Feb 23, 1978
National Register of Historic Places - Jonathan Lucas House
Statement of Significant: The Jonathan Lucas House, hut It between 1803 and 1809, is an excellent example of the Adamesque style of architecture. The builder was a member of a prominent Lowcountry family of mill builders and rice planters, and initiated technical advancements in rice milling which helped establish it as a major industry in America and Europe. AGRICULTURE: Development and improvement of rice milling techniques by the Lucas family greatly stimulated the planting of rice which in the 19th Century became the mainstay of the South Carolina Lowcountry economy. The family also engaged in rice planting, maintaining several valuable plantations. ARCHITECTURE; Jonathan Lucas, Jr. built the mansion sometime between his purchase of the site in December, 1803 and the publication of the 1809 city directory, which lists him as residing on Boundary Street (now Calhoun). The house is an excellent example of the Adamesque Style popular in Charleston during the late 1790s and early decades of the 19th Century. Particularly notable are the fine entrance doorway and the winding staircase, woodwork and plaster work of the interior. The Historic Architecture Inventory of the Peninsular city, Charleston, S.C." lists the structure in "Group 2: Excellent. High style regional architecture—Fine 'Charleston Style' — well-designed and proportioned, with good detail. These are spirited, dignified, frequently innovative, rare, and always attractive and interesting. Of irreplaceable importance, to be preserved in Situ at all costs." INVENTION: As well as being the main family residence, the house served as headquarters for a complex of rice and lumber mills which Jonathan Lucas, Jr. and his family operated on the present grounds of Roper Hospital. The Lucas family initiated a series of advancements in rice milling which established it as an important industry in Charleston, in England, and in other countries. Jonathan Lucas, Jr., (1775-1832), built the first toll mill in 1801 at Middleburg, his mother's plantation on Cooper River, and installed the first brushing screen in that mill in 1803, He received a patent from the Federal Government in 1808 for his conical cylinder rice husking machine, and in 1819 another patent for husking and cleaning rice. In 1817 he and John L. Norton applied steam power to rice milling for the first time. His first steam-powered rice mill was located on Lucas (now Barre) Street, just north of the Lucas House. About 1822 Jonathan Lucas, Jr. went to England at the invitation of the British government to develop his rice milling process there; in 1827 he and his son-in-law, Henry Ewbank, received a British patent for his conical cylinder rice cleaning invention. Jonathan Lucas III, his son, was left behind in Charleston to run the family milling and planting interests in South Carolina. About 1840 the younger Lucas built a steam-powered rice mill on Ashley River. After his parents' deaths, Jonathan Lucas MI inherited the Lucas House and mill establishment. SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN: The Lucas House and grounds were purchased by the city of Charleston in 1887 as the site of the new City Hospital. In 1893 the structure was equipped as the "River-Side Infirmary " for the treatment of private patients. About 1921 the house became the Kinloch Home for Nurses. Ownership was transferred to the Medical Society of South Carolina (Roper Hospital) in 1932.
National Register of Historic Places - Jonathan Lucas House
Statement of Significant: The Jonathan Lucas House, hut It between 1803 and 1809, is an excellent example of the Adamesque style of architecture. The builder was a member of a prominent Lowcountry family of mill builders and rice planters, and initiated technical advancements in rice milling which helped establish it as a major industry in America and Europe. AGRICULTURE: Development and improvement of rice milling techniques by the Lucas family greatly stimulated the planting of rice which in the 19th Century became the mainstay of the South Carolina Lowcountry economy. The family also engaged in rice planting, maintaining several valuable plantations. ARCHITECTURE; Jonathan Lucas, Jr. built the mansion sometime between his purchase of the site in December, 1803 and the publication of the 1809 city directory, which lists him as residing on Boundary Street (now Calhoun). The house is an excellent example of the Adamesque Style popular in Charleston during the late 1790s and early decades of the 19th Century. Particularly notable are the fine entrance doorway and the winding staircase, woodwork and plaster work of the interior. The Historic Architecture Inventory of the Peninsular city, Charleston, S.C." lists the structure in "Group 2: Excellent. High style regional architecture—Fine 'Charleston Style' — well-designed and proportioned, with good detail. These are spirited, dignified, frequently innovative, rare, and always attractive and interesting. Of irreplaceable importance, to be preserved in Situ at all costs." INVENTION: As well as being the main family residence, the house served as headquarters for a complex of rice and lumber mills which Jonathan Lucas, Jr. and his family operated on the present grounds of Roper Hospital. The Lucas family initiated a series of advancements in rice milling which established it as an important industry in Charleston, in England, and in other countries. Jonathan Lucas, Jr., (1775-1832), built the first toll mill in 1801 at Middleburg, his mother's plantation on Cooper River, and installed the first brushing screen in that mill in 1803, He received a patent from the Federal Government in 1808 for his conical cylinder rice husking machine, and in 1819 another patent for husking and cleaning rice. In 1817 he and John L. Norton applied steam power to rice milling for the first time. His first steam-powered rice mill was located on Lucas (now Barre) Street, just north of the Lucas House. About 1822 Jonathan Lucas, Jr. went to England at the invitation of the British government to develop his rice milling process there; in 1827 he and his son-in-law, Henry Ewbank, received a British patent for his conical cylinder rice cleaning invention. Jonathan Lucas III, his son, was left behind in Charleston to run the family milling and planting interests in South Carolina. About 1840 the younger Lucas built a steam-powered rice mill on Ashley River. After his parents' deaths, Jonathan Lucas MI inherited the Lucas House and mill establishment. SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN: The Lucas House and grounds were purchased by the city of Charleston in 1887 as the site of the new City Hospital. In 1893 the structure was equipped as the "River-Side Infirmary " for the treatment of private patients. About 1921 the house became the Kinloch Home for Nurses. Ownership was transferred to the Medical Society of South Carolina (Roper Hospital) in 1932.
Feb 23, 1978
Posted Date
Jun 09, 2023
Historical Record Date
Feb 23, 1978
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
Source Website
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Library of Congress
Source Website
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Library of Congress
