Lamar is a home away from home for us. Maxi’s mother’s side of the family hails from this lovely agricultural town of 1,015 residents. Her grandfather, William “Daily” Harris, served as mayor of Lamar from 1955-56. Her grandmother, Betty Harris, taught at Lamar Elementary School for nearly twenty years. People who grow up here fondly recall the small town charm, friendly people and good cookin’ that make Lamar, well Lamar. Lamar was once known as a vital tobacco farming community. David Beasley, South Carolina’s governor from 1995-99, hails from Lamar. Governor Beasley received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2003 for his decision to remove the Confederate flag from the state house dome. Lamar is also home to one of Darlington County’s best kept dining secrets. Cruis’n Chicken is located inside a small gas station. Maxi and I both agree that Cruis’n has THE BEST chicken fingers we have ever tasted.

The Lamar High Silver Foxes have long dominated Pee Dee athletic competion. Lamar  has won a combined 11 state titles in boys and girls track and three titles in football. Lamar’s first great notable athlete was quarterback Tommy Suggs. Suggs also starred in basketball for the Silver Foxes in the 1960′s. Suggs’ exploits on the gridiron earned him a scholarship to Carolina. Tommy led the Gamecocks to the ACC Title in 1969. He held many school passing records until his broadcast partner (Todd Ellis) surpassed them 20 years later. Levon Kirkland played several positions at Lamar. Kirkland starred at Clemson and became a 1991 All-American. Kirkland was also named to two Pro Bowls as a Pittsburgh Steeler. Levon was selected as a 2nd teamer on the 1990′s NFL All-Decade team. Levon and his wife, Dr. Keisha Kirkland, are outspoken crusaders in the fight against cancer. Keisha is an amazing surviver of four brain surgeries and lung cancer. Pro-Bowl defensive end John Abraham nearly missed his calling to play football. John was a track star at Lamar before joining the football team as a senior. He received a scholarship to the University of South Carolina, where he finished 2nd on the school’s all-time QB Sack list. Abraham was drafted by the Jets in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He currently stars at defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons. John has been selected to four Pro Bowls and currently stands 16th on the All-Time NFL QB Sack list. Abraham has not forgotten his Silver Fox roots. He recently donated $100,000 to the school for a new track. Lamar hosted their first home track meet at the John Abraham track on March 17, 2011.

The Lamar Egg Scramble is Lamar’s annual town festival. The Egg Scramble is a four day event that is held each April. The festival takes it’s name from The Egg and I, South Carolina’s largest “family-owned” chicken farm. The event started in 1984 and draws as many as 15-20,000 visitors. Highlights of the festival include a beauty pageant, classic car show, parade, live entertainment, street vendors and carnival rides. This was our first opportunity to attend the Egg Scramble. Sunny skies with a brisk breeze greeted us on arrival. Patrons were out in full force, soaking up the atmosphere and sunshine. We immediately caught a glimpse of the classic car show. Festival officials estimated the number of participants to total at least 55. I’m not an avid classic car enthusiast, but I must say it was beautiful watching these old standbys bask in the April sun. Maxi and I were shocked by the vast number of vendors at the festival. We talked to vendors from Timmonsville, Latta, Columbia and Charleston. A variety of local music acts serenaded the throng of festival attendees. One rock group played a couple of covers ranging from AC/DC to Stone Temple Pilots. Ribs, funnel cakes, corn dogs and fried oreos were just a few of the nutritious choices available at the festival. The Egg Scramble Jamboree also provided several carnival rides and games for children. I usually enjoy the sleepy atmosphere of this lovable town, but for one weekend a year it was nice to watch Main Street rock.

