The historic district contains a variety of architectural designs which blend together to produce a cohesive and homogeneous unit. Included in this setting are examples of late 19th century domestic architecture, pre World War I dwellings, houses of the mid 1920's, and Baptist and Presbyterian Church architecture of the first half of the 20th century.

South First and Oak Street - Seneca Presbyterian Church and Chapter House, Founded in 1875; the present structure 1917. This is a beautifully preserved example of the period of Presbyterian Church architecture so designed that the Pulpit above and behind the Communion Table became a focal point in the center of the congregation which was most frequently seated in a semi-circle. This arrangement stresses unity and participation on the part of the congregation. The architecture is a direct and straightforward example of the traditional classicism which flourished prior the First World War.

211 South First Street - Lunney Museum, Founded 1906 (probable date). Mr. W.J. Lunney purchased the property in 1906 and presumably built the house in the same year. There is a superficial resemblance to the California “Bungalow”, popular at that time, because of the large central dormer window, the brown singles and the wide “verandas”. Diamond panes in the supper sash of the four windows of the dormer add a romantic English touch. However, the porch roof is supported by sophisticated Roman Doric columns below a well proportioned entablature with a delicate dentil molding below the cornice and the frontal gable is properly proportioned for a pediment. The building is now operated as an historical museum by Oconee County Historical Society. The Lunneys came to Seneca and established Lunney’s Drug Store in 1886. Click Here For More Information...

215 South First Street - Austin Harper House, Original construction 1896-1897, present appearance c. 1925, entrance porch later. The house is of interest in comparison to its neighbors; Specifically the Marett house to the west and the Gignilliat house across the street which retain their original appearance. The present austere appearance is the result of modernization of that period when the scroll-saw decoration, the so-called "gingerbread" of the late Victorian era was in disfavor. Porches, blinds, and all surface decorations were removed in an attempt to give a "New England Colonial" appearance to the house. The basic height and solidity of the original house retains a severe dignity.

301 South First Street - Marett-James House, Built by H.J. Gignilliat in 1898. The original builder is said to have satisfied a romantic desire to build a house of seven gables. Certainly, these gables give the building its interesting and individual character. The upper gables contain semi-circular or wide rectangular windows and are given further interest by alternate rows of dentil shaped shingles. The central gable, virtually a pediment, over the entrance porch is dignified by a sunburst design. Rather unexpectedly the porch roof is supported by Roman Doric columns. Compare with the contemporary Sue Gignilliat house across the street.

305 South First Street - Old Stringer House, Presumed date of origin 1898, moved to present site ca. 1905, present appearance ca. 1960. Although the present appearance, resulting from the recent application of aluminum siding and imitation wrought iron porch supports is nondescript, the basic simplicity of the original structure makes it possible to fit into an environment, which has remained current from the 1890s to the present.

311 South First Street - Homer Ballenger House, Actual construction date 1927. This house is interesting as an example of the lag in design progress often noted in small towns and rural areas. Though actually constructed in 1927 its appearance with dark brick and a flat gabled porch embraced by a parallel flat gable to the roof bespeak the decade W.W.I. It is not surprising for an owner to build a house which copies one he admired a decade earlier.

315 South First Street - Mrs. G.W. Gignilliat House, Built 1928. (315 South First Street. A rather simple brick cottage of 1928 was enlarged by an addition in 1954 at a different level. Unfortunately a door to the newer part competes with the original door and suggests dual occupancy.

South First Street - C N. Gignilliat House, Built 1922. Imposing two story, "four-Square" brick house in spacious grounds exemplifies the Georgian tradition and expresses the taste of well bred, well-to-do Americans throughout the country in the 1920s.

300 South First Street - Miss Sue Gignilliat House, Built 1898. This very distinguished late Victorian House is in virtually original condition except for the color. The interesting patterned shingle work of the second story, with alternating rows of dentiled and straight shingles, similar to that in the gables of the Marett house across the street, must have been originally in some tone of brown or green stain. Stained glass panels appear over the ransom of the front door and in several windows. The porch which is supported by paired posts, connected in each bay by a valance of vertical spindles is more in keeping with the house than is the Roman Doric of the Marett house. The basic understructure has a massiveness which relates it to the Austin-Harper House. A comparison of the three houses would be profitable to the student of 1890 architecture. Mr. G.W. Gignilliat and brothers were among the pioneer merchants who came to Seneca and made large contributions to the development of the town.

