User:Kdj2580/TheWilsonHouse

Built in 1828 as a county jail, The Wilson House at 3 S Congress St, York, SC is also known as the Yorkville Jail or simply Old Jail. The property was added to the National Register of Historic places on November 20, 1974.

The architect is believed to be Robert Mills, best known for designing the Washington Monument.

From: http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/york/S10817746004/index.htm

"(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."

Thomas B Hoover:

http://www.geocities.com/pawcreek.geo/hoover/nti00400.htm http://bjsbytes.com/hoover/pafg03.htm