The building celebrated 190 years in 2025!
Timeline*(in progress March 2026)
1834 Capt. Daniel Bird Jr. purchased 43 acres from Eldred Simkins.
1835 The house is completed
1842 Oakley Park was sold to Daniel’s wife, Behethland
184* The house was sold to Col. John R. Weaver (b. 1820 – d. 1874)
1846 Sold to Col. Marshall Fraser (b. 1806 – d. 1870)
1874 Sold to Gen. Martin Gary (1831-1881) in 1874.
1881 The house is inherited by Martin's sisters. Victoria dies in 1917, his niece, Ms. Mary Martin Gary inherits and later passes away in 1934. Mary's brother, John Evans served as South Carolina Governor from 1894 to 1897. In the Spanish-American War, he served as Major in the U.S. Army.
1934 Mary died in 1934 and the house and property were transferred to her brothers (oral information says she did not have a will). Former South Carolina Governor and nephew of Gen. Gary, John Gary Evans bought the property from the other brothers.
1941 March 12, 1941, Gov. Evans sold the property and home to the Town of Edgefield and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Mrs. Sophie Fair and husband, Warren moved in as caretakers.