Bridge Street Bed and Breakfast - St. Matthews, South Carolina

Calhoun County seat, the town of St. Matthews, was settled around 1841 in an area that was known for its cotton plantations. If anyone has a decent history of this town, please contact me at jd.lewis@carolana.com. All help is greatly appreciated.

Midway Plantation was built circa 1785 by William Russell Thomson, first son of Revolutionary War hero Colonel William “Old Danger” Thomson. The plantation is located approximately three miles from the historic community of Fort Motte, South Carolina, where a Revolutionary War battle was fought. The home was built about half the distance between the Thomson family plantation, “Belleville,” and the plantation known as “Belle Broughton,” the home of William Russell Thomson’s new bride, Rebecca Sabb, hence the name “Midway.” By the 1830s the plantation had become quite large and successful. A substantial addition was made to the front of the house that gave it the appearance it has today.

Over the years, other additions and improvements were made so that by the time of the Civil War, the house was an estimated 14,000 square feet in size and three full stories tall. Quarters for the house slaves were on the third floor, accessed by a very small back stairway. The property remained in the Thomson line until after the Civil War when, like many other plantations, Midway went into receivership. The land was divided and re-divided between the family members of the subsequent owners and parts of the house were razed to provide building materials for the homes of heirs, bringing the house to its current size of approximately 8,000 square feet. A single out building, the original cook house, is situated close to the main house. It awaits restoration.