For Immediate Release:
Feb. 3, 2021
Contact: Marie Cheek, Community Relations Coordinator, Culture & Heritage Museums
www.chmuseums.org 803.909.7312 mcheek@chmuseums.org
Culture & Heritage Museums’ historical preservation and restoration work continues:
The Brick House restoration work is complete; the historic building returns to its 1871 appearance as Brattonsville’s post office, general store and polling place
McCONNELLS, S.C. – Despite the disruptions and misfortunes of the COVID-19 pandemic, Culture & Heritage Museums’ work continues in preserving and presenting the cultural and natural history of the Carolina Piedmont. In 2020, CHM’s historic preservation team made significant headway in the restoration of Brattonsville’s Brick House, a major project that has entailed years of thorough research and extensive labor. CHM is pleased to announce that the structural repair and restoration of the Brick House is complete.
While not the only preservation work going on at CHM sites, a look at the Brick House preservation project offers an important perspective on what is means to be good stewards of York County’s archives, collections and historical buildings. Once the historic house is outfitted with period correct furnishings and other interpretive components, it will be ready for its inaugural opening to the public. The Brick House sets the stage for telling an important, but difficult story of the local community during the Reconstruction Era.
The Brick House was the last of the original houses built for the Bratton family. Construction was initiated in 1841 by Dr. John Simpson Bratton and after his death, was completed in 1845 by his widow, Harriet Rainey Bratton. Inspired by Greek Revival architecture, the house features a full width porch supported by six masonry columns on the first floor and four smaller wooden columns supporting a central pediment. Prior to the American Civil War, the two-story building housed the Bratton Store, Brattonsville Post Office, and served as a polling place for the community.
In 1915, the Brattons moved to Yorkville (later renamed York.) For the next 30 years, buildings in Brattonsville were leased to share croppers and tenant farmers. By the late 1950s, the Brick House was empty and had fallen into disrepair. In 1971, the Brick House, as well as other Bratton houses, were officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Brattonsville Historic District. Culture & Heritage Museums became stewards of the Brick House in 2003. In 2013, work commenced to preserve, stabilize, and restore the house back to its 1871 appearance. With the Brick House restoration work complete, CHM’s exhibits and collections teams now move forward with interpreting the Bratton-operated store as outfitted during the days of the Reconstruction Era.
IMAGES:
The Brick House restoration is complete. Photo taken Jan. 2021 by CHM staff. Contact Marie Cheek for high resolution images. Want to learn more about Culture & Heritage Museums’ historic preservation work? Contact Marie Cheek at mcheek@chmuseums.org
About Culture & Heritage Museums:
Culture & Heritage Museums is a family of museums in York County: Historic Brattonsville in McConnells, the McCelvey Center, which includes the Historical Center, in York, and the Museum of York County and Main Street Children’s Museum in Rock Hill. CHM is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. According to AAM, accreditation is “the ultimate mark of distinction in the museum field” and “signifies excellence and credibility to the entire museum community, to governments and outside agencies and to the museum-going public.” In South Carolina, there are only twelve museums or museum systems that have achieved this distinction.
Ongoing programs:
Culture & Heritage Museums offer an array of remote learning programs available to the public. The educational teams at Historic Brattonsville, Historical Center of York County, Museum of York County and Main Street Children’s Museum continue to deliver programs on digital platforms as sites remain closed to the public due to COVID-19. CHM’s virtual programs are free of charge and appropriate for all ages. The programs are presented through Zoom Webinars, Facebook Live and Culture & Heritage Museums YouTube channel. Registration is required for some.
Find updates and virtual program itineraries on Culture & Heritage Museums’ website: chmuseums.org
The Museum Store is online: Shop online at The Museum Store for unique gifts, such as books by local authors, local artwork and S.C. produced foods. Contactless pickup available. Shop local; find the online shop at CHM’s website: https://chmuseums.myshopify.com//
Culture & Heritage Museums’ membership:
Enjoy special members-only programs and benefits while supporting a worthy cause. https://chmuseums.org/general-membership/ Culture & Heritage Museums’ free virtual programs and historical preservation work provide everyone with the opportunity to learn about the nature and culture of the Carolina Piedmont. Consider making a donation here.
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