Mel Gibson WUZ here...Historic Brattonsville

In celebration of the 225th anniversary of Huck’s Defeat , Brattonsville has and will be hosting several battle reenactments over the coming months. Karen and I decided to go and enjoy the reenactment of the Battle of Rocky Mount which took place in July of 1780 between the British troops and the loyalist militia.

After the reenactment, we took the time to tour some of the rest of the homestead site. We went into the main house, know as the Homestead House, which was built between 1823-1826 for Dr. John Simpson Bratton and his wife Harriet. The house was used for part of the filming of the Patriot .

Still on the grounds are the Slave Quarters . Costumed docents are on hand to tell you about the lives of the 139 slaves that were owned by the Bratton family. The small room gives you a visual reminder of the cruel practice of slavery.

Stop by the visitor’s center, where you can purchase local made items, post cards, books, crafts, and a great place to pick up a drink in unforgiving southern heat or hot coco and cookies during the candle light tours in December.

Wee ones and big wee ones who enjoy animals will enjoy going by the family barn . While we were here there were some sheep at the back of the barn and two beautiful horses in the front that you could pet.

Stop by the brick kitchen near the homestead house. Houses at this time kept their kitchens separate since they had a tendency to burn up and it was better to loose a small building than a whole house. If you’re lucky, you can see an open-hearth demonstration.

Hightower Hall is not open to the public but worth walking around the outside and admiring its Italianate beauty. The building also was seen in the Patriot .

Quick Tips:

Brattonsville is open year round to the public. Through out the year they host a number of special events including battle reenactments, workshops, plantation days, and the Candlelight tours in December. So start by going to www.yorkcountry.org and clicking on Brattonsville to see the calendar of events.

If you are coming in the summer, please be aware our summers here are unbearably hot and take precaution when outside.

*Use sunscreen and plenty of it.

*Drink plenty of water.

*Pay the 50 cents to use the tractor-driven shuttle. Plus, it's fun way to get from point A to B.

*Eat a good meal before you come, since food here is typically limited to snacks or items such as ice cream. There is not a restaurant on the premises. You can find a variety of restaurants in nearby Rock Hill.

*Take the time on occasion to go inside, where it is cool, or rest in the shade.

*If you are here during the winter for the candlelight tour, it does get cold in the evening, so dress in layers.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you are not local, then you do need a rental car. Brattonsville is located about 15 miles from Rock Hill, SC. The nearest airport is Charlotte, NC (CLT), which is about 30 minutes away. Columbia, SC (CAE), is about an hour away. You can pick up a rental car from either airport.

Brattonsville is accessible by I-77 and then exit #87 which is Cherry Road in Rock Hill. You go past my alma mater, Winthrop University. The homestead is located on Brattonsville Rd. You have to look hard for the sign since it is a small sign pointing the direction.

Please note there are regular folks who live on this road too so even though you are in NASCAR country, please do not practice your Jeff Gordon moves here!

The Homestead house, or the main house, was the home of Dr. Bratton and his family. Construction started in 1823 and ended in 1826. In addition to practicing medicine, Dr. Bratton was also a wealthy planter and merchant. He and his wife, Harriett, went on to have 14 children. Due to his tremendous wealth and standing in the community, his house was built to reflect that. Dr. Bratton and his family enjoyed entertaining in their new house, and Harriet had the house decorated in upscale decor for the time. By 1840, their plantation house was one of the largest in the South Carolina Piedmont. Sadly, Dr. Bratton died unexpectedly in 1843. Harriet continued to live in and run the plantation house.

The side wings were most likely added in 1828. In 1853, Harriet added the grand Greek-Revival porch. The reproduction porch now graces the front of this grand and beautiful home. Harriet remained in the home until her death in 1874. The family remained in the home until 1915. After that, it was turned over to a number of different tenants. Now, if you read my journals on Old Salem, you will remember that I reminded you of some of the less desirable remnants of the ‘70s, but I also praised the "groovy" decade for their commitment to preserve and restore our historical buildings. So, in 1971, the campaign to restore this former beauty queen to her crown was underway. Today, historic Brattonsville is run under the York County historical society.