South Fairplay Street - R. L. Nimmons, Jr. House, Built ca. 1900. One could hardly find a more typical example of the vernacular house of this area at the turn of the century. Basically a square under a pyramidal roof, it has a prominent central gable above a veranda which stretches across the front and wraps around both sides to reach a projecting wing. The slender posts are terminated in brackets which make a graceful transition to the horizontal. The house is in a good state of preservation.

210 South Fairplay Street - Seneca Baptist Church , Seneca Baptist Church, built 1924. This imposing building exemplifies Baptist church architecture of the first half of the 20th Century. The four column portico is an outstanding example of the Ionic order at a time when classic architectural detailing was still remembered. It was organized in 1873 and the first building was erected in 1882-1883.

206 South Fairplay Street - B.A. Lowery House , Referred to locally as "California Style". This house has indeed much of the character of a bungalow. The heavy columns and suggestion of trellises (although roofed) link it with the architecture of Maybeck in Berkeley at this time. The brown shingles in alternate narrow and wide rows of the second story, the lattice-like treatment of the gable, the light tan or beige clapboards, alternating narrow and wide, under the porch roof are all indicative of this period. Mr. Lowry was mayor of Seneca in 1920s.

215 South Fairplay Street - D.P. Thompson Waikart House, built in 1914. Although typical of pre-World War I dwellings, this house is different from the others in the area. The ground floor is a dark brick while the upper floor is finished in "half timber" and plaster. This romantic reference to medieval England has a tremendous surge of popularity throughout the United States in the 1920's when it became known as Tudor. In spite of this, there is a marked local carryover in the use of porches on the front and side of the building.

210 South Townville Street - Livingston-Stribling House, Livingston-Stribling House, built 1885. This house is a splendid example of late 19th Century domestic architecture. It is so similar to the Marett (4) and Gignilliat (9) houses on West South First Street as to be readily confused with them; in fact, suggesting construction dates less than a decade apart. In addition to the porch posts and spindled "valance" of the Gignilliat house, this house has a scroll work "fringe" of great charm which is to be seen on the upper porch of the Abbott house on North First Street of a similar date (1887). An oddity of this house is that it faces North, at right angle to Townville Street and away from the adjacent South Third Street which suggests that it must have had more lawn and entrance drive toward South Second Street. Dr. Stribling was one of the early medical doctors of Seneca.

206 South Townville Street - H.L. Thompson House , H.L. Thompson House, built 1925. Not many examples still remain of this type of substantial family house of the mid 1920s. Although this square clapboard house has classic proportions, great solidity and dignity, there are actually no classic details. The porch roof is supported by paired square posts rather than by columns and the trim has little or no molding. The simple, direct forthrightness gives this house an American-ness which distinguishes it from any "period".

207 South Townville Street - W.P. Nimmons House, Built 1902. A vernacular house of the turn of the century, chronologically, this house comes between the Marett House and the Lunney Museum; if anything more related to the former. Its forceful frontal symmetry has been altered by the addition of a sleeping porch.

South Townville and South Second Streets - Hines House, Built 1876. The present severe appearance of this late 19th Century house is due to the loss of porches which extended across the front on the ground floor and possibly on the second floor. A second story porch extended the width of the house. The present porch would be adequate if it had properly proportioned square posts but the present wrought iron is visually too thin although probably structurally adequate. The house is presently divided into two apartments on the ground floor, which seems an appropriate use although the second story is not utilized.

NW Corner of South Townville and South First Streets – Episcopal Church , Built 1882. A building of such essential simplicity is rarely found. A timeless building, it is worthy to appear among the best in the state and should be preserved at all cost even if relocation is necessary. The church was organized in 1879.

South Townville and South Second Streets - Harper-Burley House, Built 1890. A very simple, direct, one story "vernacular" house whose roof slope continues to cover a porch of turned posts. Again, as before on this street, the house faces at a right angle to the street toward the North. On the front lawn is a unique octagonal "flower house" of brick which is worthy of special notice. An upper story was destroyed by fire.

South Townville and South First Streets - Whit Holleman House, Built 1889. This is the most pretentious house in the area. Like the Harper-Burley House (21), across Townville Street, this house faces North but is a long way from South First Street. Present excavation on First Street indicates the owner is taking advantage of the GC Zoning. However, this need not detract from the house if care is taken in screening the structure. The presence of two bay windows, each with its own roof, suggests that the house has been greatly modified and its original aspect changed. Early photos show it to have looked rather like the Stribling and Gignilliat houses. The builder of the houses, Mr. J.W. Stribling, was the First Clerk of Court for Oconee County and founder of the Seneca bank.

