Griffin-Christopher House
The Griffin-Christopher House, located at 208 Ann Street in Pickens, South Carolina, is a notable example of late 19th-century Folk Victorian architecture. Constructed in 1887, this two-story, side-gabled frame I-house features an L-shaped plan with a two-story rear wing. Its most distinctive elements are the two-tiered full-height front and side porches adorned with intricate jig-saw cut wood trim, hallmark features of the Folk Victorian style .
The property is closely associated with the Griffin family, particularly Elihu Holby Griffin, Sr. (1801–1874) and his son John Calhoun Griffin (1851–1890). Elihu H. Griffin, Sr. is notable for selling 94 acres of his land to the state in 1868, which contributed to establishing the county seat for the newly formed Pickens County. After his father’s death, John C. Griffin, a successful merchant and mill owner, resided in the house with his widowed mother. Under his ownership, the Folk Victorian features were added to the home .
In 1920, the house was purchased by Newton A. Christopher, and it has remained in the Christopher family for three generations. Recognizing its architectural and historical importance, the Griffin-Christopher House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 21, 2001 .