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Ridgeway History
Winnsboro History | THE CENTURY HOUSE
The CENTURY HOUSE is one of the most imposing buildings in the town of
Ridgeway. It is a massive, well-proportioned, two-story, solid brick
house located almost in the center of the town. The large and ancient
trees on the grounds give it a distinctive beauty and dignity.
The house was built in 1853 by James Buchanan Coleman, an
extensive landowner. His properties were scattered from Blythewood, in
the lower section of the county, to the DEVIL'S RACE TRACK community in
the upper section. On locating in Ridgeway, he purchased the Rosborough
home and a large tract of land from his friend, James Thomas Rosborough,
M.D., some time before 1842 when Dr. Rosborough moved to Texas. Coleman
family records indicate that this "two-story (Rosborollgh
homestead) wooden house was near the BRICK HOUSE on the same level . . .
with beautiful pink climbing roses on the piazza . . . large rooms on
both floors and silver doorknobs and walnut stair-rails . . . built
before 1800 by Dr. Rosborough's father, Mr. John Rosborough." The
older Coleman children were born in the Rosborough house before Mr.
Coleman built the BRICK HOUSE. The Colemans were hospitable and fond of
company and entertaining; this is evidenced by the large and gracious
home that they erected.
Situated on the new Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad, which hauled
freight and passengers in 1856, the Colemans' commanding brick house
became the center of social and business life in the newly developing
community of Ridgeway.
With the coming of the War Between the States, the BRICK HOUSE
entertained many visitors and travellers passing through Ridgeway, who
came by train, stagecoach, wagon train, on horseback, and afoot.
Refugees from the lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia, as well as
others from Virginia and North Carolina, became almost daily visitors in
the Colemans' hospitable and well-provisioned home.
The Century House is currently home to Fairfield County Library Branch
and the Ridgeway Garden Club. |
