Legare-Morgan House

Front inscription

One of the oldest houses in Aiken, this was home to the Legare family, including writer James Mathewes Legare (1823-1859), who lived here beginning in 1846. Portions of the house date to as early as 1837. The south wing was built c.1852 as a detached workshop for James Legare, who was also an inventor and painter. The north wing was added c.1900, after the workshop was moved and attached to the house.

Reverse inscription

While living here, James Legare published his best-known work, Orta-Undis, and other Poems (1848). He also produced several inventions, including a cotton-based plastic he called “lignine.” In 1870, the Legare family sold the property to Thomas Charles Morgan (1824-1905), an English naval officer. His son, attorney Thomas Redman Morgan (1863-1931), was Aiken mayor from 1899 to 1900 and lived in the house for a number of years.