The Wistaria is located in Pickens County, South Carolina, nine miles north of the town of Pickens. The owner and builder was Matthew Hen­dricks, son of Col. John O'dell and Rosa Keith Hendricks. The gentle knoll on which the house was located was first selected by Matthew Hendricks' grandfather, Allen Keith, who built his log house about 1820 on the same spot.

The Wistaria really had its beginning during the Civil War. During the battle of Manassas, Mr. Hendricks and his company was billeted in or near a house that he liked very much. He took the measurements of every part of it and told the men he would build him a house by that plan when he got home. This is the house he built, an exact replica of the Virginia house which is still standing.

The real construction was begun about 1870. There was no saw mill in the area. James Benjamin Hester first bought an "up and down" saw mill, but it was too small and insufficient for sawing large timbers and lumber for a large building. Mr. Matt, as hewas affectionately called, heard of a circular sawmill for sale near Augusta, Georgia. He and Mr. Hester went for the mill and located it where the Oolenoy Community Center now stands. The finest trees on the farm were cut and hauled to mill on an oxcart. The lumber had to be kiln dried and hand-planed for weather boarding and wide plank for floors and ceilings. This was a long, tedious job with an old jack plane but in time was accomplished by Mr. Matt and his young sons. A few faithful slaves, who chose to remain with the family, helped with the labor.

At first, two chimneys were built with a third one being added latc r , One was made of four sizes of brick whic h were molded on a neighboring farm. Red clay was used for mortar. The kitchen chimney was rnade of field rock and clay mortar. The foundation rock was estimated to weigh 2,000 pounds. The crane in the kitchen fireplace was made by Mr . Hendricks in his shop. He also designed and made the porch posts, mantles, and some doors.

Wistaria be longs to no known school of architeeture, but it represents the man who built it - sturdy, handsome, and generous, nothing for show or pretense but built to stand the storms as he stood four square against all the winds of fate.

The old house, the first framed building to replace the log house in this area, stands as a landmark on the countryside; a monument lo bygone days and a symbol for those who built for time and for their child­ren's children.

Hospitality was and still is a charming feature of Wistaria. All during t h« lifetime of Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks the doors were never closed to guests , family, and friends. Casual acquaintances and strangers-in- need found welcome here.

The affection for this old house is present in each statement the mem­bers of the family make when showing the many visitors through.

The old cupboards, sideboards, plantation desk, clock, and other fur'nishings still stand in place which indicate the country's keen interest in the retention of a gracious way of life. The place gets its name from the mammoth wistaria now seventy-two years old and whic h has a circumference at the largest place of 65 inches . This was planted by Mrs. Matthew Hendricks, formerly Miss Mary Jane Looper.