News Release

John McAllister Realty Consulting
420 Aiken Hunt Circle - Columbia, SC 29223 - Office 803-788-7168 - Fax 803-699-1270

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 14, 2003
Contact: John A. McAllister, Jr., Accredited Land Consultant, John McAllister Realty Consulting
Office 803-788-7168, john@jmalc.com

Historic Ghent House to be Auctioned

Honea Path, SC- On Thursday, August 14th, 2003 at 2:00 PM, The Historic Ghent House will be auctioned. John A. McAllister, Jr., Accredited Land Consultant, owner of John McAllister Realty Consulting and Jerry Hammond of J.L. Todd Auction Company, Inc. have been contracted by the heirs of Alvin L. Hayden to sell the estate which contains the historic property. Mr. Hayden owned the property from 1956 until his death in 2001. The Estate is located in the Broadmouth Community on SC Highway 252 in Abbeville County approximately 2 miles southeast of Honea Path, South Carolina.

James Kay, Sr. originally built the Ghent house in the early 1790's. After the home was sold to Jesse Ghent in the 1820s, the area became know as Ghentsville when a Post Office was established on the property. Although the home was built by James Kay, Sr. the home became know as the "Ghent House".

The Hayden Estate contains The Ghent House, 93 fenced acres of open pasture with some wooded areas, two ponds and one spring fed creek. Other improvements include five barns and several corrals. Farm equipment will be included in the sale along with household items, personal property and a vintage automobile. The real property can be bought subdivided or as a whole.

The community of Ghentsville faded from the scene in 1855 when the town of Honea Path began developing after the railroad was established in 1853. Several published reports have stated that South Carolina Governor Charles Pinckney, President Andrew Jackson and Statesman John C. Calhoun visited or stayed in the home when they traveled in the area. The Ghent House also has a connection to President Jimmy Carter's family and is thought to be the oldest, surviving home in his ancestry. James Kay Sr.'s wife Grace Elgin was related to the Pratt family who were related to the Carter family.

For more information on the Alvin L. Hayden Estate call or e-mail John McAllister, Jr. ALC, Office 803-788-7168, email:john@jmalc.com or Jerry Hammond, Office 800-241-7591, email jerryh@jltodd.com. Visit www.jltodd.com for auction details.

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