Name/Title
149 Wentworth Street (Francis Silas Rodgers Mansion)Entry/Object ID
WENTWORTH.149.1Scope and Content
Constructed 1885-87. Daniel G. Wayne, architect. Francis Rodgers, a wealthy cotton factor and councilman, built this stunning example of the Second Empire style of architecture. The four story, 13,883 square foot house dominates this neighborhood. Especially notable is the mansard roof with cast-iron railing and cupola. Finished with Philadelphia red brick, the dwelling is highlighted by stone lintels and quoins. A detail in the shape of a cotton plant positioned under a bay window clearly reflects Rodgers's business interests. The property had several outbuildings, including a small gas plant that provided lighting. The house was being planned by Rodgers as early as 1881 but was not completed until after the earthquake of 1886. Rodgers used the house as his residence until his death in 1911. His obituary stated that "the house in which Mr. Rodgers spent the last years of his life is considered one of the handsomest in the city." It stayed in the family until 1920, when it was sold to the Scottish Rite Cathedral Association. Atlantic Coast Life Insurance Co. held the building from 1940 until 1996. It is now an upscale hotel, the Wentworth Mansion. (Poston, Buildings of Charleston.)
File contains building history "Atlantic Coast Life Insurance Company Home Office Building" (undated, unattributed); building history (undated,unattributed); FOHG building history (1999); building history from Information for Guides of Historic Charleston (1984); building history from Tour Guide Training Manual (2011); Atlantic Coast Life Insurance pamphlet with history and image of the building (undated) (2 copies); newspaper articles (including 1975, 1980s? DYKYC); South Carolina Homes magazine article (undated); excerpt from Charleston Then and Now (Rhett & Steele); floor plans (Cummings & McCrady, undated).Collection
Historic Charleston Foundation Property RecordsAcquisition
Accession
WENTWORTH.149.Source or Donor
149 Wentworth Street (Francis Silas Rodgers Mansion)Acquisition Method
Collected by StaffLexicon
Search Terms
Wentworth Street, Harleston Village, Historic buildings--South Carolina--CharlestonArchive Details
Archive Size/Extent
1 File FolderArchive Notes
Finding Aids: Index to Property Files.
Level of Description: FolderLocation
Location
Shelf
Property File ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentDate
February 7, 2023Location
Container
PF Box 112Shelf
Prop File Shelves, Property File ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentLocation
Container
2Shelf
Prop File Shelves, Property File ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentRelationships
Related Entries
Notes
2006.007.02, 2011.022.22Related Publications
Notes
Buildings of Charleston (see Abstract), pg. 578General Notes
Note
Notes: Image in this record from Art Work of Charleston, 2006.007.02.Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
February 13, 2014Updated By
admin@catalogit.appUpdate Date
February 17, 2023