Springfield Plantation House

The Springfield Plantation House is the one of the oldest wood-frame homes in York County and the oldest in the Fort Mill area. It was originally built around 1806 by planter, businessman, and politician John Springs III (1782-1853). Its attractive design is unusual in the area. The most notable feature of the house is the porch which has a small pediment, eight Ionic columns and ornamental acorn pendants in between them. The house is also significant for being the location of one of the last meetings of the Confederate cabinet in the waning days of the Civil War. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and since 1986 has been home to Leroy Springs & Company, which provides educational and recreational activities to the community.

Springs owned more than 3,200 acres of land and was a successful and influential businessman. In 1836, he co-founded a bank and owned stock in three other banks; in 1845 he became one of the initial partners of the Graniteville Manufacturing Company, which was one of the first textile companies in the state; and he encouraged railroad development in the state by investing in a number of railroad companies. Through these efforts, Springs contributed to South Carolina's economic growth in the antebellum period. As noted above, Springs was also a politician. He served in the state legislature from 1828 to 1834 and as one of five commissioners who negotiated the 1840 treat with the Catawba Indians.

Springs' son, Andrew, continued in his father's footsteps. He inherited the plantation and became known for implementing new agricultural techniques. Some of his innovations included producing small grains for the market and upgrading his livestock with new varieties. Like his father, Andrew also invested in banks and railroads, but he also invested in insurance, mining, retail, and construction. Andrew also served in the state legislature beginning in 1852 and was a delegate to the South Carolina Secession Convention in 1860 and the state convention in 1861, which ratified the Confederate Constitution. Andrew rose to the rank of colonel in the Confederate army and was responsible for raising supplies and troops.

On April 26, 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, his cabinet, and a cavalry escort arrived at Springfield Plantation after they fled Richmond, Virginia, which was the Confederate capital (they also carried with them a part of the Confederate archives and treasury). It appears they stayed here for two or three days. Andrew suggested the cabinet split up to avoid capture.

Gettys, Paul. "Springfield Plantation House." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. September 12, 1985. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/b69e1946-1e7b-4064-accc-a701dd917ff1.

"Springfield Plantation." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed June 24, 2021. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=47679.