Laurel Hill Plantation – Mount Pleasant – Charleston County

— Avenue of Oaks at Laurel Hill Plantation © Gazie Nagle, 2012 —
(Do Not Use Without Written Consent)

Basic Information

• Location – Mount Pleasant, Charleston County

  At the intersection of S.C. Highway 41 and U.S. 17
  

• Origin of name – ?

• Other names – ?

• Current status – Leased to the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission
  

Timeline

• 1694 – Earliest known date of existence under when property was under the ownership of John Boone (5).
  

• ? – House built

• 1856-1862 – J. Thomas Hamlin White owned Laurel Hill during this period (2).
  

• 1864 – Dr. Peter P. Bonneau acquired the property (5).
  

• ? – It is believed the house was destroyed by fire sometime after the Civil War (1, p. 1).
  

• ? – John D. Muller, Jr. acquired Laurel Hill Plantation.
  

• 1984 – John D. Muller, Jr. died. His will named Newberry College and the Franke Home as beneficiaries with Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo) as trustee. He is buried at Laurel Hill Plantation, see image below (4).
  

• 2011 – Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission signed a 100 year lease to use Laurel Hill as a park (3).
  

Land

• Number of acres – 780 in 2010 (1, p. 1)
  

• Primary products – Sea Island cotton and a brickyard (2)
  

• An avenue of oaks can still be seen today (1, p. 3).
  

— John D. Muller, Jr's Grave at Laurel Hill Plantation © Sergei Makhenzon —
(Do Not Use Without Written Consent)

Slaves

• Number of slaves – 121 in 1860 (2)
  

Buildings

• Remains of a house that is said to have been destroyed by fire after the Civil War is located near the center of the property. A caretaker house is the only structure still standing (1, p. 1).
  

References & Resources

1. Natalie P. Adams, Cultural Resource Literature Search of Laurel Hill Plantation - PDF
   

2. Laurel Hill Plantation Account Book, 1856-1873
   

3. Sully Witte, CCPRC Signs Laurel Hill Lease Agreement, Moultrie News; May 24, 2011
   

4. Prentiss Findlay, 781-acre Park Proposed: Laurel Hill Plantation in Mount Pleasant Would be Site for Walking, Biking, The Post & Courier; February 18, 2011
   

5. SC Highway Historical Marker Guide - online database by the SC Department of Archives & History
   

Contact Information

• Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission

More about Charleston

• Learn more about historic Charleston County including the port city of Charleston. We have helpful guides to Charleston history and Charleston libraries and museums – plus Charleston restaurants, Charleston bed & breakfasts, Charleston hotels, Charleston real estate, and Charleston jobs.