They don't make ‘em like they used to. That’s especially true of houses. From intricately carved gingerbread moldings and wrap-around porches to hand-carved mantels, many older homes offer a unique charm you can't find in modern properties. Historical properties and neighborhoods provide a certain cache and appeal for many prospective homebuyers.

What’s not to like? It’s easy to fall in love with a historic home or neighborhood. Historic homes have a unique charm and beauty and can have a historical significance - both architectural significance as well as ownership of event importance.

But owning a piece of history in the Myrtle Beach area and along the Grand Strand isn’t as easy as it might sound. While there are a few historically significant homes to the west of Myrtle Beach in Conway and a few on Pawleys Island to the south, anyone interested in historic homes and classic architecture will be hard-pressed to find it in the Myrtle Beach area.

Until the 1900s, the beaches of Horry County were virtually uninhabited. The county was inaccessible geographically, and the economy was poor. But near the turn of the century, the Burroughs & Collins Company – a timber/turpentine firm with extensive beachfront holdings – began developing the Myrtle Beach area as a resort. In 1901, the company built the beach’s first hotel, the Seaside Inn. At that time, oceanfront lots sold for $25, and buyers received an extra lot for free if they built a house valued at $500 or more. Previously known as Long Bay, Withers, or Withers Big Swamp, the fledgling beach community was called “New Town.”

In 1945 the Horry Herald sponsored a contest to name the area officially. Mrs. F.E. Burroughs – wife of the founder of Burroughs & Collins – won with the name “Myrtle Beach.” She chose for the many wax myrtle trees growing wild along the shore. So until 1945, Myrtle Beach didn’t even exist.

Sure, brand-new, turnkey construction certainly has its benefits. Homeowners can sleep well at night knowing what’s behind the walls and how the walls were built. The walls hide no “improvements” completed by less-than-skilled homeowners and done with substandard materials. And there’s good reason historic homes last: They tend to be structurally sound. It is not unusual for houses built in the 1980s to be in worse condition than a 19th-century house. Much depends on the amount and the kind of work that was done over the centuries. But if a historic home needs extensive repairs, costs can add up.

But older homes come with soul. Some houses are connected to the larger history of their accompanying towns or cities and some are inked to historic figures that built or lived in the house. That’s impossible to experience with new builds. Not only is it possible to own a piece of history, but owners of historic properties get to live in it too. How cool is that?

775 Arnette Road, Dillon, South Carolina

The Oliver Farmhouse in Dillon, South Carolina, is one such gem. The gorgeous plantation-style home was built in 1868 and is offered by Jeremy Jenks, Realtor, and Partner in Keller Williams The Trembley Group. It is an absolute must-see!

Known as the “Oliver Farm” homestead, this southern jewel is in the heart of the rich farm country between Dillon, Lakeview, and Fairmont, South Carolina. This property was part of the original Pittman Land Grant from King George, and was passed to the Oliver’s in 1868 when Amanda Pittman married Joseph Oliver.

When searching for an old, historic home, homebuyers often find two adjectives that keep cropping up: “historic” and “charming.” Don’t be fooled. These adjectives are often coding for “old” and “needs a lot of work.” Historic home descriptions are often filled with euphemisms. Not this one. The Oliver House is breathtaking. It was carefully restored and lovingly maintained. And the historic home is 150 year old, Circa 1868!

Charm is another euphemism used to describe old and historic homes. But other times, it’s the honest-to-goodness truth. Historic homes often feature handcrafted aesthetic elements you won’t find in modern counterparts, like hand-carved fireplace moldings, coved ceilings, and wrap-around and screened porches.  The Oliver Homestead is full of genuine charm!

The Oliver Homestead

The stunning 6 bedroom 3.5 bath house is fully restored and has been very well and lovingly maintained. The plantation-style house is full of southern charm! The hardwood and heart pine floors have 8-inch baseboards that run throughout the home. The 9’8″ ceilings have elegant crown molding.

All six of the home’s fireplaces work! The master bedroom and bath are on the first floor. There are an additional two bedrooms and a bath and a half on the first floor. An additional full bath and two 2 bedrooms are upstairs. All the baths as well as the laundry room have tiled floors.  