Today, the Homestead house is one again opening her grand doors to visitors. The house is part of the open buildings on the Brattonsville tour. The home was restored and, in some places, reproduced to its original beauty. When you walk through the front doors, on your right is a display of the Bratton family and their involvement in the medical community. On the left is the formal sitting room that would have once been used for entertaining. It is decorated according to the style at the time. The antiques in the room are authentic to the time period. On the second floor, you will find several rooms open and decorated. Included is the master room and several of the children’s rooms. Once you come back down and go out the back, you cross a breezeway to another building. This grand room would have been used as the formal dining room and for entertaining. While we were here for this visit, it was displayed with a large dining table, and several china cabinets with china adorn the room. When I was here several years ago for the candlelight tour, it was being used for dancing.

The house featured prominently in The Patriot , being used for the home of Benjamin Martin’s sister-in- law, Charlotte. You will find costumed docents inside the house to answer any questions you might have. You are allowed to take photos inside the house.

This gorgeous Italianate mansion was built between 1854 and 1856 for Dr. John Bratton and his wife Harriet. He was the father of John Jr., who owned the Homestead House. At the time they occupied the house, it was known as Forest Hall.

The plans for this house came from a book by designer William Ranlett, The Architect Volume 2. Amazingly, this beauty was found under a chapter for cheap houses! Designed in the Italianate style, it was built to resemble an Italian villa featuring a promenade central tower and wide bracketed eves. It featured a three-story central tower and a nearly square 2-story floor plan with a wide central hall flanked by two rooms on each side. It was built upon a high brick foundation, providing a sub-ground floor. The exterior features deep eves, large vertical windows, bracket mounts, and a low- pitched hip roof.

After the death of Harriet in 1912, the homes passed on to their daughter Sophia and her husband Robert Witherspoon. After their deaths, their children rented it out to tenement farmers. In 1958, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Draper purchased the home and resided in the home. In 1995, it was donated to the Historical Society for continued use for Brattonsville.

Today, the home is not on the tour or open to the public. As you arrive at Brattonsville, you will see this grand lady on the left. You may pull over and photograph the building. It is currently planned for use as a reception hall. It will be restored and equipment with more modern facilities. Eventually it will be used for meeting space, wedding receptions, family reunions, conferences, workshops, and classrooms. Now, while it wasn’t mentioned in the information on the website, I did read a local article a while back that said they planned on also opening up a full- service restaurant since there wasn’t one on the premises. This would be very welcome since, for now, you have to drive back 15 miles into Rock Hill for a meal. During the filming of The Patriot , it performed its duty as Camden Hall.

Historic Brattonsville is a 775-acre living history museum. It is the homestead of Dr. John Simpson Bratton and his family. The oldest structure here is from 1766, when part of the Col. William Bratton home was built. William was the father of John. But many of the structures here were built around the mid 1800s. Brattonsville is a historical homestead. The buildings here have either been restored as they were in their time period or have been reconstructed to original buildings found here at one time. Everything you see here is historically correct.

Around 1962, York county judge and former legislator Samuel Mendenhall purchased several buildings that had belonged to the Bratton family. He began an effort to have Brattonsville designated as a historic district and helped in establishing the York County Historical Commission. By 1963, the commission was established and they began to work towards obtaining all of the property. In 1971, the area was declared a historic district, and J.R. Rainey was its first director. Over the next two decades, the commission obtained control of the homestead either through donations or leases.

Today, most of the buildings here have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is designated as a historical landmark. They have won awards for their breeding program for their farm animals, including the preservation of many rare breeds of farm animals. The village is one of the most heavily visited culture attractions in South Carolina. It still continues to serve as both a museum and research center for Southern culture. There is also ongoing expansion plans and in-depth excavation into the slave houses and the lives of the slaves owned by the Bratton’s.

There are currently 29 structures open to the public, including Col. Bratton’s home, the slave quarters, the animal barns, out buildings, the family kitchen, and grounds. There is a visitor center on site offering souvenirs, local crafts, and books on the Bratton's and local history. Also, make sure you stop in the see the pictures taken during the filming of The Patriot.

