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Palmetto House at Seven Gables burns to the ground Save Email Print
Posted: 10:48 PM Sep 4, 2008
Last Updated: 7:34 PM Sep 5, 2008
Reporter: STAFF
Email Address: newsroom@wrdw.com

A | A | A

September 5, 2008

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C.---The historic Palmetto House at Seven Gables in North Augusta has burned to the ground.

The call went out to firefighters around 10:30 Thursday night after reports of smoke and fire. When crews arrived on Georgia Avenue, they saw flames coming out of the roof. It didn't take long for the fire to spread to the entire building. You could see flames from downtown Augusta.

The building is a total loss. No one was hurt.

Firefighters were stationed in the streets around the Palmetto House to make sure none of the embers spread to other homes in the area.

It was built in 1903 by North Augusta's founder as a hunting lodge.

It was also he Old Hampton Terrace Hotel, which also burned to the ground at the turn of the century.

The building has since served as a private home and restaurant, but Seven Gables stood vacant for many years when the government seized it from a drug dealing owner in the mid 1990's.

It recently came under new ownership and was operating as a restaurant, open Monday through Friday for lunch. You could also rent it for special occasions.



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Posted by: Dana Location: Augusta,ga on Sep 13, 2008 at 05:03 PM
What a shame that such an awesome part of North Augusta history is now gone! I had a chance to meet the new owners as well as one of the former owners! This was really a beautiful place! It had even been featured on HGTV on the show "If Walls Could Talk" shortly after the new owners bought it! I was so glad that someone cared enough to buy and not let it fall into ruin! I hope they investigate and find the cause of the fire!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: North Augusta on Sep 11, 2008 at 12:00 AM
But you can't send those papers in on the scene of a fire. And you have to be on a department in another state to do that. And until you have documentation of certification in another state you aren't certified in that state. And all the times Augusta has come across State lines they have helped tremendously. They just don't come very often because of the certification issue. And one radio couldn't help on this scene with accountability.

Posted by: Sean Location: North Augusta on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Anonymous - what kind of liabilty are you talking about with Augusta responding across the state line? They have done it several times in the past (tire plant in Aiken, train wreck in Graniteville, Tornado in Bath, church fire in N. Augusta, just to name a few). The only problem is they are on a different radio freq. This problem could be solved by the command post giving them a radio when they arrive on the scene. As far as the classes transfering over all you have to do is send in the correct paperwork (several firefighters have done it).

Posted by: Anonymous Location: north augusta on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:31 PM
Bk, Also Georgia Firefighter Certification Classes don't always transfer over to South Carolina, so technically if AFD came over to assist they wouldn't have the proper certification to fight the fire anyways

Posted by: Anonymous Location: north augusta on Sep 7, 2008 at 03:08 PM
If reference to bk, there were over 80 firefighters at this fire. Augusta did not respond because its very rare for a department to go over state lines, to much liability. 170,000 gallons of water were pumped Thursday night, 2500 gallons per minute. It's difficult to pump four trucks at once. When we arrived on scene, fire was already upstairs, making it unsafe to make an interior attack, especially since there were active gas lines. All that could be done was done. the general alarm was for north augusta personal, all other departments have to be notified by north augusta, just like Sage Mill, Merriwether, Belvedere, and Clearwater were. Aiken County Sheriffs Office was also notified to help cover calls on the street.

Posted by: Sean Location: North Augusta on Sep 6, 2008 at 12:11 PM
BK, a general alarm fire usually means for that department, not for the whole county. And you have to be dispatched to the call, you do this for several reasons, most being sure of accountabilty and knowing that the person is trained. Every department knows that to get extra men and equipment all they have to do is ask, whether it be a department in Ga. or S.C.

Posted by: Janelle Location: N. Augusta, SC on Sep 5, 2008 at 04:06 PM
I was so disappointed to hear about this- especially since I'm getting married in 6 weeks and this was the relocation of our rehearsal dinner. It was such a beautiful building with so much history. the new owners did an excellent job restoring it. I'm sad to see it go.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: North augusta on Sep 5, 2008 at 04:02 PM
What are the neamse of the actual owners. I was told that there was a Mr.Guillaume that was part owner.

Posted by: Richard Rogers Location: News 12 on Sep 5, 2008 at 02:39 PM
I can shed a little light on this, bk...

I spoke to Chief Wetherington around midnight. He tells me at first they had both big ladder trucks pulling water from 2 hydrants on Ga Ave that were tied to the same line. To solve that pressure problem- they started pulling from a line that was over on Martintown Road... using a truck somewhere in the middle... to pump the water over. All the hydrants did work- you just can't suck all that water- at the same time---out of just one water line.


Posted by: bk Location: North Augusta on Sep 5, 2008 at 02:15 PM
This was a General Alarm fire - that means everyone and anyone who can hear the alarm is supposed to respond. I wonder why Augusta didn't send a truck? Although everyone is trying to blame the building for burning down since it was old and full of wood, the fire itself was small when I first got there, 3 minutes after the alarm. I am not a professional fire fighter, but I truly believe that if there had been more response to this fire with pumper trucks, some part of the structure might have been save. There was also a problem with the hydrant water volume and pressure - in fact one of the pumpers had to stop pumping to let the other one try. I certainly hope that if my house every catches on fire the response will be bigger. The firemen were courageous and professional but they did not have enough gear to fight this fire.

Posted by: Penny Location: Elgin,SC on Sep 5, 2008 at 01:34 PM
So sad..when history is lost like that. My son's wedding was to have been there in 57 days.

Posted by: mr Location: n. augusta on Sep 5, 2008 at 11:16 AM
how sad-i watched it burn last night and was stunned. it's almost like the house 'belonged' to n. augusta. i'm sure alot of good times were still to be had in that historic building. i'm sad to see it's time as a welcoming place for all to gather cut short.

Posted by: Beth Location: North Augusta, SC on Sep 5, 2008 at 10:14 AM
I hope there is an investigation. For some reason, North Augusta landmarks have started catching on fire...ie NA Country Club...???

Posted by: leon Location: louisville,ga on Sep 5, 2008 at 10:14 AM
im so upset that a historical site has been destroyed ny a fire. this was one of south carolina's famous historical sites. im sad to see it go.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 5, 2008 at 10:09 AM
VERY SAD,,ALOT OF WORK WENT INTO THAT PLACE OVER THE LAST YEAR,THE OWNERS ARE GREAT PEOPLE, HER AND HER BROTHER HAVED ALWAYS LIVED IN NA

Posted by: Amber Location: Augusta on Sep 5, 2008 at 09:35 AM
I hate to see it go....especially when my wedding was going to be there in 57 days....

Posted by: Augusta Location: GA on Sep 5, 2008 at 09:11 AM
Who was the Current owners?

Posted by: unknown on Sep 5, 2008 at 08:50 AM
where is the video

Posted by: Terry Location: home on Sep 4, 2008 at 11:55 PM
I'm glad I had a chance to visit it before it burned. I'm not thrilled about some of its history, but architecturally, it was very interesting. I visited it again on a later occasion after it had closed and before it reopened. I did get a chance to sketch some of it, as did my daughter. Something told me it was something to appreciate now, rather than wait.

Posted by: A Location: NA on Sep 4, 2008 at 11:36 PM
There should be video footage up now.

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