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The original one and one-half story structure of six rooms and a rear ell was built in 1832 by Daniel DeWalt in the Colonial style with a white clapboard exterior (DeWalt’s father, Daniel DeWalt, Sr. had come to South Carolina from Pennsylvania before the Revolutionary War). The original lot consisted of approximately two acres on Main Street in the well regarded town of Newberry, South Carolina just 40 miles or so from Columbia, the booming state capital.
The house remained configured as originally built and continued to be owned and occupied by members of the DeWalt family until the early 1900s. In 1906, Dr. O. B. Mayer II, one of the DeWalt grandchildren, remodeled the home into the magnificent neo-classical home it is today with the six Corinthian columns, semi-circular portico and full-width first story front porch. As part of this extensive makeover, Mayer raised the roof to three-story level and added side porches. The interior of the house saw the addition of several rooms, exquisite woodwork detailing, a back staircase, a walk-up attic and many other embellishments as well. Somewhere along the way the exterior of the house received the stucco surface that it presents today.
In the 1950s, the large front lawn on Main Street was sold off, reducing the lot to its present size of a little more than an acre. Other changes made at that time were the razing of the ell and some interior room shuffling, the kitchen being moved into the former dining room.
Over the next several decades, the family’s interest in the house waned and it deteriorated somewhat, the final blow being the devastating tornado that struck downtown Newberry in 1984, doing extensive damage to both the home (standing vacant at the time) and the surrounding neighborhoods. Trees fell against the house, crushing the front portico and damaging the roof so much that water entered the house, doing substantial damage. The house was sold out of the family and a series of subsequent owners tried to improve its condition.
In 1994, the Millers, from Ohio, acquired the home with an eye towards restoring it to its former grandeur. As part of the rebuilding process, the home was turned ninety degrees so as to face Walnut Street in 1996, set upon an entirely new foundation, a new roof was added and the imposing circular driveway that exists today was laid out. Health problems forced a change in the Millers’ plans. The current owner acquired the home in early 1999. They began an extensive renovation (which includes amenities rare to a historic home such as the whole-house sound system, central vacuum and security system) now nearly completed, and has only recently begun to operate the property as a bed and breakfast.
Entering the circular drive from Walnut Street, the magnificent front steps, porch and portico rise up to greet the arriving visitor and usher the visitor into the home itself. Passing through the double front doors gives entry to the grand first floor foyer which sets the motif for the house with its eleven foot ceilings, hardwood floors and waist level wainscoting. To the left, through a wide doorway flanked by massive pocket doors, is the formal dining room with its impressive fireplace (formerly the ladies parlor). Continuing through the dining room toward the rear of the house provides entry to the completely renovated and modernized kitchen, one of the brightest rooms in the house due to the many windows. This extremely spacious kitchen not only boasts a large, bright eat-in area but also has a fireplace, built-in dual convection ovens, large granite-topped island snack bar and work area (with vegetable sink with disposal), Zero King refrigerator, six burner stove, dishwasher, microwave, main wash sink with disposal plus custom cabinetry, granite-topped counters and storage space galore. Moving out the back of the kitchen, the rear door, covered stoop, pantry and utility room are clustered across the rear of the house in an addition that is a full three stories high. Leaving the front of the kitchen leads to the front hall and foyer with the powder room nestled under the first landing of the grand staircase. Continuing straight ahead, skirting the powder room to the left and passing under the staircase gives entry to the library/music room with its striking fireplace and whole-house sound system. Proceeding through the music room and exiting the door toward the front of the house reveals the spacious living room (formerly the men’s parlor) with its grand fireplace and wide doorway (also flanked by large pocket-doors) and completes the circular route that leads back to the front foyer/hallway, the front door and the grand staircase winding up to the second floor.
Ascending the wide staircase, at the first landing and on the right, is an office or sitting room; continuing on up the stairs leads to the second floor foyer and the three main bedroom suites- each with a fireplace, a private bath and a walk-in closet- two on the right (the first of which is marvelously brightened by its many windows) and a master-suite to the left. This foyer ends in a sitting area at the front of the house and to double doors leading out onto the second floor porch that is under the portico and overlooks the veranda and the circular drive. Back at the foot of the stairway to the third floor is a doorway leading to a short back hall. This hall presents a back entry to the master bath and, up a flight of five steps, gives way to a nursery or small guest room that is en suite with the master suite, effectively forming a “master apartment” if combined with the master bedroom.
Mounting the wide and winding staircase to the third floor presents another suite consisting of a large bath to the left, a sleeping area leading to yet another set of double doors (that access the top of the portico) and a large sitting room. At the top of the staircase, and on the right, is a final set of steps leading to an extensive walk-up attic.
This property presents an unusual set of circumstances as it is well suited either as a magnificent private residence or, given the generous size of the home and the 1.1 acre grounds with their formal-garden-style plantings and walking areas, as a bed and breakfast or special events venue. Add the ambience provided by the existence, in Newberry, of the Opera House and Newberry College (with its renowned four year liberal arts program) and the repeated ranking of Newberry, SC as one of the best small towns in which to live in the whole of America, and the result is a magnificent property in a world-class location. This combination provides an opportunity for gracious living rarely matched and not to be missed.
PROPERTY NUMBER: 39052-50001
PRICED AT:
$785,000.00
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