Bruce-Foote House
The Plantation Clubhouse
“South Bend”
The Bruce-Foote House
South Bend’s history begins with the Lewis family. Fielding B. Lewis inherited the property from his father, Robert H. Lewis in 1834. Between 1846 and 1851, Fielding B. Lewis constructed his plantation house. James Coles Bruce came to the aid of Fielding Lewis in 1855, and in 1862 when Fielding and his wife, Samuella, moved to Bolivar County, Mississippi, the land was acquired by the Bruce family.
Wilkins Bruce, who made South Bend his home, was the son of James Coles Bruce and Eliza Wilkins Bruce of Berry Hill in Halifax County.
South Bend was a Bruce residence from the 1860s until 1907. After Wilkins death in 1907, his wife, Kate Bruce placed South Bend up for public auction. E. B. Foote we resided in Centralia, Washington was traveling through South Boston, saw announcements for the sale, and remained in town to await the event. He purchased the home and its contents, along with 1156 acres, for $17,500.
The frame house was built in three stages. The earliest part was a story and a half house with three rooms in a line. The second stage was probably the work of Fielding B. Lewis for the woodwork was typical of the 1840s and 1850. The last work was additions placed at each end of the second house. The front four rooms of the enlarged house had new moldings and trim installed around doors and windows making old and new rooms match.
During the Bruce years, South Bend was remodeled into a fashionable home. A servants’ wing runs off the back porch and is connected by a covered porch to the main house. This wing is typical of Bruce family dwellings.
The house was not inhabited from the 1950s and had suffered much damage when VIR owners restored the home in 2001. It is used today as a Members Clubhouse and Restaurant.
Written by B.J. Compton
