House	Cemtery	Gravemarker	Tabby Ruin

Orange Grove Plantation illustrates the development of architectural styles and construction from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth century for its association with several periods of historic occupation at Orange Grove Plantation. The district is primarily significant for its association with an early twentieth century influx of Northerners onto St. Helena Island, who bought historic houses or built new houses as winter retreats. Henry Bowles, a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, purchased the plantation in 1928, which had been an antebellum home of the Fripp family. The plantation house, built ca. 1800, was in poor condition when Bowles bought the property; he demolished it and built the present house in 1928. Orange Grove was one of the first resort houses built on St. Helena after the opening of the bridge to Lady Island in 1927 and is illustrative of the early encroachment of development on South Carolina’s sea islands. The property also includes the tabby ruin of the kitchen, ca. 1800, and a tabby-walled cemetery containing three early nineteenth century graves of the Fripp and Perry families. Listed in the National Register May 26, 1989.

View the complete text of the nomination form for this National Register property. In addition, the Historic Resources of St. Helena Island, ca. 1740-ca. 1935 includes historical background information for this and other related National Register properties.

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