Wilson House

National Register Listing

Street Address:

3 S. Congress St., York, SC (York County)

Alternate Name:

Yorkville Jail; Old Jail

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NRHP Nomination

Record Number:

S10817746004

Description and Narrative:

(Yorkville Jail; Old Jail) Built in 1828 by Thomas B. Hoover, the Yorkville Jail is attributed to Robert Mills. Characteristic of his style, the jail was built at a time when Mills was living in South Carolina and may have been one of his designs. The three-story building with its fine proportions and detailed brickwork is an exceptional example of small town prison architecture. Characteristic of Mills’ style are details of the building such as brick arches, a semi-circular fanlight, matching false window recesses, and an overall concern for proportion and symmetry. In 1853 William A. Latta purchased the property and gave it to his daughter Annie Latta Wilson. Converted into a residence, the building was known as the Wilson House. The brick building was again used as a jail during Reconstruction when Federal troops, stationed in York County for 16 years, imprisoned Ku Klux Klan members. The area was a stronghold of Klan activity. During these years, the old jail at York held many Klan members and was referred to locally as the “United States Hotel.” Listed in the National Register November 20, 1974.

Period of Significance:

1853;1828

Level of Significance:

Local

Area of Significance:

Architecture;Military;Politics/Government

National Register Determination:

listed

Date of Certification:

November 20 1974

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