Visnska-Starks House (40-134)
N 34° 00.629 W 081° 01.107
17S E 498296 N 3763318
Located on the northwest side of town.
Waymark Code: WM9F6N
Location: South Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 08/12/2010
Views: 8
This house, built after 1900, was originally a two-story frame residence with a projecting bay and wrap-around porch; a fire in 1989 destroyed the second story. Barrett Visanska (1849-1932), a jewler, bought the house in 1913. Visanska, a native of Poland, was a leader in Columbia's Jewish community and a founder of the Tree of Life Congregation. In 1938 Dr John J Starks, president of Benedict College, bought the house.
Dr John Jacob Starks (1876-1944), the first black president of Benedict College, lived here from 1938 until his death. Starks was president of Seneca Institute 1899-1912; Morris College 1912-1930; and Benedict College 1930-1944. After World War II this house served as the nurses' home for Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital, created by merger in 1939. It was later a private residence once more.
Erected by the Richland Conservation Commission, 2007
Marker Name: Visnska-Starks House
Marker Location: City
Type of Marker: Building
Marker number: 40-134
County: Richland
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