Sylan Building

Sylan Building is a South Carolina historical marker in Columbia, Richland County, dedicated 2017.

Richland County · dedicated 2017 · 1500 Main St., Columbia, Columbia

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Front: The Sylvan Building, built c. 1871, is attributed to prominent Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan. Distinguished by its slate Mansard roof, it is today the lone remaining example of French Second Empire architecture on Columbia’s Main Street. It was originally built to house the Central National Bank, which was chartered in 1871. In its original configuration the banking floor was on the basement level, with entrance via a monumental staircase. Reverse: The Sylvan Brothers, Gustaf and Johannes, emigrated from Sweden and began operating Sylvan Brothers Jewelers in 1897. In 1905 they acquired the former Central National Bank building and moved their business here. In 1908 the Sylvan Brothers added the street clock at the corner of Main and Hampton. Likely produced by the Seth Thomas Co., it was one of a set of five. One other is in Columbia. Others are in Boston, New Orleans, and San Francisco.

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

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under a mile from where William Gabby lived in the 1760s

what this marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years here

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Marker data: South Carolina Historical Marker Program, SC Department of Archives and History
Sponsored by Great Southern Corporation

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