Oakland Plantation
Simpsonville, SC
The home at Oakland Plantation was constructed in 1823 by Dr. Thomas Austin. Upstate Preservation Trust has a unique opportunity to acquire the plantation house, ten outbuildings, and 50+ acres of land in the heart of Simpsonville. The goal is to work with the local community and the County of Greenville to conserve the green space for public use and to restore the house and outbuildings as a historic landmark.
Funding
UPT has submitted two grant applications for the acquisition price for the property.
UPT has secured some community funding to be used for partial restoration of the house but is in dire need of additional funding for this project.
Restoration Needs
The house’s roof needs to be replaced.
Portions of the siding on the house need to be replaced.
The house needs to be repainted by hand.
The shutters on the house need to be recreated to match the original, historically accurate shutters.
Long-range planning should ensure the sustainable management of the property.
Goals
UPT will restore the original plantation house and the ten outbuildings on the property.
The property has one of three remaining slave dwellings in Greenville County. This is an invaluable historic resource that must be protected.
UPT hopes to work with the County of Greenville to convert the green space into a public park.
UPT aims to bring children’s educational programming back to Oakland Plantation as early as summer 2024.
