As noted in Greenville: The History of the City and County in the South Carolina Piedmont, “Thomas O. Lowndes of Charleston was attracted to the area by the climate. Lowndes settled on a hill east of the village of Greenville. This hill was called Lowndes Hill.”

SCIWAY thanks Joseph Baker of Summerville for contributing this picture, taken in 2005, as well as the accompanying information. Joseph also sent in this lovely story about visiting the home: “As I sat on the porch steps of the old house and looked down the tree-lined driveway, [I realized that] before the houses were built, you could see all of downtown Greenville. You could imagine what beauty brought Mr. Lowndes to this particular area in the upcountry.”