Rye Patch

Front: In 1897, William R. Travers Jr. (1861-1905) of N.Y. acquired this 10-acre site for a winter estate named Rye Patch. He had the main house built soon after. Charles G. (1853-1933) and Virginia (Davidge) Taylor (1855-1935) acquired the property in 1924 and made additions. The residence as well as outbuildings underwent more work during the ownership of Edmund P. (1882-1966) and Dorothy Knox Goodyear Rogers (1896-1980), who bought the property in 1937. Reverse: Rye Patch’s owners were part of Aiken’s Winter Colony of wealthy northerners who visited seasonally. Among those who visited the property were members of the Vanderbilt and Astor families as well as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The Rogers family estate donated Rye Patch to the City of Aiken in 1981. Per their wishes, the property was opened to the public in 1983. Still extant are the historic main house, garage, stables, gardens, and caretaker’s cottage.