Contributed by: Preservation South Carolina
Organization: Preservation South Carolina
Dated Posted: April 28, 2026
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Efforts are gaining momentum to restore the Dawkins House in Union, South Carolina - an important site connected to the Civil War era and the broader history of the state. At Preservation South Carolina, we are proud to be a partner in this initiative to stabilize, rehabilitate, and prepare the house for its future role as a Corporate and Alumni Center on the campus of USC-Union.

A Landmark with a Remarkable Story: Located at the end of N. Church Street in downtown Union is an unassuming building that does not outwardly show its history as the one-time state capital of South Carolina during the Civil War.

When Judge Dawkins built his house in 1845 with Federal and Georgian architectural attributes, it was added onto a pre-existing structure. Today, the house is 4,500+ square-feet located adjacent to the University of South Carolina-Union campus. It is also a “terminus” home in that it is located and its front door is at the end of N. Church Street, which connects to Highway 176, the main route from Union to Columbia.

Preserving Stories, Not Just Structures: Through generations, the Dawkins House has witnessed the people, craftsmanship, and traditions that shaped our state. As part of our preservation effort, USC-Union is launching a genealogical and archives course focused on the history of the house and those connected to it.

The program will support research to better identify individuals whose stories remain incomplete in the historical record. Anticipated to begin this fall, the course will be open to both students and Union County residents interested in ancestry research and local history.

How You Can Help: Through the Dawkins House Preservation Campaign, we have an opportunity to restore this landmark and ensure its legacy continues for future generations.

Our Adopt-a-Feature Program allows individuals and organizations to directly support the restoration of specific architectural elements—from the grand staircase and historic windows to porches and interior spaces—creating a meaningful, tangible connection to the project.

Momentum Is Building: In just one month, we have raised an additional $37,500 toward our campaign goal of $845,000—an encouraging sign of the strong commitment to preserving this important place.

These critical funds will support essential repairs, long-term preservation, and continued research into the full history of the property and the individuals connected to it.