SCIWAY thanks Stephen Brenton of Ladson who took this picture in March 2012.

Photographer Ann Helms of Spartanburg says that while she was taking pictures of this house, “a nice couple pulled up and told me the property and home once belonged to the Rumph family sometime during the mid to late 1800s. Some online research revealed the Rumph name goes back to the 1700s in the Orangeburg-Calhoun area. I do not know which generation of Rumphs lived in this house or when it was built however.”

If you have any information to add about the Rumph Home, please comment and let us know!

The house was built by Colonel James Arthur Banks, Sr. in 1893. Around 1909, the large Corinthian columns and the smaller columns on the porch were added. They were designed with Ionic capitals and supported a decorated frieze, both examples of Classic Revival architecture.

In the early 19th century, Colonel Banks was prominent as a civic leader in South Carolina‘s Midlands region. During his lifetime he was President of the Home Bank, President of the State Fair Association, and Mayor of St. Matthews. He was also elected to both the SC State House and Senate.

The house is listed on the National Register Properties in South Carolina.

SCIWAY thanks Richard Kline, the current owner of the Banks Home, for sharing this photo and and for providing the background information.

When Calhoun County was established, the county attorney accidentally left the apostrophe in “St. Matthew’s” out of the bill. From that point forward, the town name has officially been “St Matthews” – without an apostrophe.

SCIWAY thanks Tom Connor of Eutawville for submitting this photo, which he took in June 2010.

It is a third-generation family seed business. They grow and market a variety of specialty seeds such as edamame soy bean seed, cover crops, wildflower seed, and onion seed.

Many thanks to Leonard Vaughan of Lexington for providing this picture and information.

Visit the church’s website here.