The town of Hartsville was once inhabited by a throng of Indian tribes. Diseases brought in by Europeans wiped out most of the native population. Hartsville was named for early settler Thomas Edwards Hart. Hart moved to the area from nearby Society Hill in 1817. Hart served as a planter, merchant, and justice of the peace. He was appointed the first postmaster of Hartsville Post office in 1838. Hartsville was one of the few Pee Dee towns spared by Sherman during his march through South Carolina. Hartsville is widely known as the home of Coker College, a four year co-educational liberal arts college that serves 1,100 students. Coker’s roots date to 1894 as Welsh Neck High School. Major James Lide Coker used his measurable assets and community influence to start the private academy. Major Coker helped the academy transition into Coker College for Women when SC’s public school system debuted in 1908. Coker College officially recognized itself as co-educational in 1969, though some men had matriculated there since the 1940′s. Today Coker sports a magnificent 12:1 teacher-student ratio. Coker was named a best college in the South by U.S. News & World Report &  by the Princeton Review. Hartsville is also the corporate home of Fortune 500 member Sonoco Products Company. Sonoco is a “global provider of packaging products and services, delivering innovative solutions to industrial and consumer businesses.”

Kalmia Gardens is a 35 acre “mature” botanical garden located two miles from downtown Hartsville. The gardens surround the ca. 1820 Thomas Hart House. Thomas Hart died prematurely in 1842 after suffering financial hardships. His wife Hannah continued to live in the home until 1859. By 1900 the property had “changed hands” several times. By 1930, the once proud property had become a “dump site.” Mr. David Coker and his wife May acquired the “desolate” property from David’s brother William in 1932. Dr. William Coker was head of the Botany department at UNC-Chapel Hill. Dr. Coker had recently penned a book about the land surrounding the home called “Laurel Land.” Three years later, assisted by several gardeners and a mule, ”Miss May” Coker transformed a lifeless piece of property into a floral sanctuary. May Coker, a native of Washington, D.C., became one of Hartsville’s most beloved citizens. Kalmia Gardens, now sponsored by Coker College, opened to the public in 1935. Kalmia was named for the abundant Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel) that blooms here in May. Mrs. Coker wanted the gardens to be a place for all people to enjoy. The gardens were to be open from dawn to dusk 365 days a year. Miss May bestowed Kalmia to Coker College in 1965 as a tribute to her late husband David. In 1996 the revered Hart House received a much needed renovation. Today Kalmia Gardens hosts festivals, garden parties, symposia and field trips from Pee Dee area schools. Weddings are held in a beautiful shaded gazebo adjacent to the Hart House.

Kalmia Gardens begins its 60 foot descent behind the aforementioned Thomas E. Hart House. The home and its surrounding acreage are located on a high bluff overlooking Black Creek. The geological change from the blooming flowers of the Hart House to the swampy bottomlands of Black Creek is magnificent and somewhat surreal. Boardwalks snake through black waters surrounded by weathered bald cypress and swamp tupelos. An arched bridge towers over Black Creek. The creek’s source begins near Pageland and “meanders” its way to the Great Pee Dee River. The terrain then takes a steep and unexpected upward climb, passing through waves of blooming mountain laurel. The woop-chipped trail also showcases the brilliant vision of Mrs. Coker in the form of azaleas, wisteria, camellias, and Japanese tea olives. Kalmia’s unique topography allows the property to host seven of South Carolina’s eleven “native” plant communities. The most peaceful and secluded part of Kalmia Gardens is the lily pond, created under “Miss May’s” guidance in the 1930′s. The pond is surrounded by a large canopy of camellias and loblolly pines. The Camellia was “Miss May’s” favorite tree. The Rhododendron Trail leads you through a host of azaleas on the return to the Hart House. May Coker’s dedication to Kalmia Gardens and her adoptive home of Hartsville remains an inspiration to all that frequent this special place.

You haven’t experienced Hartsville cuisine until you’ve eaten at Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken. This Hartsville staple is the last in a chain of nationwide restaurants that features Hanna-Barbera’s lovable picnic pilferers. Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken is located on South 5th Street near downtown. The cozy parking lot is watched over by a large marquee featuring Yogi devouring a rather large drumstick. We entered Yogi Bear’s anticipating a unique take on fried chicken. What we received delighted our taste buds, making the drive back to Greenville seem a bit shorter. Maxi ordered the Cindy Box and I had the six piece chicken tender box. The kicker here is the honey waiting on the counter ready to be consumed by any hungry human; or portly bear. The honey was a perfect compliment to already moist and delicious chicken! Boxes are also served with a side and a dinner roll. The potato salad and baked beans were out of this world! Yogi’s also makes sinful homemade dessert parfaits for those that have room left!

