The Logan Log House

Inside the Logan Log House.

Jeff Roznovsky

The Logan Log House at Ninety Six National Historic Site was originally built as an early settler cabin. The cabin is the oldest house in Greenwood County. Built during the 18th century, possibly by Andrew Logan, the cabin is the oldest house in Greenwood County. The cabin was bought by William Blake after Logan's death. Blake owned the cabin from 1795 until he died, in 1875. After Blake's death, W.J. Wells bought the cabin. The Wells Family lived in the cabin for 82 years.¹

Over the decades, the original cabin had new sections added to it. By 1967, when the house was owned by Mrs. Thomason, the original cabin had been enclosed in a modern home. The cabin was revealed during demolition of the modernhome.²

The cabin was saved from demolition and preserved by the Greenwood Historical Society. It was moved to Lander University in 1967. In 1971, the cabin was moved from Lander University to the site that would become Ninety Six National Historic Site.³

At the Historic Site, the cabin was first used as a visitor center. Later, the cabin was named Black Swan Tavern for the park's living history programs and is still being used for that purpose. The cabin is set up like a tavern with tables and chairs on the main floor. Here, especially during living history programs, one can imagine early settlers passing by coming here looking for food, drink, local news, and a place to sleep. Taverns were also used as local meeting places where men could have social gatherings.

The Black Swan Tavern was originally built as a home for early settlers. Throughout the decades it fulfilled that purpose and was added on to, so that larger families could live inside it. Now the cabin is a portal to another time and lifestyle for visitors who come to Ninety Six National Historic Site.

¹ Margaret Watson, Greenwood County Sketches; Old Roads and Early Families, 156-157.
² “Index Journal”, Greenwood, SC. Dec 8, 1966.
³ “Index Journal”, Greenwood, SC. Jan 19, 1967.