Abandoned 1760 Building in Cordesville, SC - 1938 Photo

This vintage photograph, taken by Frances Benjamin Johnston, captures an abandoned building in Cordesville, Berkeley County, South Carolina. The structure, dating back to 1760, showcases the architectural style of the time, featuring elaborate brickwork and massive doorways. This plantation was originally settled by Antoine Cordes, a Huguenot physician, and later passed to Francis Cordes in 1796. Notably, in 1811, Francis Cordes added impressive gate posts and a portico supported by six monumental columns.

The image is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, a significant collection aimed at documenting historic structures in the region. This particular photograph was published in Samuel Gaillard Stoneys 1938 work, Plantations of the Carolina Low Country, emphasizing the importance of preserving Southern architectural heritage.

KNOWOLs historic images connect the rich stories and imagery of our past. A statement in any room, each is printed on museum-quality paper using a restored version of the original.