Our day in Darlington County embodied the beauty of spring in the Pee Dee. The Lamar Egg Scramble Festival showcases the commerce and spirit of Lamar each April. Kalmia Gardens of Coker College proved that swamps, gardens and historic homes can truly co-exist. Yogi Bear’s Honey Fried Chicken gave us a true explanation of Yogi’s penchant for picnic food. There is no question Darlington County will always be best known for its rich stock car heritage. Our trip simply proved that scrambled eggs, blooming flowers and fried chicken fit quite comfortably in the passenger seat.

INDIGO BLUE NOTES: The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, founded in 1988, is located in Hartsville. The largest American Beech tree is located on the front lawn of the Thomas Hart House. It stands 80 feet tall with a “canopy spread” of 74 feet. Television personality Leeza Gibbons was born in Hartsville and grew up in Irmo. Gibbons, the former host of Entertainment Tonight and Extra, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998. Gibbons’ father Carlos was a former state superintendant of education.

To view a gallery of our trip to Kalmia Gardens of Coker College please click HERE

For more photos of Darlington County please click HERE

For more information on the Lamar Egg Scramble Festival visit their website at www.lamareggscramble.com

For more information on Kalmia Gardens call (843) 383-8145, or visit their website at www.kalmiagardens.org

Kalmia Gardens     1624 W. Carolina Avenue     Hartsville, South Carolina 29550

For more information on Yogi Bear Fried Chicken call (843) 332-7031

Yogi Bear Fried Chicken     514 South Fifth St.     Hartsville, South Carolina 29550

South Carolina has long been known for its diverse landscape and rich cultural heritage. The following post focuses on the people, places and symbols that give the Palmetto State it’s noted colorful (and sometimes controversial) personality. Google instantly provides people with information that was once difficult to obtain. In our household Maxi and I google everything from current television shows to former U.S. Presidents. We hope you enjoy this list of “google-worthy” items regarding our fine state.  You might learn a thing or two you didn’t already know about South Carolina. Enjoy!! 

A

Aaron Burr Rock- Chester

Abbeville, South Carolina

Abingdon Manor- Latta

ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge

Adluh Flour

Aiken, South Carolina

Albemarle Point

Allen University

Anderson, Pink

Andrew Jackson State Park

Angel Oak

Angelo’s Steak & Pasta- Myrtle Beach

Anne Springs Close Greenway

Annie’s Inn B & B- Montmorenci

Animis Opibusque Parati (Prepared in Mind & Resources)

Arthur Ravenel Bridge

Ashley River

Atalaya Castle

B

Barefoot Landing- North Myrtle Beach

Barnwell Sundial

Barry, Kate Moore

Beacon Drive-In- Spartanburg

Benedict College

Benne Wafers

Best Friend of Charleston

Bethesda Presbyterian Church- York

Bethune, Mary McLeod

Bi-Lo Center

Blackbeard’s 1718 Siege of Charleston

Black River

Blackville Healing Springs

Blenheim Ginger Ale

BMW Zentrum

Bodie, Idella

Bonham, James Butler

Boone Hall Plantation

Bowen’s Island Restaurant

Boykin Spaniel

Branchville Train Depot

Brattonsville, Historic

Broadway at the Beach- Myrtle Beach

Brown, James

Brown’s Barbecue- Kingstree

Brookgreen Gardens

Broom Place- Boykin

Buford’s Massacre or Battle of Waxhaws

Burt-Stark Mansion- Abbeville

Bush River Baptist Church- Newberry County

Byrnes, James F.

Byrnes High School Football

C

Caesar’s Head State Park

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club- Pawleys Island

Calhoun, John C.

