Name/Title
Bennett Rice MillEntry/Object ID
CONCORD.019.01Scope and Content
Constructed 1844; three walls of mill demolished 1960. Thomas Bennett, architect (?). One facade remains of a large brick mill designed in the Classical Revival style, possibly by its owner, Gov. Thomas Bennett. The structure contained steam-powered mill apparatus that separated rice grains from husks. The Bennett and Lucas families owned most of the six mills operating in the city by 1860, producing more than 470 barrels of rice daily, each containing 600 pounds. Operating from the time of construction until 1911, when a hurricane in that year virtually ended the lowcountry production of the crop, the building was part of a complex that included other buildings, water and rail access, and a mill pond. Bennett acquired the site by 1829, but the construction of this mill did not commence until 1844 and operation of the mill began in January of 1845. Beginning as a 90-by-60 foot building, the Bennett Mill was slightly smaller than Chisolm's Mill at 200 Tradd Street and substantially smaller than the West Point Mill, a Bennett-owned facility at 14 Lockwood Drive. A large wing was added in the mid-19th century. The mill continued under Bennett family ownership and was capably managed by Washington Bennett's foster son, Andrew Buist Murray. After closure the mill progressively deteriorated while national recognition of its architectural character increased. In 1952 the building was condemned, but both Historic Charleston Foundation and the Preservation Society worked toward its preservation, leasing the building for five years in 1958. Hurricane Donna in 1960 substantially weakened the deteriorated Bennett Mill. The city ordered the building demolished except for sixty feet of the west wall, which was saved by local preservationists as a reminder of the mill's industrial grandeur. (Poston, Buildings of Charleston.)
File 1: Building histories (including from Vernacular Architecture of Charleston); Bennett Rice Mill business history from Resources & Attractions of Charleston (1898); background information on HCF's involvement with Bennett Rice Mill, 1958-1980 (timeline); chronlology of stabilization efforts 1952-2000s (HCF); chronology of Bennett Rice Mill preservation, 1952-1959 (by John Meffert); "Bennett Rice Mill Façade" (Port of Charleston website); description of Bennett Rice Mill (and others) in "The Architectural Significance of the Rice Mills of Charleston, S.C." by Samuel Lapham Jr. (Architectural Record, 1924); Historic American Building Survey (HABS) catalog records including architectural description and photographs; photocopies of miscellaneous photographs; HABS drawings (reduced-size copy); photocopy of tax map 458-1-4; excerpts from HCF Board meetings related to Bennett Rice Mill (Oct.-Nov. 1958, Apr. 1964); photocopy of HCF lease information card.
File 2: Memoranda of agreement (May 1964, June 1964) between Historic Charleston Foundation and the SC Ports Authority outlining the one-year lease agreement for the remains of the Bennett Rice Mill.
Folder 3: 1950s correspondence to and from Historic Charleston Foundation (June 1952 through November 1958).
Folder 4: 1960s correspondence to and from Historic Charleston Foundation (May 1960 through May 1966).
Folder 5: 1970s correspondence (scant) to and from Historic Charleston Foundation (April 1974 through December 1979) (scant).
Folder 6: 1980s correspondence (scant) to and from Historic Charleston Foundation (May 1980 through October 1980) including an individual's proposal to turn the site into an amphitheater.
Folder 7: 1990s correspondence. Letter and proposal to restore the facade from Historic Charleston Foundation to SC Ports Authority dated January 1993.
Folder 8: 2000s correspondence and other documentation regarding the stabilization and use of the Bennett Rice Mill site, including meeting packet for preservationists meeting on August 18, 2010. Includes report by 4SE Structural Engineers and supporting documentation (photos, drawings of existing/new bracing, copy of grant application.
Folder 9: News articles including 1932/1984 DYKYC, 1958/1959 Preservation Progress), Port News article "Preserving the Craft: Historic Charleston Brick Work" (1992).Collection
Historic Charleston Foundation Property RecordsAcquisition
Accession
CONCORD.019.Source or Donor
Bennett Rice MillAcquisition Method
Collected by StaffLexicon
LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
FacadesSearch Terms
Concord Street, Demolished buildings, lost buildings, Crafts Training Program, Bennett Rice Mill (Charleston, S.C.), Rice mills--South Carolina--Charleston, Lost architecture, Mills and millworkArchive Details
Archive Size/Extent
8 File FoldersArchive Notes
Finding Aids: Index to Property Files
Level of Description: FolderOther Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
Old NumberOther Number
EBAY.290R.1Location
Location
Shelf
Property File ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentDate
February 7, 2023Location
Container
PF Box 38Shelf
Prop File Shelves, Property File ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentLocation
Container
PF Box 31Shelf
Prop File Shelves, Property File ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentRelationships
Related Entries
Notes
2004.020.003, 2004.020.004, 2011.015.91, 2013.003.14, 2015.018.6, 2018.005.41, CONCORD.019.02, CONCORD.019.03, CONCORD.019.04, CONCORD.019.05, CONCORD.019.06, CONCORD.019.07, CONCORD.019.08, CONCORD.019.09, CONCORD.019.10, CONCORD.019.11a-l, CONCORD.019.12, CONCORD.019.13a-b, HUGO.002.014Related Publications
Notes
Buildings of Charleston (see Abstract), pg. 431-432
Slides filed under 290 East Bay (rear).General Notes
Note
Notes: Image #2 in this record from Charleston and the Exposition Illustrated, 2010.007.1 and 2012.010.117, Pamphlet 96.Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
December 20, 2007Updated By
admin@catalogit.appUpdate Date
February 17, 2023