Older historic homes are infamously dark and cold and drafty. Not the Oliver House! All the home’s exterior doors and windows have been updated with energy efficient models. There are whimsical stained glass windows that were made from stained glass from an old church that was originally on the property.

The home is heated and cooled with three electric heat pumps, two for the downstairs and one for upstairs,  and the roof has 30 year black architectural shingles.

The living room is very spacious and contains lots of natural light from all the windows running on two sides of the room. The lavish formal dining has an ornate chandelier, a fireplace, and plenty of room for a large dining table.

And the Kitchen! Old and historic homes have notoriously dysfunctional, barely usable kitchens. And anyone who knows anything about home remodeling knows that no room will cost more to remodel than a kitchen. The Oliver Homestead kitchen includes several stylish updates. The countertops are durable granite, the backsplash is made of tumbled stone, there is a large stainless steel sink, and all the appliances are stainless steel. A unique detail is the kitchen’s hand-hewn wood beams that came from a stable that was once on the property. The kitchen features a fireplace, tons of cabinet space, and a dining area with a bay window!

The master bath is incredible; it has a vaulted ceiling with wood beams, a stained glass window, a claw foot tub, two sinks, and a glass door shower! Everything about this house is cozy, charming, and inviting!

The Oliver homestead strikes an elusive balance between historic charm and modern conveniences.

The Homesite

Historic homes often come with established landscaping, large lots, and sometimes even accompanying buildings like guesthouses and other out-buildings, all of which can add convenience and real value to the property. What’s more, historic homes are coveted and unique, making them less vulnerable to housing downturns. Historic homes often see robust and reliably high selling prices when it comes time for resale. Popular architectural styles, be it Victorian, mid-century modern, colonial, federal, or others, are often imitated but never duplicated.

The Oliver Farm Homestead is the perfect location for an equestrian estate, a one-of-kind family compound, or a gentleman’s mini-farm. Sitting on 14 acres, the grounds around the home are full of character and meticulously well kept. Dogwoods, clematis, blooming white cherry trees, crape myrtles, several varieties of azaleas, boxwoods, Japanese maples, holly trees, and variegated liriope beautifully fill the yard. A handsome three-tiered swan fountain graces the side yard in view of the screened-in porch with the other side of the house balanced by a gazebo and a brick walk. Two curved brick entry walls flank the main driveway and are all beautifully landscaped.

The porch, mostly screened, is the perfect place for rocking, reading a good book, and sipping a cold glass of tea. The property also features a two-car garage, detached storage, a caretaker/guest house, and 2 barns! This truly is a spectacular gentleman’s farm!

Best of all, this dreamy estate is located in Dillion, South Carolina only an hour from Cherry Grove Beach, the Atlantic Ocean, and everything Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand has to offer!

A Sense of Civic Pride

Any new homeowner will likely feel a sense of dignity and responsibility when they make their purchase, but buying a historic home greatly amplifies that feeling. Maintenance and improvements made to their new home – both aesthetic and structural – contribute to an area’s wellbeing and shores up the home’s and the area’s long-term legacy. The local town may not send a thank you note, but the historic property owner will likely find their new home comes with a great deal of pride.

Historic homes have a quality not found in any other home. They give their owners and visitors a trip back in history and lets them experience a long past time. If they’re lucky, they might find a home like the Oliver Homestead, one with a comfortable layout and feel with a beautiful staircase that creates a unique charm that’s nearly impossible to replicate in modern homes.

With all there is to consider, it’s always best to talk to a Keller Williams The Trembely Group Real Estate Professional when considering the purchase of any property, but especially a historic home. A trustworthy agent will help a homebuyer avoid many of the expected pitfalls along the way and manage any unforeseen ones. 775 Arnette Road, Dillon, South Carolina is proudly offered by Jeremy Jenks, Partner and Real Estate Professional with the company.

Need help? Call Keller Williams The Trembley Group at 843.945.1880 ext. 1 and we’ll help you look for the perfect listing or buyers agent!

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At Keller Williams The Trembley Group, we pride ourselves on being the experts at more than just selling real estate. We are local residents, some of us have been here for a lifetime. The rest of us will be here until the end of time. We love living, working, and playing in the diverse backyard of Coastal Carolina, and look forward to helping you live and love your dreams soon too. Please reach out to us by phone or email for personalized 6-star service and one-on-one advice. 

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