Camden, South Carolina

Campbell, Carroll

Campbell’s Covered Bridge

“Carolina” by Henry Timrod

Carolina Adventure World- Winnsboro

Carolina Cup

Carolina Girls “Best in the World”

Carolina Mantid

Carolina Wolf Spider

Carolina Wren

Carowinds

Carson, Harry

Castle Pinckney

Catawba Indian Tribe

Catawba River

Catholic Presbyterian Church- Chester County

Charlesfort

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston City Market

Charleston RiverDogs

Charleston Tea Plantation

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site

Cherry Grove Pier

Cherry Park- Rock Hill

Chesnut, Mary Boykin

Chester, South Carolina

Chicken Bog

Chicora, Francisco de

Christ Church Episcopal- Greenville

Christmas at Ashtabula Plantation- Pendleton

Church of the Holy Cross- Stateburg

Church of the Holy Trinity- Ridgeland

Citadel, The

Claflin University

Clemson University

Cliffs at Glassy, The

Clyburn, James

Coastal Carolina University

Coker College

Cokesbury College

Colbert, Stephen

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site

Colonial Life Arena

Columbia, South Carolina

Congaree National Park

Columbia College

Columns Bed & Breakfast Inn, The- Dillon

Conroy, Pat

Converse College

Conway, South Carolina

Cooper, Lord Anthony Ashley

Cooper River

Cotton Hills Farm- Lowrys

Cowpens National Battlefield

Cremins, Bobby

Cunningham, Ann Pamela

Cypress Gardens

Cypress Inn, The- Conway

D

Daniel Morgan Square- Spartanburg

Darlington Raceway

Daufuskie Island, South Carolina

De Ayllon, Lucas Vazquez

De Chicora, Francisco

Death Valley- Clemson

Devils Fork State Park

Dining Room at Woodlands, The

Doby, Larry

Dock Street Theatre

Doolittle Raiders

Dr. Benjamin Mays Childhood Home

Drayton Hall

Drunken Jack’s Restaurant- Murrells Inlet

Duke’s Mayonnaise

Dum Spiro Spero- While I Breathe I Hope

E

Earle, Samuel

Ebenezer Grill- Rock Hill

Edgefield Pottery

Edisto Beach State Park

Edisto Island

Edisto Memorial Gardens

Edisto River

Elgin Catfish Stomp

Emerald Farms- Greenwood

Erskine College

Esso Club, The

F

Fall for Greenville

Farmhouse at Bush River, The- Clinton

Fat Harold’s

Finlay Park- Columbia

Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church- Chester County

Flagg, Alice- Ghost of the Hermitage

Folly Beach

Ford, Danny

Forrest Gump- Filming Locations

Fort Hill- John C. Calhoun Home

Fort Jackson

Fort Motte

Fort Moultrie

Fort Sumter

Fort Watson

Francis Beidler Forest

Frogmore Stew

Fulton, Bob

Furman University

G

Gaffney Peachoid

Garden Cafe, The- York

Garnett, Kevin

Geiger, Emily

Gervais Street Bridge

Gibbons, Leeza

Gibson, Althea

Gillespie, Dizzy

Gillisonville Baptist Church

Gist, William Henry

Glen, James

Glencairn Garden

Godbold, Lucile

Golden Creek Mill- Easley

Goodale State Park

Goose Creek Men

Gray Man, The

Great Swamp Sanctuary- Walterboro

Greenville, South Carolina

Greenville Drive

Greenville Zoo

Greenwood Festival of Flowers

Gray, Wil Lou

Gregg, Maxcy

Grimke, Sarah & Angelina

Grits and Groceries Restaurant

Groucho’s Deli

Grove- The Inn on Harlee, The- Marion

Gullah

H

HL Hunley

Hagler, King  (Also King Haigler)

Hagood, Johnson

Hagood Mill- Pickens

Haile Gold Mine

Hamburg, South Carolina

Hampton, South Carolina

Hampton County Watermelon Festival

Hampton Plantation

Hampton III, Wade

Hanging Rock- Lancaster County

Happy Cow Creamery

Harbour Town Golf Links

Harbour Town Lighthouse

Hard Times Cafe

Hartsville, South Carolina

Hayne, Isaac

Hemingway Bar-B-Q Shag Festival

Hickory Knob State Park

High Hills of Santee

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Hitchcock Woods- Aiken

Hollings, Fritz

Hollywild Animal Park

Hominy Grill

Honeysuckle Acres B & B- Winnsboro

Hootie and the Blowfish

Hopelands Gardens

Hopsewee Plantation

Horseshoe, The- Univ. of South Carolina

House of Firewood- Rock Hill

Howard, Frank

Hunting Island State Park

Huntington, Anna Hyatt

Hurricane Hazel

Hurricane Hugo

Hyman’s Seafood

 I

Indigo

Inn at Merridun, The- Union

Irmo Okra Strut

Issaqueena Falls

Isle of Palms, South Carolina

 J

Jack’s Cosmic Dogs

Jackson, Andrew

Jackson, Jesse

Jackson, “Shoeless” Joe

Jasper, Sargeant William

Jefferies, Willie

Jestine’s Kitchen

Jim Harrison Gallery- Denmark

John De La Howe School

Johnson, Bobby

Johnson, Robert “Good Governor”

