This Greek Revival cottage is located just off of downtown Anderson. It is a rare example of a raised cottage. They are scarce in upstate South Carolina. Raised cottages are a Southern take on Greek Revival architecture. Sometimes known as mosquito cottages, these homes were built off the ground to help keep homes cool. It was also believed that getting the houses off the ground would help keep mosquitos out of the house. I haven’t read anywhere if that is true, but the form was fairly popular, so I am guessing there is some truth to that.

The Caldwell-Johnson-Morris house was built in 1851 for Nancy Caldwell. She then sold the home to Dr. William Johnson, Baptist minister and founder of Johnson Female College, a women’s college. The college is now Anderson University, a school that is still affiliated with the Baptist church.

The home was then sold to Margaret Morris in 1858. The Morris family occupied the home for more than 70 years. According to the 1860 Slave Census, Margaret Morris enslaved two women aged 50 and 17.

Eventually, the home became the Morris Street Tea Room in 1980. According to news articles, you could get a seven-course meal for $23.95. On Sundays an unlimited buffet was offered for $7.70.

Below are advertisements I found in the Anderson Independent Mail of the Morris Street Tea Room. The space was under three different owners/managers.