Advocate urges preservation of Browntown; Florence County authorizes negotiations to buy historic site

A retired National Guard member urged Florence County Council on Dec. 12 to preserve Browntown, a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and council subsequently authorized staff to negotiate purchase terms.

“My name is Lawrence Eady, and I'm an enthusiastic advocate for its preservation,” Lawrence Eady told the council, tracing Browntown's origins to royal grants in 1768–69 and describing remaining structures including a cotton‑gin house and ancillary buildings. Eady provided a handout and asked the county to take the property into public ownership so volunteers and artifacts could be preserved for future generations.

County staff told the council the county seeks to buy the tract from owner Kathy Lloyd. “The property currently consists of approximately 100 acres excluding the family cemetery for $300,000; Miss Lloyd would like to retain a life estate on 1 acre of the property,” staff said, and offered that Lloyd would donate several parcels and museum artifacts to the county as part of the transaction. Council voted to authorize the county administrator to execute a purchase contract pending successful negotiations and county attorney review.

Supporters framed the move as a chance to revive an educational rural museum and protect vernacular industrial buildings. There was no formal discussion of a funding source at the meeting; staff said the contract execution is subject to negotiation and attorney review before a final financing plan is presented. The item will return for further action as negotiations conclude.