Jones Gap State Park

Jumping Off Rock- Lake Jocassee

Juniper- Ridge Spring

K

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim- Charleston

Kalmia Gardens- Hartsville

Kershaw, South Carolina

Kershaw-Cornwallis House

Kilburnie, the Inn at Craig Farm- Lancaster

Kings Mountain National Military Park

Kings Mountain State Park

Kingston Church- Conway

Kingstree, South Carolina

Kingstree Pig Pickin’ Festival

Kirkland, Levon

Kitt, Eartha

Kudzu

L

Lady of Cofitachequi

Lake Hartwell

Lake Jocassee

Lake Keowee

Lake Marion

Lake Moultrie

Lake Murray

Lake Wylie

Lamar Egg Scramble

Land Called Chicora, The

Lander University

Landrum, South Carolina

Landsford Canal Spider Lilies

Laura’s Tea Room

Laurens, Henry

Lenoir Store- Horatio

Lettered Olive Shell

Liberty Bridge- Greenville

Lilfred’s Restaurant- Rembert

Limestone College

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile

Long Cane Massacre

Lowcountry Shrimp Festival- McClellanville

Lowcountry Visitors Museum- Point South

Lynch Jr., Thomas

M

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

MacDowell, Andie

MACK- McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah

Marion, South Carolina

Marion, Francis- Swamp Fox

McBee, Vardry

McCabe’s Barbecue

McCain, Edwin

McClellanville, South Carolina

McCormick Gold Rush Festival

McGuire, Frank

McKelvey Center- York

McKissick, John

McLeod Farms- McBee

McNair, Dr. Ronald

Mepkin Abbey

Middleton, Arthur

Middleton Place

Mill Pond Steakhouse

Miller’s Bread Basket

Mills, Robert

Mizpah Methodist Church- Bamberg County

Monetta Drive-In- The Big Mo

Morris Island Lighthouse

Motte, Rebecca Brewton

Moultrie, William

Musgrove Mill State Historic Site

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach Miniature Golf

Myrtle Beach Pavilion

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

 N

Newberry Opera House

Newberry College

Ninety Six National Historic Site

O

Oakley Park

Ocean Course at Kiawah Island

Oconee Bell- Flower

Oconee State Park

Okra

Oktoberfest- Walhalla or Newberry

Old Brick Church- Fairfield County

Old Edgefield Grill

Old Post Office Restaurant, The

Old St. David’s Epicopal Church (Cheraw)

Old Santee Canal Park

Old Sheldon Church

Old Stone Church- Clemson

Old Waxhaw Presbyterian Church- Lancaster

Oliphant, Mary C. Simms

One Twenty Musgrove- Clinton

Orangeburg Massacre

Order of the Palmetto

Original 13 Colonies

 P

Page’s Millpond- Lake View

Pageland Watermelon Festival

Paris Mountain State Park

Park Seed Company

Parris Island

Patriot, The- Filming Locations

Pawleys Island Hammock Shops

Pawleys Island, South Carolina

Peace Center, The- Greenville

Peach Tree Orchards, The- Filbert, SC

Peachtree Rock  Heritage Preserve

Pearis, Richard

Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden

Pee Dee Indian Tribe

Pendleton, South Carolina

Penn Center

Perry, William “Refrigerator”