South Second Street - Roach-Matheson Bell House, This one and one-half story log house was built at Long Creek in Oconee County by Jeremiah Roach. It was relocated in 1969. (110 W.S. Second Street rear) make one or possibly two closely adjacent historic districts, a series of houses of very good quality representing the gradual change of taste from the 1890s to the present day. This will make a very desirable outdoor historic museum, showing that good quality in building (even in a small and new town) can reflect the taste and inheritance of the people in its area, and can reflect equally gradual growth and change to keep up with the changing culture of that town.

300 South Fairplay Street, Built in 1909 by Joshua Stephen Arrington, is a good example of an early twentieth century residence and contributes to the historic character of the district. The house is a one-and-one-half-story, frame, weather-boarded building with an irregular plan. There is a hipped roof over the core of the building with pedimented gables over the four projecting wings. The house has a shed-roofed porch, two interior chimneys with corbelled caps, and two-over-two windows. Alterations include a carport that extends from the front porch and wraps one side and two rear additions; these changes have not compromised the integrity of the house.

106 Ram Cat Alley - Patterson Building, (ca. 1917): This one-story structure features brickwork with an English bond. The upper facade has four elliptical ventilators and a rectangular brickwork pattern above the ventilators. The lower facade has a glass storefront and an inset entrance, both bordered by an above masonry band.

109 Ram Cat Alley - Herbin Building, (ca. 1917) : This one-story structure features multi-colored brickwork with an English bond. It has a glass storefront with an above dividing brick band and a recessed brickwork pattern on the upper portion of the front facade. A concrete bond tops the brickwork on the front facade. This structure originally served as a general store.

113 Ram Cat Alley - Harper and Jones Building, (ca. 1897): This two part, two storefront commercial block features brickwork with an English bond. The second story has a pair of double windows, which are 6/6 double hung with segmental arches. It also features a recessed rectangular brick pattern that enhances the reserved facade. The first story facade has two entrances with two glass storefronts. This structure was home to a general store operated by J.W. Harper and a grocery store at the turn of the century.

112 Ram Cat Alley - C.F. Adams General Store, (ca. 1920) : This one-story structure features brickwork with an English bond with a header course (every seventh course), and is topped with a granite bond. The upper facade is decorated with three flush terra cotta diamond shaped and 10 terra cotta square shaped motifs, and a dividing masonry band. The lower facade has two glass storefronts and an inset entrance. The style of the building is a restrained Victorian example. The original use of the structure was as a general store operated by C.F. Adams.

111 Ram Cat Alley - Phinney Building, (1930) : This one-story structure features two different colors of brick with an English bond with a header course (every seventh course). The lower portion of the front facade has a glass storefront with a dividing brick band. The upper portion of the front facade has a recessed brickwork pattern surrounding a marble cornerstone and two columns extending on each side of the structure. The brickwork on the front facade is topped by a concrete bond.

115 Ram Cat Alley - Cafe, (ca. 1897) : This one-story structure features brickwork with an English bond. The structure has an inset storefront with two windows and an entrance. The upper portion of the front facade has a rectangular brick ”toothing” pattern and two square ventilators. Also, steel beaming is visible above the storefront inset. Deeds and records suggest that this structure mainly served as a restaurant throughout its existence.

117 Ram Cat Alley - Fred Hopkins Meat Market, (ca. 1908) : This two-story structure features brickwork with a Flemish bond. The second story facade features three 2/2 double hung windows with segmental arches, three elliptical ventilators, and recessed rectangular brickwork. The first-story facade has a glass storefront and entrance and showcases a steel beam just over the storefront. The first floor originally housed Fred Hopkins 'Meat Market and Mr. Hopkins' residence occupied the second floor. The locals gave this section of Main Street the Dame Ram Cat Alley because of all the cats that gathered at Fred Hopkins because of the smell of meat and fish store at the turn of the century.

120 Ram Cat Alley - P.C. Skelton Grocery, (ca. 1917) : This two-part commercial block features brickwork with an English bond, hinting towards Romanesque Revival. The second story of the facade features three windows that have been enclosed and three elliptical ventilators. The lower facade has a glass storefront with a dividing masonry band and an inset entrance. The original use of this structure was as a grocery operated by P.C. Skelton and was the first grocery in Seneca to deliver to customers homes.

