Oldest home in Richland Co. sold at auction Thursday

June 19, 2014 at 6:41 PM EDT - Updated July 2 at 8:45 AM

EASTOVER, SC (WIS) - A piece of South Carolina history has a $550,000 price tag.

Built in 1765, Grovewood Plantation is the oldest home in Richland County. It was the home of the Weston family until Fred Quattlebaum was the first to purchase the Eastover home 21 years ago.

"It's just a great piece of property," he said as he graciously gave WIS a tour.

After what he called "Active bidding" that lasted about 30 minutes, Grovewood sold at auction Thursday for $550,000 to a "local couple," said land consultant John McAllister with John McAllister Realty Consulting. The same couple paid $57,500 for the home's furnishings. McAllister said about 80 people showed up at the Lower Richland plantation for the auction.

"It makes me appreciate all that went into making this property what it is," he said. "We can all admire the beauty of the plantation and you can sit in a room like this one, or on the porch or the balcony, and think about who's visited the home...all its parties and social events and you wonder, if these walls could talk."

But now Quattlebaum says its time to let someone else enjoy the historic plantation home.

He hopes the third owner in the home's 249-year history will continue to preserve it for the future.

"I hope someone purchases the home and appreciates it, maintains the historical structure of the house and can appreciate everything that the house has experienced over the years."

"I've been told this is the best-restored property in Richland County, South Carolina, that's pre-Revolutionary War," said McAllister. "The historical preservation that has been done on Grovewood is unsurpassed in Richland County."

Despite its age, the house has the best of modern-day amenities: central air and heat, wi-fi, fiber-optic cable communications, 2 1/2 baths, modern kitchen and furnished laundry room.

"The home is a modern home," said McAllister. "It includes all the comforts of a modern home."

The property is 22 acres, including an alee of ancient pecan trees, barn and guest cottage.

"It's really interesting when I'm having a cup of coffee in this room (the parlor) on a Sunday morning or sitting up on the upper gallery having a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning, is to reminisce about what this house has seen, from the advent of electricity, the phone, automobiles and all that," said Quattlebaum. "That's something I would miss. It's a privilege to own this home."

"This is a house where the more people you put in it, the more alive it gets," Quattlebaum said.

"I love sharing my home. I'm just a caretaker."