Phillips, Jim

Pickens, Andrew- Wizard Owl

Pinckney, Charles Coatesworth

Pinckney, Eliza Lucas

Pinckneyville- Union County

Pleasant Lane Acres B & B- Edgefield

Poe’s Tavern- Sullivan’s Island

Poinsett Bridge

Poinsett State Park

Pon Pon Chapel

Porgy and Bess

Presbyterian College

Prime Outlets- Gaffney

Prince Frederick’s Chapel Ruins

Prince George Winyah Church

Prince of Tides- Filming Locations

Pringle, Elizabeth Allston

Purrysburg Settlement

Q

Queen Anne’s Revenge

R

Rainbow Row

Ram Cat Alley- Seneca

Rankin-Harwell House- Mars Bluff

Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site

Red Horse Inn, The- Landrum

Ribaut, Jean

Rice Festival- Walterboro

Rice, Jim

Richardson, Bobby

Richardson Waltz

Ridgeway, South Carolina

Ridge Peach Festival- Trenton

Riley, Dick

Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Garden

River Room

Rivers Bridge State Historic Site

Rock, Chris

Rock Hill Buggy Company

Rockville Regatta

Rogers, George

Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site

Roz’s Rice Mill Cafe

Rutledge, Edward

Rutledge, John

S

Sabal Palmetto

St. George World Grits Festival

St. James Church- Goose Creek

St. John’s Lutheran Church- Walhalla

St. Michael’s Church- Charleston

St. Philip’s Church- Charleston

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church- St. Stephen

Salem Black River Church- Mayesville

Salley Chitlin Strut

Sandlapper

Santa Elena

Santee National Wildlife Refuge

Sassafras Mountain

Sassafras Southern Bistro- Greenville

Savannah River Site

Schwartzentruber’s Bakery- Abbeville

Scott’s Variety Store & BBQ- Hemingway

Sea Captain’s House

See Wee Restaurant- Awendaw

Selvy, Frank

Shag- State Dance

Sharpe, Sterling

Shealy’s Bar-B-Que

Shem Creek

Shrimp and Grits

Simkins, Modjeska Monteith

Skins Hot Dogs

Smalls, Robert

Snow’s Island

Soapstone Baptist Church

Society Hill, South Carolina

South Carolina Railroad Museum

South Carolina State Fair- Columbia

South Carolina State University

South Carolina Tobacco Museum

South Carolina, University of

South of the Border- Hamer

Spoleto Festival Charleston

Springfield Frog Jump Festival

Springwater Festival- Williamston

Squealin’ on the Square- Laurens

Standpipe Water Tower- Belton

Stateburg, South Carolina

State Museum, The

Steak House Cafeteria

Steven W’s Bistro

Stono Rebellion

Stumphouse Tunnel

Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina

Summerton Diner

Summerville Flowertown Festival

Sumter, South Carolina

Sumter, Thomas- Gamecock

Surfside Beach, South Carolina

Swamp Fox Murals Trail

Swan Lake Iris Gardens

Sweatman’s Barbecue- Holly Hill

Sweetgrass Basket Weaving

Sweet Tea

T

Table Rock State Park

Tamassee DAR School

Thorntree- Kingstree

Three Pines View B & B- Salem

Thurmond, Strom

Tillman, Ben

Tillman Hall- Clemson University

Trash to Treasures- Elloree

Travis, William Barret

Trenton Bar-B-Q

Trash to Treasures- Elloree

Trinity Church- Abbeville

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral- Columbia

Tuskegee Airmen 

U

UFO Welcome Center- Bowman

Union, South Carolina

Union County Carnegie Library

V

Van Wyck Presbyterian Church

Veranda on Main- Abbeville

Vesey, Denmark

W

Wade’s Family Restaurant- Spartanburg

Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina

Walhalla State Fish Hatchery

Walnut Grove Plantation

Water Festival- Beaufort

Watts-Todd-Dunklin House- Laurens

Welsh Neck Settlement

Westminster Presbyterian Church- Westminster

Westmoreland, William C.