Unless otherwise stated, programs also include admission to tour all of the buildings open to the public. There are costumed docents in the buildings to answer questions you might have. There are not typically guided group tours unless it is part of the program. You can tour the buildings at your leisure. You are allowed to take photos. Normal hours are 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 1am to 5pm on Sunday. Some events have longer hours. They are open year-round except New Years, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and Christmas Eve. General admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $3 for children. For more information, go to www.yourkcounty.org.

Okay, if somehow or another you missed the 1999 movie The Patriot , then shame on you. It can be purchased or rented on DVD, so make sure to see it. The movie has the triple crown of hunkiness, with Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin, Heath Ledger as his son Gabriel, and Jason Isaacs as Col. William Tavington. You may also know Jason as his turn as the evilly delicious Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. That alone makes this movie worth viewing.

The premise of the movie is deals with widower Benjamin Martin (attention Hollywood starlets, if you’re asked to play Mel Gibson's wife you might want to think twice. He seems to be a widower quite often!) and his seven children. He is trying to keep his family together and put his past as a soldier behind him. When the war breaks out his oldest son Gabriel joins the militia. Benjamin soon has to join the forces when the yummy and evil Tavington takes Gabriel. Great movie!

Now some of you big cities folks such as those of you in NYC, DC, or LA may gruff and think "big deal we have movies filmed here all the time". And granted I have had friends in LA and NYC who tell me it is actually more of a hassle than anything. They say you never know when your block, road, or even highway may be blocked. But round these parts, it is a pretty big deal to have a film shot here, especially one with the caliber of an actor such as Mel. So the folks at Brattonsville and other places nearby where the movie was shot have every right to be proud of being featured in such a prominent movie. Shooting for the film was done at Brattonsville, Camden, SC, and various places throughout Charleston, SC.

Inside the visitors center, you can see a framed picture of Mel and photos from the Patriot . I was here several years ago for their Candlelight Tour, and at the time, they had a photo of Mel from the movie, and the frame was signed by the cast and crew, as well as a costume worn by Heath and one by Jason on display. I noticed they were gone when we went in this past week. I inquired with the receptionist as to what happened to these items. She informed me that the autographed picture was moved upstairs to another room, away from the public. No explanation of why, but I can only assume people were handling it too much or trying to take it with them. She said the costumes were sent back to the studios. The movie is now almost 6 years old, so I would have no idea why they needed them back now. So if Mel, Heath, or Jason are reading this, please see if you can get the visitor’s center back their costumes.

Now, when I was here 2 years ago for the candlelight tour, we were inside the visitor’s center after the tour, munching on cookies and warming up our bellies with some hot chocolate. Naturally, when women gather and Mel Gibson has been around, they want to know if Mel is as nice or sexy in person as on the big screen. The volunteers here helped out the film crew, so most of the got to meet the cast, and I was assured that both Heath and Mel were indeed just as sexy as you would imagine and both genuinely nice guys who thankfully don’t have the "megastar" mindset. But it was the story of Jason that surprises me most. Now, I adore Mel and Heath, but I just adore Jason in this movie. Okay, I know he is mean to Mel’s character and kills Heath’s character (sorry to spoil the movie, but it is 6 years old now). But he is just such a hottie in the movie, I overlook those small things! But the volunteer said Jason was just an absolute sweetie. She said he would come in every morning and give the female volunteers a big hug and often had breakfast sent over for them. She couldn’t stop talking enough about how kind Jason was. So I knew there was a reason I adored him.

Okay, so if you are in Brattonsville and want to take your own Mel Gibson Patriot tour, here is where you will find you can walk in the footsteps of Mel, Heath, and Jason.

Colonel Bratton House : The interior of the house was used as Annie Howard’s parent’s house. Anne was played by Lisa Brenner (the Diary of Ellen Reinbaumer), and her character married Heath. The house was built in 1776. It is one the same side as the visitor’s center and is part of the tour open to the public.

