John H. Goodwin House

Front inscription

Among the oldest surviving buildings in Greenville County, the John H. Goodwin House originated as a 2-room log cabin built c.1793 by Robert Cooke. It is significant for its evolution into a 2-story dogtrot and, finally, the vernacular Greek Revival form it assumed c.1842, when John H. Goodwin bought the house and 600 ac. of land. Goodwin family descendants owned the home until 2005.

Reverse inscription

Before the Civil War, the house was the center of a plantation where, in 1860, thirty enslaved people lived in four dwellings. It also likely housed the Orleans/Lima post office during Goodwin’s long tenure as postmaster. After the war, the home was a popular stage stop and inn for travelers between Greenville and Asheville. Near the road is a relocated store building, likely constructed c.1870.