the intersection of 544 West Main Street and Dunklin Lane, on

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the right when traveling west on 544 West Main Street. Marker is located south of the main entrance. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Laurens SC 29360, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A.I. (Gus) Mason Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); American Legion Post 25 Veterans Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Laurens County Veterans Monument (approx. 0.4 miles away); Laurens County World Wars I & II Veterans Monument (approx. half a mile away); Laurens County Confederate Monument (approx. half a mile away); Vietnam War (approx. half a mile away); Korean Conflict (approx. half a mile away); Laurens County / Laurens Historic District (approx. half a mile away); Watts Mills' World War II Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Masonic Lodge #19 / Samuel Saxon (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laurens.

Also see . . . James Dunklin House. Constructed ca. 1812 by Washington Williams for his daughter and her husband, the Dunklin House is one of the oldest homes in Laurens. (Submitted on October 11, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. Watts-Todd-Dunklin House
Exterior
The James Dunklin house, built c. 1812, is a South Carolina upcountry farmhouse. This structure is characterized by a

Watts-Todd-Dunklin House Marker - Reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 5, 2009

2. Watts-Todd-Dunklin House Marker - Reverse

heart-pine exterior painted white, symmetrically arranged bays, and a shed-roofed porch extending the width of the house. The two-story frame house, set on a raised brick basement, has a first story facade of shiplap under the front porch, differing from the clapboard covering of the rest of the house. Six square fluted columns, informally spaced, support the porch roof. Glass panes of the well proportioned, 9/9 double-sash windows are original. Two of the four exterior chimneys are of the pipe-stem variety, an unusual feature in South Carolina architecture.

The rear facade has been altered. An 1845 wing was removed in 1950 and converted into a six-room apartment building located behind the main house. At this time a first-floor sun porch was added to the rear of the structure.

Interior
The house's interior, typical of the upcountry farmhouse, has been altered to fit the needs of its twentieth century owner. The basic floor plan two rooms on either side of a central hall, remains unchanged. Two front rooms have paneled wainscoting and original mantels supported by fluted pilasters. Paneled overmantels extend to the eleven-foot-high ceiling.

West rear room has been converted into a kitchen. The twelve-foot-wide hall contains stairs with original railing and nineteen risers.

On the second floor are two large bedrooms with mantel

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 5, 2009

3. Watts-Todd-Dunklin House Marker - Front

identical to those on the first floor. A bathroom was added, and a rear bedroom reduced in size in 1950 when the rear wing was removed. Furnishings reflect both the twentieth century occupancy and the former owner1s avocation, collecting American antiques.

Surroundings
The house is located in the center of Laurens on West Main Street, a scenic stretch of nineteenth century homes, dotted with oaks, dogwoods, azaleas and magnolias. The settling basins of the city waterworks adjoin the 400 foot long lot at the rear. Four small buildings behind the house are used as apartments. In addition to the rear wing of the main house, these include a renovated slave cabin, a garage apartment, and a reconstruction of a kitchen at Colonial Williamsburg.

Significance
Constructed ca. 1812 by Washington Williams for his daughter and her husbands the Dunklin House is one of the oldest in Laurens.

In 1843 Samuel Todd, a physician, bought the two-story frame house. Reflecting the respectability and local prominence of its owners, the house is a well-built upcountry farmhouse. The heart-pine shiplap and clap-board exterior, the wide porch, and the symmetrical arrangement of windows and door are typical of the 19th Century vernacular style in South Carolina. Unusual exterior features include the informally spaced columns and two pipe-stem chimneys.

Interior

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 5, 2009

4. Watts-Todd-Dunklin House Marker - Reverse

features also reflect the craftsmanship of the 19th Century builder and the careful restoration of the 20th century owner. Mantels and over-mantel paneling are of unusually fine quality for an upcountry farmhouse in South Carolina. Furnished with an outstanding collection of southern antiques the house has been deeded to Laurens County for use as a house museum. (Source: National Register nomination form.)

— Submitted October 11, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.

Watts-Todd-Dunklin House Marker - Reverse<br>Looking West Along West Main Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 5, 2009

5. Watts-Todd-Dunklin House Marker - Reverse
Looking West Along West Main Street

Watts-Todd-Dunklin House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 5, 2009

6. Watts-Todd-Dunklin House and Marker

Watts-Todd-Dunklin House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 5, 2009

7. Watts-Todd-Dunklin House

Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,596 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on October 11, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.