121 Ram Cat Alley - Little Star Café and Taylors Market, (ca. 1917): This one-story structure features brickwork with an English bond. It has a glass storefront and one enclosed storefront and has decorative recessed brickwork with brick "toothing" on the upper portion of the front facade. This structure originally housed a Café and a grocery store.

122 Ram Cat Alley - Harper and Patterson Building, (ca. 1917) : This structure features yellow brickwork with an English bond with a header course (every eighth course). The upper part of the front facade has two recessed rectangular brickwork patterns and four elliptical ventilators with arches. The lower facade has two glass storefronts with inset entrances and dividing masonry bands. This structure originally enclosed Harpers 5&10 Store and the L.C. Patterson General Store. The Harpers 5&10 Cent Store was the original store and headquarters in what became a successful regional chain of stores.

124 A-C Ram Cat Alley - Osborne Building, (ca. 1917) : This one-story structure features brickwork with an English bond and a header course (every seventh course). The structure has a window storefront with dividing brick band. It has three entrances, two of which are recessed. The upper front facade has decorative recessed brickwork and is topped by a concrete bond and reserved cornice arrangement.

125-A Ram Cat Alley - Main Street Barber Shop, (ca. 1887) : This one-story structure features brickwork with an English bond. It originally served as a barbershop, boarding house, and grocery in its first 25 years of existence.

126 Ram Cat Alley - Old Seneca Post Office, (ca. 1917) : This one-story structure features brickwork with an English bond. The upper front facade has a dividing masonry band and also has a recessed rectangular brickwork pattern. The lower facade has a glass storefront with an inset entrance and a masonry band above. The building was built by J.E. Harper and then sold to house the post office in 1921.

103 North Townville Street - Nimmons and Field Building, (ca. 1917) : This one-story structure features brickwork painted white with an English bond. The upper front facade has a recessed rectangular brickwork pattern and Romanesque Revival cornice work. The lower facade features a glass storefront and entrance. The building was built by W.P. Nimmons and served as companion to the larger, but younger Nimmons Building. It later served as a general store specializing in tires by E.H. Field when automobiles became popular.

105 North Townville Street - Nimmons Building, (1917) : This two-story structure features brickwork painted white with an English Bond. The second story facade features nine arched 9/1 double hung windows an Romanesque Revival cornice work. The first story facade features and inset comer entrance. The building served as a large-scale farm supply store and housed Seneca's first freight elevator capable enough to transport carriages to the second level of the building.

119 North Townville Street - Austin Building, (ca. 1920) : This two-part commercial block features brickwork with an English bond and alternating brickwork above the storefront area and second story windows. The second story facade has six 1/1 double hung windows, five mosques, and restrained Victorian cornice work. The first story has two glass storefronts separated by the entrance. This building was originally occupied by the Seneca Pharmacy for 62 years and the Hopkins Pool Room. The second floor served at one time as the headquarters for the South Carolina Medical Association.

123 North Townville Street - Richardson Theater, (ca. 1920): This two-story structure features brickwork with an English bond topped by a concrete bond. The second story facade features three 1/1/1 triple hung windows with a concrete dividing bond and intricate brickwork. The first story has two recessed entrances and a glass storefront. This was the first theater in Seneca and introduced the area to motion pictures.

127 North Townville Street - Collins and Glenn Building (ca. 1917): This one-story structure features brickwork with an English bond.

111 North Townville Street - Citizens Bank Building, (1905): This two-story structure features brickwork with an English Bond and intricate and decorative granite work. The second story facade features windows with segmental arches above a Beaux Arts grandeur represented by the pilasters with their flaring capitals and intricate cornice work. The structure has sustained its original grandeur despite some changes to the front facade. The building, long-held as the most prominent structure in Seneca, served as a bank and a store on the first floor and an opera house on the second floor. The second floor also served as "Red Cross Hall" during World War I where volunteers made surgical bandages and other hospital supplies for the war effort. However, an alteration to the front and side facades has rendered this structure ineligible for nomination at this time. A staircase tower was added to the front facade and cornice work has been removed.

118 Ram Cat Alley - A.P. Grant and Company, (ca. 1917) : This one-part commercial block features brickwork with an English bond and a glass storefront. The brickwork is topped by a concrete bond. The building originally served as a general store.

123 Ram Cat Alley, vacant lot.