Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation Farmhouse

In 1806 these lands, which was to be known as Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, were purchased by William Brailsford who moved there from Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston at that time was the rice capital of the U.S. This site was ideal for rice growing as the Altamaha River ran through its backyard. With the river and the 350 slaves, the Rice Plantation flourished until 1865. It was during this time that the farmhouse was constructed. James Dent, an heir of Brailsford, continued to grow rice until 1913 but he fought a losing battle as there was no longer cheap labor to pay people to work the fields. James son established a dairy which he operated until 1942. When the last heir Ophelia Dent passed away she left the Hofwyl-Broadfield to the state of Georgia.