Historic Socastee

Sarvis-Ammons House

One of the oldest homes in the Socastee area, the Sarvis House is located on the corner of Peachtree Road and Dick Pond Road (Secondary Road 616). The house, built as a two section, cross "L" shaped structure, has a gable roof with wide overhangs and a natural unfinished board and batten siding. The main section is one and one-half stories with two chimneys. The entrance to the home has a hip roof, full front porch with a transom light door and delicate diamond lattice railing. The rear "L" portion has its own chimney and a wash porch with a well. Elegant peaked wood lintels adorn the windows and doors. Although the interior of the home has been modernized, the exterior remains in its original state. A lovely garden with a variety of flowers, shrubs and trees adds to the beauty of the home. Within the garden are a pecan tree and a magnolia tree that predate the house.

A Confederate Army veteran, Samuel Scarborough "S.S." Sarvis returned to his native land after the Civil War. In 1881, he had the Sarvis house built for his family; the home is still in the Sarvis family. Next door to the Sarvis home was the home for the Dusenbury family. Not only neighbors but also partners, S.S. Sarvis and J.E. Dusenbury owned and operated the Dusenbury and Sarvis store located across the road. Both men served as postmasters for the community. Captain Frank Sarvis, the oldest son of S.S. Sarvis, purchased a steam boat in New York and brought it south to use as a passenger and freight boat. The screw type propeller driven ship was the first of its kind in the area and traveled on the Waccamaw River between Conway and Georgetown.