Preserving historic architecture requires more than repairing what time has worn away, it demands an understanding of the materials, techniques, and craftsmanship that gave a building its original character. At Milford Plantation in South Carolina, faculty and students from ACBA, specifically Markus Damwerth’s architectural carpentry class, put that philosophy into practice through the restoration of the property’s iconic exterior columns. Often called the “Column’s House,” Milford Plantation is widely recognized as an outstanding example of Greek Revival architecture and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. When deterioration threatened its defining architectural features, ACBA craftspeople were engaged with the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation to replicate and replace the damaged columns using historic construction methods. Each column was carefully measured and reconstructed from sapele wood, a durable material selected for its resistance to rot and insects. The hollow column shafts were assembled from 16 individual wooden staves using traditional joinery techniques, while paying careful attention to reproducing the original fluting, taper, and capital details. The restoration also incorporated subtle improvements, including ventilation at the column bases, to help prevent future deterioration without compromising the historic appearance. Completed in November 2025, the project provided students with valuable experience working on a nationally recognized historic property while demonstrating the importance of combining traditional craftsmanship with thoughtful long term preservation. Through projects like Milford Plantation, ACBA continues to prepare the next generation of artisans to care for the historic buildings that define our architectural heritage, ensuring that the skills needed to preserve these structures remain alive for generations to come.
