Kilgore~Lewis House

By Laurie Epps

When I say that people down here are fanatical about their football, it's the understatement of the century. Being fall also means that in addition to the fabulous pumpkin spice latte's, this area becomes a sea of orange in support of nearby Clemson University on Friday afternoons. As a salesperson, I wear my orange on Fridays too, because it's just good business.

Fashion

Dress, Shrug, & bracelets
~Catherine's Plus Sizes

Metallic Sandals by Sketchers
~Rack Room Shoes

Brown Leather Handbag, Chaps by Ralph Lauren
~Kohl's

the Kilgore-Lewis House

Mysterious Past

The Kilgore~Lewis House seems slightly out of place on a very busy street in Greenville. In fact, it boasts a mysterious past. There's a lot that's not known about the history of the home. What is known about it only uncovers the first sale of the home from George Boyle to Josiah Kilgore in 1838. Who built it, and the commonplace drumroll of owners doesn't seem to have documentation.

 The Kilgore-Lewis House was bought by the Greenville Council of Gardening Clubs in 1974, and moved from its original location for a sum of over $100,000. I don't have to tell you that that was a lot more money in the 1970s than it is today.  

View from the Gazebo

The Terraces

The gardens at the Kilgore-Lewis House are nicknamed "the Terraces." This is due to the way the Greenville Council of Gardening Clubs has leveled the garden and woodland area off into a series of plateaus of local flora. The results are spectacular. I wanted to spend a lot more time here than I actually did because of it. The gardens are serene and seem to have an eclectic effect because they seem untamed yet engineered at the same time. The gardens are always open even if the house isn't. (Just a little tid-bit.)

Visitor Information

Located behind the Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Academy Street, the Kilgore-Lewis House can be toured for free Wednesdays-Fridays from !0 am- 2 pm. You can call to arrange to have a private tour for a slight charge. There is an ample parking lot, and you enter from the back as seen on your left. 

For more information, go to: 
http://kilgore-lewis.org/tours/.

Weddings

With a location as perfect as this one, of course, it's the perfect spot for a wedding. To learn about wedding packages, and pricing, check out:
http://kilgore-lewis.org/events/

To visit, or call:

The Kilgore-Lewis House
560 N. Academy Street
Greenville, SC 29601
(864)232-3020

Next week, we'll visit the home of the scientist that discovered Ether.

Thanks for stopping by--
Laurie

I'm sure the hydrangea's on the lowest terrace are breathtaking in spring.