A piece of Southern history

Ever wonder about that stunning property you see on your way to and From Charleston? It’s called Poco Sabo Plantation, and it has quite a story to tell.

Story Barry Kaufman + Photography by Keen Eye Marketing

HOUSE RULES: Like peeling back layers of centuries gone by, the main house dazzles with its Georgian architecture and old-world grandeur. Encompassing 7,500 square feet, it was built sometime after the ‘30s as a revival. Interestingly enough, this served as the first time a primary home existed on the land. “Dawn of Hope is where most of the Bellingers spent most of their time,” said Crosby, who listed that historical property as well.

These days it takes a lot to make waves in the real estate industry. Everywhere you look, prices are skyrocketing, inventory is dwindling, and lavish properties across Beaufort County are being snapped up by a wave of new residents drawn by the Lowcountry quality of life. 

If anything is going to stand out, it’s a historic $16.5 million sale of a centuries-old plantation. When Poco Sabo sold, people paid attention. After all, it’s not often that one of these historic marvels gets listed. Rarer still, one that has been so thoroughly and meticulously cared for. 

“What stands out about Poco Sabo to me is that through the years it has remained intact,” said Todd Crosby of Crosby Land Company. “All of the historical significance that makes Poco Sabo what it is, is still there today. This property is in pristine condition.”

Encompassing 1,640 acres along the Ashepoo River, the plantation house traces its history to a land grant chartered in 1702 that bestowed some 8,000 acres to Edmund Bellinger. The land, called Bellinger’s Barony, would watch the march of history go past its doors, from Indian battles of the colonial era to post-Civil War Reconstruction and beyond. And no matter how many times the property changed hands, it stayed firmly rooted in its history, thanks in large part to the conservation easement on it. 

“A lot of properties that are passed down have been broken up and fragmented through divisions, and a lot of natural resources have deteriorated over time,” said Crosby. “That’s the great thing about conservation easements. If properly designed by owners, they are invaluable for generations to come.”

RICE AND SHINE: Like so many plantations of its era, Poco Sabo provided the perfect environment for cultivating rice. And like much of the land, the historic rice fields have been perfectly preserved, giving a window into our agricultural past. “This property has been managed and cared for by some terrific landowners over the years,” said Crosby.
HAPPY TRAILS: Along with the rice fields and pecan orchards, much of the land that makes up Poco Sabo’s 1,640 acres serves as trails for birdwatching and hunting. It was Silas Wilder Howland, who purchased the property in 1934 and built the main house, who opened the grounds as a hunting preserve.
FIT FOR A QUEEN: One of the few structures on the grounds that isn’t historical, the standalone exercise room was built by the previous owners within the last five years. “It was built in a fashion where it really blends in with the surroundings,” said Crosby. “It was not something overly bold or designed to stand out.”
BEAUTIFUL RUINS: Dotted throughout the property, tabby ruins speak to the generations of families who have called Poco Sabo home.

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