Slobot About Town XXXIX:
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Slobot goes to the Duncan-DuPré House!
Slobot awoke to find himself surrounded by cinder blocks.
He emerged to find that he had spent the night...
at the Duncan-DuPré House!
Today the house sits adjacent to the Magnolia Street Cemetery.
Until 1999, however, the house lurked beyond magnificent
magnolia trees at 249 North Church Street. It was in that year that
she was moved to make way for the construction of the Marriott Hotel.
In moving the Duncan-DuPré House lost its place on the National
Register of Historic Places. |
But that is all about to change thanks to folks
like Rebecca Parrish (above, left), Kristi Webb, the Preservation
Trust, Martin E. Meek, Campbell Meek and Associates Architects Inc.,
the Spartanburg County Foundation and YOU! |
The Duncan-DuPré house was designed in
the Queen Anne style by Gottfried Norrman of Atlanta, Georgia. |
She was built during the years of 1885 and 1886.
At the time of its construction the house was
known as the Bishop William Wallace Duncan House. |
William Wallace Duncan was the son of David Duncan,
who himself was among the original professors of Wofford College. |
William Wallace Duncan would graduate in 1858
and would serve as a chaplain in the Confederate Army. |
In 1875, William Wallace would, like his father
before him, become a faculty member of Wofford College, teaching such
classes such as "Mental and Moral Philosophy." In 1886,
he become a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. |
In his capacity as bishop William Wallace used
his home to conduct business, entertain and to receive suitors for
his daughters, Caroline and Alice. |
His daughter, Caroline Duncan, would marry one of those suitors, Warren DuPré.
Bishop William Wallace Duncan would pass away in 1908.
At that time ownership of the home passed to his
daughter Caroline Duncan DuPré. |
The house continued to serve as a home to members
of the DuPré family into the 1970s. |
In 1976 the home was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
At that time the home was owned by Wallace Duncan
DuPré, Jr. and Mary Sydnor DuPré Cates. |
The first floor of the Duncan-DuPré House
consists of a parlor, sitting room, dining room, reception hall, library,
kitchen, banquet hall, pantries and bathroom. |
On the second floor one can find the servants'
quarters, nursery and bedrooms. |
According to legend, the Duncan-DuPré Home
was the first in Spartanburg to have indoor plumbing and sewage connections.
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This bathroom, however, was a later second-story
addition made by Wallace DuPré, Sr. |
Room had to be made for the new facilities and
so Wallace DuPré, Sr. had a cantilever restroom designed and
built. It clings desperately to a chimney. |
Slobot soon realized that the toilet upon which
he sat actually hovered over open air! A strange sensation, indeed! |
Slobot would like to thank Rebecca Parrish, Kristi
Webb, the Preservation Trust, Martin E. Meek, Campbell Meek and Associates
Architects Inc., the Spartanburg County Foundation and YOU! |
To make a donation please write to the following address:
The DuPré House Preservation Fund
Spartanburg County Foundation
424 East Kennedy Street
Spartanburg, SC 29302
Tell 'em, "Slobot sent ya!"