Here’s a structure located in what appears to be a South Carolina jungle. What is it? Where is it? Send us your guess of what this photo shows – as well as your name and hometown – to feedback@statehousereport.com.
Last week’s mystery photo, “This one might surprise you,” showed an old Library of Congress photo from the 1930s of Bennett’s Rice Mill, 19 Concord St., in Charleston. These days, only the facade survives in the middle of a big port parking lot where South Carolina-made BMWs are exported all over the world.
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, shared some of the mill’s early history: “he building was constructed in 1844 by Thomas Bennett Jr. (1781 – 1865), a S.C. banker and owner of three thriving plantations who also served as the 48th S.C. governor between 1820 and 1822. Operations at the mill began in 1845, employing the latest steam-powered technologies to separate rice grains from their husks. Originally 90-feet by 60-feet in size, Bennett’s Mill was only the third largest rice mill in Charleston in terms of its physical size. Yet given its waterfront location and the efficiencies of its modern steam technologies, Bennett’s Mill produced some 200 bushels a day by 1850, making it the third most productive rice mill in America.”
David Lupo of Mount Pleasant shared that “the building was used in the early 20th century by the Planters Peanut and Chocolate Company. After that, ownership passed to the railroad and, in 1958, to the S.C. Ports Authority.”
Congratulations to all of the sleuths who also identified the photo: George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Jay Altman and Elizabeth Jones, both of Columbia; Jacie Godfrey and Amy Johnson, both of Florence; Hope Williams of Varnville; Charles Ford and Jasper Solt, both of Charleston; Pat Keadle of Wagener; Jannie Stewart of Georgetown; Albert Jacobs of Ridgeville; Carla Nelson of Manning; Bill Segars of Hartsville; Frank Bouknight of Summerville; and Cheryl Benson-Schoettner.
>> Send us a mystery picture. If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!