Hightower Hall: This house was used as the Camden Plantation House for both the exterior and interior shots. The house was built between 1854-1856. Currently, the house is not open to the public. You can see it on the drive in. It sits on the left-hand side of the road, and there is room to pull off and go up to the house and photograph it. It is currently undergoing restoration and is supposed to be open back up to the public in 2006.

The Homestead House, or the main house: This was the home of Dr. Bratton and his family. The house was also built between 1823-1826. The house has been restored to its original beauty and is the main focus of Brattonsville. The interior of the house is used as the interior of Charlotte’s Plantation House. The character of Charlotte was played by actress Jolie Richardson in the movie, and she played Mel’s sister-in-law, who, it appears, gets Mel in the end of the movie (and hopefully lives).

The Battlegrounds : The battlegrounds were simply part of the land owned by the Bratton family. For the movie, it served as the military encampment where Mel’s character signs up for the militia. The land is used for battle reenactments as well for other demonstrative and educational purposes. It also serves as parking area at other times. It is open to the public, and you can feel free to walk around during the tour.

Now for all things Patriot I did find a very useful web site at www.patriotsource.com. When I was at Brattonsville for the Candlelight Tour I picked up a very helpful brochure that lists the sites for the movie. When I was here this time, I asked and these are no longer printed. So if you are truly looking to visit the places used in the movie, if you will contact me, I will be glad to send you out a copy of the brochure.

One place that seems to be missing on this list and others I have seen is Gullah Island , otherwise known as St. Helena Island. In the movie, this is where Heath’s character gets married. Gullah Island is located near Beaufort, SC. This is where the children’s show Gullah Gullah Island is filmed. They practice a religion similar to voodoo. Again, please realize that voodoo is not what is often shown in horror movies. Most people who practice this religion intend no harm to anyone.

If you are out this way, then checking out the places in the movie is a lot of fun. And you get to see some really beautiful places in the process. So you see Mel Gibson really was here!

"The people of the districts of Enoree and Tyger Rivers had been with the Loyalists in the South Carolina Militia since the siege Charles Town (now Charleston). Col. Andrew Neal, who had been a commanding officer of the SC Militia regiment, had fled the area due to his persecution of the loyalist. Lt. Col John Lisle, who had belonged to the same militia corps, had been banished to the islands. Later, for his exemplorary behavior, he was paroled and given a certificate for being a good citizen and was made second in command. When the battalion was equipped by the British with arms and ammunition, Lt. Col Lisle carried the regiment to Col. Neal, who had joined Col. Thomas’s SC militia, which has camped with the Catawba Indians.

Now, having Col. Neal’s reinforcement added to his ranks, Col. Sumter was looking to attack some of the British posts on the frontier. Having gained the necessary intelligence about the British posts, Col. Sumter directed his efforts towards the loyalists regiment at Rocky Mount.

Nearing the end of July 1780, Col. Sumter crossed the Catawba River to the west side with about 900 men and advanced south upon Lt. Col. George Turnbull (British commander at Rocky Mount), whose forces were composed of 150 NY Volunteers provincials and as many of SC loyalist militia. Their defenses consisted of two log houses, a loop- holed building, and abbatis placed upon an eminence with a view of the neighboring country.

Not having a cannon to destroy the abbatis or the building, Col. Sumter selected some of his bravest followers to remove the abbatis and the set fire to the buildings. Meanwhile, the rest of the troops under the cover of trees and rocks maintained heavy fire upon Rocky Mount. After three attacks, in which they were able to finally penetrate the abbatis, the Americans retreated with loss and precipitation.

In defense of the post at Rocky Mount, Lt. Col. George Turnbull had one officer killed and one wounded. About 10 more men were killed and wounded."

Even if battles aren’t your thing, the historical reenactments are quite interesting and entertaining. They're also quite popular, so arrive early to get a good seat. There is a lot of work that goes on for these battles, and it pays off handsomely in the end with a stunning battle recreation. It can get loud here, so if noise bothers you, you may want to consider earplugs. I couldn’t help but notice that after the reenactment, the "British" troops received a rousing round of applause. I could only guess that was due to the fact that it was right after the bombing in London had happened. Otherwise, I can not imagine red coats getting cheers from die-hard Southerners.

