"If there is any spot of sunshine on this earth, any spot of which I love to think, talk, and dream, it is the space before your door with the white gate and long avenue of trees leading to it" (the words of an Episcopal Minister in 1846). Prior to the American Revolution, the 1,200 acre Roseville Plantation was established by a royal grant and the first home was built here circa 1771 by the Dewitt family. The current structure was built Circa 1835. The home was remodeled by the third owner, the Clarke family, circa 1885 and again circa 1910. The property was sold out of the Clarke holdings in 1948 and steadily fell into disrepair until it, along with the current 13.53 acres, was purchased in 1986 by the Tucker family. The Tuckers restored the home and remaining grounds to much of their former glory and listed it on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. This lovely 4,500 square foot antebellum home is typical of some former plantation houses due to its rambling structure and the 10 foot wide covered porches that nearly surrounded the structure at one time but, with portions of the porch being enclosed over the years (mainly to provide an expansive Florida room and a spacious office) about 800 feet of the porches remain. Coming up the long tree-lined drive from the road, the home and its upper and lower piazzas welcome visitors with open arms and cool shade. Entering the front door into the foyer with its striking curved archway that leads to the multi-landing stairway to the second floor, to the formal living room (and then to the formal dining room), the wonderful Florida room and a convenient bathroom as well as to the first floor master suite. The dining room and Florida room provide alternate paths to the laundry, kitchen, office and den (or library) towards the rear of the house. Taking the stairway up and around to the second floor reveals large bedrooms on the two front corners of the home (one of which is en suite with a full bath) and also to two smaller bedrooms and another hall bathroom. The second floor hallway provides access to the second floor porch as well with its view back down the drive. All of the moldings, mantelpieces, stairways and railings throughout the structure are examples of artistic wood working and carry on or restore such previous work dating back to the 19th century. The grounds, with a goodly presence of stately mature oak and black walnut trees, are well planned and reminiscent of the formal gardens of grander days past and also include some original outbuildings (and remaining foundations). Located about a mile from I-95 (safely away from the traffic noise), this location is extremely bucolic but is still handy to Florence and the approaches to the Atlantic beaches.
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