Timeline

  • 1863 - June 4, 1863 Plantation of Joseph Baynard burned down during Union attack on Bluffton.
  • 1868 - Cyrus Garvin becomes a registered voter and his name can be found in the Beaufort, SC 1868 Voter Registration –Bluffton Precinct list.
  • 1868 - February 27, 1868, Cyrus Garvin submits an application to be appointed employer over 26 Freedmen on Montpelier Plantation with approval of Ephraim M. Baynard – the owner of the plantation.
  • 1870 - Census records Cyrus Garvin as a 49-year-old farmer, with 41-year-old wife Ellie and twelve-year-old son, Issac. At this time he owns real estate valued at $250.
  • 1870 - Now known as Cyrus “Garvey” he deeds land, which he bought from Dr. Paul Pritchard, and an edifice to St. Matthews Baptist Church Trustees.
  • 1878 - Cyrus Garvin likely builds the current structure on land once belonging to Joseph Baynard.
  • 1880 - Census –Cyrus Garvin listed as 60 years old man with wife Ellen, son Isaac, daughter-in-law Jenny, and grandson Paul.
  • 1890 - Cyrus Garvin is recorded as residing in Bluffton, but likely dies within the next year.
  • 1891 - State of South Carolina grants Cyrus Garvin property formerly owned by Joseph Baynard.
  • 1891 - Title of property transferred to son, Isaac Garvin.
  • 1914 - Title of property transferred to son of Isaac Garvin, Paul Garvin.
  • 1961 - Property transferred to John Samuel Graves III.
  • 1970 - Property owned by Bluffton Oyster Cooperative.
  • 1985 - Property transferred to Bluffton Oyster Company.
  • 2001 - Property acquired by Beaufort County Land Trust.
  • 2004 - Beaufort County entered into a partnership with the Town of Bluffton to share in maintaining Oyster Factory Park and its resources.
  • 2008 - Beaufort County and Town of Bluffton stabilize the Garvin House.
  • 2014 - Beaufort County and Town of Bluffton initiated Structural Plan and Updated Preservation Plan for the Garvin House.
  • 2016 - Restoration process commenced using Grants from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and Department of the Interior and Historic Preservation. The Town now maintains Oyster Factory Park.
  • 2017 - Restoration work completed and The Garvin House will soon be open to the public.