Name/Title
Gayle-Locke House MantelEntry/Object ID
2024.2.1Description
Wooden fireplace mantel with elaborate carvings. Made of yellow pine secondary wood and possibly black walnut or mahogany primary wood, the mantel features double fluted columns that support a host of decorative elements including guilloche, matchstick, curvilinear, star, rope, and paterae. The mantel is painted a shade of white.Context
Before being installed in various homes in Columbia, this mantel was originally located in Greensboro, Alabama, in the residence of John Gayle (1792–1859). Born in Sumter, South Carolina, Gayle graduated from South Carolina College in 1815 before moving to Alabama, where he served as the state's governor from 1831 to 1835.
Gayle's home in Alabama, known as the Gayle-Locke House, was built in 1826 on University Avenue.
His daughter, Helen Eliza Gayle (1846–1919), married James Whitehead Locke (1840–1900), who inherited the home. Under their ownership, this c.1862 mantel was constructed and installed in the Gayle-Locke House. The couple had several children, including Maria Bayne Locke (1881–1963), who moved to Columbia after marrying local banker John DuPont Bell (1880–1944) around 1908.
When the Gayle-Locke House was demolished around 1938, Maria salvaged the mantel. The Bells transported it from Greensboro to Columbia, installing it in their home at 1814 Gervais Street, where it remained until Maria sold the property in 1954. One of her children later acquired it for their home at 1717 Crestwood Drive in the Hollywood-Rose Hill neighborhood. The mantel remained there for nearly 30 years before a member of the family placed it in storage. In 2013, Maria's descendants donated it to Historic Columbia.Dimensions
Height
61 inWidth
73 inDepth
9-1/2 in