Brattonsville normally has two battle weekends during the year. They are normally held in the summer and fall. Your admission ticket is for the battle and to tour the houses here. I would suggest bringing either a blanket to sit on or captain's chairs to sit on. Also make sure to bring your children to this event. First of all, little boys love guns. But there are also a number of children dressed in period costumes who are with their families and show what life was like for the whole family. This is a sure bet for anyone looking for a fun way to take in some SC history.

Dr. John Simpson Bratton was a physician, merchant, and
planter. By the time he got ready to start construction on
the house near his parent, he was very wealthy. He and his
wife Harriet went on to have 14 children. He died
unexpectedly in 1843, most likely from complications from a
bout of measles he had suffered earlier that year.

Around 1839, Bratton converted his parent’s old log cabin into
a female seminary. He operated a store and the post office
at Brattonsville. He purchased nearby lots and rented them
to tenants farmers. He had a blacksmith shop and a sawmill, and
made his bricks for the slave quarter. His stock included
cotton, cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs. He also had a wide
variety of crops. He used these for both food for his family
and for revenue.

His children went on to follow in their father’s footsteps as
planters, educators, and businessmen, and were prominent in the
community. His daughters were well educated and held in high
esteem in local society. Three of his sons, John Jr., Samuel,
and James, went on to study medicine. John eventually had to
abandon his studies and help his mother run the estate after his father’s death.

The Bratton’s were wealthy, actively took part in high
Society, and enjoyed entertaining their friends at their
lavish estate. Now, anyone who has been to Charleston or
Savannah may seemed shocked at the Homestead House in
comparison to the plantation house at other parts of the
South. At a later point, after my return from my trip to
Charleston, I will write on the differences in the
plantation houses you will find in my area compared to the
Low Country plantation houses. You will see this in several
other journals I have to come. While the Bratton's were
considered wealthy, they did not begin to have the wealth
the plantation owners in the Low Country area, and their less-
elaborate home reflects that.

The Bratton’s did own slaves. An 1840 census shows the Bratton’s owning 3,540 acres of land and 112 salves. By 1843, he owned over 6000 acres and 139 slaves. After the Civil War, most of the slaves left, while some stayed on as paid labor and tenement farmers. There currently is a slave house on display, giving you a somber reminder of a darker time in the South. There is a great deal of study of slavery here that is currently going on. Recent topography charts have showed a possible 20 slave cabins on the property. There are several workshops and programs on the African-American contributions to the success of this plantation.

If you were ever in the area, I would highly encourage you to
pay a visit to Brattonsville. The pure beauty of this place
will stay with you long after your day has ended. It is
amazing to be able to walk in a structure that has been
standing for over 200 years.

Now, having lived near Charlotte most of my life, I can tell
you one thing that is sorely missing is the number of family-
friendly activities that won’t break the bank. Brattonsville
is only about 30 minutes from Charlotte. There
is something here for the whole family. Small ones will love
the animals at the family barn, while older children will
enjoy some of the demonstrations held. Everyone in the
family will enjoy the beauty of the candlelight tours in
December. Children also love the battles. When Karen and I were
Here, there were lots of families enjoying the battle. There
are also lots of young children participating in
the reenactments. They are dressed in period costumes and
are usually in tow with their parents. They seem to be very
knowledgeable about the time period, as witnessed by one young
man who was tending to the horse and told us what his
responsibilities would have been at the time. While we were
petting the horses, several children ran over, and he seemed
to take great pride in telling them about the horses and
explaining what he was doing.

Throughout the year there are a number of workshops and
demonstrations held. They also hold a number of events
throughout the year. Twice a year, historical battles are
held, typically in the summer and fall. They also hold a
wine celebration, vintage days, a pottery festival, and a
food festival. One of their most popular events is the
Candlelight Tours held in December. The houses are
beautifully decorated as they would have been at the time.

Brattonsville allows visitors to experience life on an 1800s
South Carolina plantation, both its good and bad. It is
truly a beautiful place to wile away the day. Plus, hey, you
get to see places where Mel Gibson was. And I don’t know
about you, but for me, that is icing on the cake!