In November 2023, Preservation South Carolina acquired the rights to the Dawkins House in Union, SC. It is our intent to work with the community to stabilize the house and prepare it for its future role as the USC-Union Alumni Center.

Judge Thomas N. Dawkins House
("The Shrubs")

History

Located at the end of N. Church Street in downtown Union is an unassuming building that does not outwardly show its history as the one-time state capital of South Carolina during the Civil War.

When Judge Dawkins built his house in 1845 with Federal and Georgian architectural attributes, it was added onto a pre-existing structure. Today, the house is 4,500+ square-feet located adjacent to the University of South Carolina-Union campus. It is also a “terminus” home in that it is located and its front door is at the end of N. Church Street, which connects to Highway 176, the main route from Union to Columbia.

The Dawkins House is most notably regarded as the former home of Judge Thomas N. Dawkins and his second wife, Mary Poulton Dawkins. Initially named "the Shrubs" after Mary Poulton's childhood home in England, this two-story, clapboard building has five bedrooms, two parlors, and eight fireplaces.

Portions of the pre-existing structure date back to the 1790s making it one of Union's oldest surviving homes, existing during the time of George Washington’s and John Adams’ presidencies. The original 1790’s structure still exists and has exposed beams with carved end fittings and bead-cut edges that can be easily seen inside the house. The entire house is supported by chiseled granite foundation blocks, has decorative crown molding, and once had a floating spiral staircase in the main hall.

Judge Thomas Dawkins and his wife, Mary Poulton Dawkins

Bennett Preservation Engineering Assessment November 2023

South Carolina played a pivotal role in the Nullification Crisis of the early 1830s. On November 24, 1832, the state legislature passed the “South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification,” rejecting federal tariffs that disproportionately benefited Northern industries while economically harming Southern agrarian states. The South had not developed the industrial infrastructure of New England, and thus Southern planters depended on foreign imports. As a young lawyer, Judge Dawkins stood in the minority as a Unionist, opposing the Nullification movement. Despite his differing views from his peers, Dawkins earned widespread respect for his integrity and leadership, securing election to the South Carolina House of Representatives from Union County, where he served from 1838 to 1839 and later from 1862 to 1866.

On December 18, 1864, Andrew G. Magrath was elected Governor of South Carolina, serving from December 20, 1864, to May 25, 1865. Magrath and Judge Dawkins attended South Carolina College (now the University of South Carolina) together in the late 1820’s and early 1830’s. On February 16, 1865, Magrath evacuated and fled the Capitol City of Columbia one day before it surrendered to General Tecumseh Sherman whose troops occupied and burned the city. Forced to move the state government to temporary headquarters, Magrath contacted his friend, Judge Dawkins,

From February to April 1865, the Dawkins House served as South Carolina’s Provisional Capital. As such, Union has the distinction of being only one of four cities to serve as South Carolina’s state capitol, the others being Columbia, Charleston, and Jacksonboro.

Main Street North from the State House after General Sherman's visit in 1865 from Digital Collection: Standard Federal (Columbia S.C.) Photograph Collection

After the Civil War, Judge Dawkins played a significant role in rebuilding South Carolina. He was a member of the state convention for reorganizing the government and chaired the judiciary committee in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1866.

Beyond politics, Dawkins and his wife were deeply involved in their community. Together, they founded the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Union in 1855, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and remains active to this day. Judge Dawkins passed away in the house in 1870, and his wife, Mary Poulton Dawkins, passed away in the house in 1906.

Preservation SC Acquisition

In October 2022, Preservation SC acquired the future rights to the Dawkins House at a property tax sale.

Upon our acquisition of the property in November 2023, we received $300,000 from the State Legislatue for this project. This funding would not be possible without the help of our dedicated supporters and the leaders of Union, Spartanburg, and York counties, specifically Representatives Doug Gilliam and Dennis Moss.

It is our intent to work with the community to not only find a purpose for this significant building, but also to ensure it will be standing for another 178 years.

Emergency Stabilization

On April 10, 2024 engineers from Bennett Preservation Engineering, PE were on site to examine the structure and determine a scope-of-work for its stabilization.

The most evident conclusion about the condition of the structure is that it has seen considerable deterioration as a result of prolonged water intrusion. The building is not, however, beyond repair. The building can be shored, the severely deteriorated framing sistered or replaced, and the masonry reconstructed where necessary. While this will involve considerable work, this structure, which served as the seat of government for South Carolina as Columbia burned, holds an extensive history and is particularly valuable for the events that transpired here.

In January 2025, we commenced the stabilization of the home, following a thorough examination of the structure's condition and receipt of a stabilization report from Bennett Preservation Engineering. We look forward to collaborating with Huss Construction on this significant first phase and continuing our partnership with Bennett Preservation Engineering.

The result of this phase will be a structurally sound building ready for final rehabilitation work, accurate measured and construction drawings, and a vision and plan to manage the Dawkins House.

Dawkins House Plans

In June 2024, we announced The Dawkins House will be the University of South Carolina-Union’s new Alumni Association Department Center. As such, it will provide the campus, as well as the community, access to a space for campus, corporate and community related meetings, events, and receptions. This Alumni Center will not only benefit USC-Union, but will serve as an economic engine for the City and County of Union, bringing alumni dollars back to Union for visits and potential employment with local companies.

In February 2025, a generous Union local philanthropist, Mrs. Barbara Harter Rippy, contributed $50,000 to Preservation South Carolina to support the restoration of the Judge Thomas N. Dawkins House, future home of the USC-Union Alumni House.

Mrs. Rippy has made significant contributions to various local and university initiatives. In addition to establishing four endowed scholarships for USC-Union students, she has provided funding for the USC-Union nursing program, bookstore, and courtyard renovations, and has been a steadfast supporter of the Bantam athletic program.

With profound gratitude, Preservation South Carolina will dedicate the front porch of the Dawkins House as the “Barbara Rippy Portico,” which will serve as the central gathering point for all visitors and staff at the USCU Alumni Center.

In The News

Explore Preservation SC's Dawkins House Project through a collection of publications.

"Rippy Makes Donation to Dawkins House"

University of South Carolina - Union

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"South Carolina community gets into the game by helping to save Civil War home in Union, see that unbeaten streak of all-black high school is recognized"

The Civil War Picket

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"After South Carolina's capital went up flames, state leaders burned papers in new capital 70 miles away. Now there is an effort to preserve that house in Union"

The Civil War Picket

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