Pine Grove Plantation

Front inscription

This site was part of Pine Grove Plantation, owned in the early 20th century by Lemuel Whitaker “Whit” Boykin (1861-1932). A planter and sportsman, Boykin and other members of the Boykin and Cantey families began breeding dogs to accompany them on hunts along the nearby Wateree River. By the 1920s, he had developed the breed eventually known as the “Boykin spaniel.”

Birthplace of the Boykin Spaniel

Well-suited for hunting waterfowl, the spaniels bred here were skilled retrievers and swimmers, small enough for boat travel, and good-tempered. They are believed to have descended from a dog found in Spartanburg that was sent to Boykin for breeding. In 1985, the Boykin spaniel was made the official state dog of South Carolina.