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John Calvin Owings Home

SC PICTURE PROJECT 5 Comments

SC Picture Project / Laurens County / John Calvin Owings Home

The lavish John Calvin Owings Home in downtown Laurens is a prime example of the embellished Queen Anne architectural style so popular in the Victorian era. Built in 1896 and designed by architect George F. Barber, the house features turrets, spindles, expansive porches, and stained glass transoms. The interior boasts twelve fireplaces.

John Calvins Owings House

Martin LaBar of Liberty, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Owings, born in 1857, was a prosperous entrepreneur who founded Owings and Bobo Mercantile Firm. Not only was he successful in his business, but he also flourished in public life, serving as a trustee on the school board, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, and even mayor of Laurens from 1916-1918. The home he built more than one hundred years ago remains in the Owings family.

Owings Home Snow

Paula Osborne of Laurens, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The John Calvin Owings Home is listed in the National Register:

Built ca. 1896, the John Calvin Owings House is one of the most outstanding examples of Queen Anne architecture remaining in the city of Laurens. Owings, the builder of the house, played a prominent role in the political and economic activities of the city. Owings and his partner Charles B. Bobo established the mercantile firm of Owings & Bobo, and later, Owings served as a member and director of the Chamber of Commerce. Owings also served as Mayor of Laurens from 1916 through 1918. About 1895, Mr. Owings had George F. Barber & Co., architects from Knoxville, Tennessee design a house to be built on West Main Street in Laurens.

The two and one-half story house blends exterior surface materials (clapboard and shingle siding), high multiple roofs, turrets, oriels, cresting, turned spindles, and rambling porches. The projecting front gable includes a second-story portico with a horseshoe arch and spindle decoration. The steep, slate, hipped roof features cresting and finials. Significant in the interior of the home is the oak paneling, staircase, mantelpieces, and latticework. There are twelve individual fireplaces in the house, many of which feature glazed tile and mirrored overmantels. There are four outbuildings included within the nominated acreage. All are in fair condition and appear to be contemporary with the house.

More Pictures of the John Calvin Owings Home


John Calvin Owings House

Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS SC,30-LAUR,2–22

John Calvin Owings Home

Bill Fitzpatrick of Taylors © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Owings House Laurens

Robert Vance of Greenwood, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Reflections on the John Calvin Owings Home


Contributor Paula Osborne shares of her snowy scene at the top of the page: “This is a house up the road from me. It’s such a beautiful house that I knew it would make a great picture with the snow.”

Add your own reflections here.

Plan Your Trip: John Calvin Owings Home

Where is John Calvin Owings Home located?
Address: 787 West Main Street, Laurens, SC 29360
GPS Coordinates: 34.494425,-82.027250
What else should I see?
Charles Duckett House 0.3 mile
Sitgreaves House 0.5 mile
Williams-Ball-Copeland House 0.7 mile
First Presbyterian Church of Laurens 0.8 mile
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Historic Houses
  • See other South Carolina Historical Photos
  • Laurens Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina National Register
    John Calvin Owings Home Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cheryl Myrick says

      September 3, 2017 at 12:30 PM

      Is this home ever open for a tour to the public?

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        September 3, 2017 at 3:12 PM

        The house is a private residence so regular tours are not something that occur. You may want to check with the historical society in the area to see if this house is ever featured on any annual tours that they may do. That is a great way to see private places.

        Reply
    2. Jean says

      May 17, 2017 at 2:51 PM

      Do they have visitation to this house?

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        May 18, 2017 at 11:33 AM

        The house is a private residence so regular tours are not something that occur. You may want to check with the historical society in the area to see if this house is ever featured on any annual tours that they may do. That is a great way to see private places.

        Reply
    3. Sawmill Ridge Properties - Land & Home Sales says

      May 15, 2015 at 1:55 PM

      Landmark Historical Home

      Reply

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