Brookland
Why it's listed
Brookland is a two-story frame house on about nine and a half acres near Flat Rock, built in 1836 for Charleston businessman Charles Edmonston. It is among the finest summer houses raised by low-country Carolinians and Georgians escaping coastal heat in the mountains. The house keeps its late Federal and early Greek Revival massing, plan, doors and mantels, while later owners added Colonial Revival features such as a pedimented central pavilion, deep porches and pebbledash walls applied in 1892. Edmund Molyneux, British consul at Savannah, bought it in 1841 and ran a model farm. Major Theodore G. Barker acquired it in 1882, named the estate, and became the county's largest landowner. Henry Ficken's family kept it as a summer home after 1917. Outbuildings including a servants' quarters, garden house, garage and former carbide gas house remain. The property was recognized for its link to Flat Rock's resort history, its prominent owners, and its layered architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the finest nineteenth century summer houses of the low-country South Carolinians and Georgians who made Flat Rock a mountain retreat. It keeps its original late Federal/early Greek Revival form beside later Colonial Revival additions. It is tied to prominent Charleston and Savannah owners and to the growth of Flat Rock as a resort community.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82003467, listed August 19, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Flat Rock on SR 1863, Flat Rock |
|---|---|
| County | Henderson County |
| Listed | August 19, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003467 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1836, 1880s & 1890s) |
| Architect / builder | Charles Edmonston |
| Architectural style | Late Federal/early Greek Revival with Colonial Revival alterations and additions |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence, in excellent condition, and described as well maintained and altered. |
| Acreage | 9.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.30285, -82.44903 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82003467.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19460683
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.