White, Vanna

Wild Water & Wheels- Surfside Beach

Willcox Inn

Wilhelm, Bill

Williams-Brice Stadium

Willington Academy- McCormick County

Williston Cotton Gin

Winnsboro, South Carolina

Winthrop University

Winyah Bay

Wofford College

Wyche, Sam 

Y

Yamasee War

Yemassee

Yarborough, Cale

Yellow Jessamine

Yoder’s Dutch Kitchen

Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken

  Blackbeard was born ca. 1680 as Edward Teach, or Thatch in Bristol, England. Little is known about his childhood, other than the fact that he was literate. This alone tells us Teach was from a family of moderate social standing. Teach was no doubt a ladies man, as he “married” approximately 14 women. Only one of these marriages was legally binding, to 16 year old Mary Ormond shortly before his death in 1718.  Edward Teach’s seafaring life began when he arrived in Jamaica on a merchant vessel in the late 1690′s. During Queen Anne’s War (1702-1713) Teach served as a sailor that operated from the Caribbean Sea. The English author Charles Johnson (presumably Daniel Defoe) remarked of Teach’s “uncommon boldness and personal courage” during the war. After the war’s conclusion Edward Teach moved to the lawless Bahamian island of New Providence. Like many former privateers in Queen Anne’s War, Teach became involved in piracy. In 1716 Teach joined Captain Benjamin Hornigold’s crew. The two pirates quickly became close comrades. Captain Hornigold put Teach at the helm of one of his Jamaican sloops.

  By August of 1717 Teach commanded a crew of about 70 men. Hornigold and Teach set out for the mainland, each captaining a sloop. The two pirates captured a vessel transporting 120 pounds of flour out of Havana, Cuba. Shortly after they captured a Bermudan sloop carrying 100 bottles of wine. Another ship, sailing from Madeira to Charleston was relieved of its cargo later in the week. The vessel was carrying several bottles of Madeira wine. The crew became infatuated with the popular Portuguese wine. Teach and quartermaster William Howard grew increasingly frustrated with the behavior of their men. Early that fall William Teach met the “gentleman pirate” Stede Bonnet in Nassau. Bonnet, a wealthy plantation owner from Barbados, presumably took up piracy to escape his “nagging” wife. Stede Bonnet was one of the few pirates to purchase a ship and pay his crew a regular wage. On October 22, 1717 Teach, Bonnet and Hornigold emptied the cargo of the Robert of Philadelphia and Good Intent of Dublin on their voyage to Philadelphia. On November 28th Hornigold and Teach bombarded a formidable French slave ship named La Concorde near the Caribbean island St. Vincent. Teach immediately re-named the vessel Queen Anne’s Revenge. He named the ship for Queen Anne of Great Britain and equipped her with approximately 40 guns. His first conquest with QAR was the bombardment of the large merchant ship Great Allen. The crew sunk the ship following a fierce engagement. 

  Captain Hornigold received a demotion and decided to retire from piracy. Whether or not Teach betrayed his friend is not known. The king soon pardoned Hornigoldfor his crimes as a pirate. Edward Teach wanted to create a fearful, lasting image for those he encountered. He let his dark hair and beard grow, creating a virtual forest across his weathered face. Blackbeard, as he began calling himself, “twisted” his long beard into pigtails and tied colored ribbons on the ends. To intimidate his prey he lit slow burning hemp cord beneath his chapeau so the smoke would “envelop” him. To push the charade even further, Blackbeard also fashioned several pistols and knives by his side. He wore his heavy cutlass around his waist to complete the terrifying facade. Blackbeard’s villainous reputation spread faster than the wind that carried Queen Anne’s Revenge through the sea. Numerous crews surrendered to Blackbeard in battle due to his ghastly appearance. Many thought they had seen the Devil in the flesh. Teach’s psychological advantage over his foes allowed him to become the most feared pirate in the Atlantic.                    

    Blackbeard appeared to strike a friendship with Stede Bonnet. Unfortunately for the refined Barbadian, Edward Teach was more of a shrewd manipulator than a compatriot. Teach persuaded a physically injured Stede Bonnet to let one of his lieutenants take command of Bonnet’s ship Revenge while he recovered. Blackbeard invited the Barbadian gentleman to be an honored guest on the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Bonnet’s crew was spellbound by the respect and fear commanded by Teach. After all, he epitomized the greedy ideals associated with piracy. Blackbeard and Bonnet soon captured a small sloop called Adventure in April 1718 in the Bay of Honduras. Teach put one of his most faithful men, Israel Hands, in charge of the Adventure. The pirates sailed east and commandeered a Spanish sloop off the Cuban coast. The formidable fleet headed northeast through the Bahamas and up the Florida coastline. Unbeknownst to the good people of Charles Town, (Charleston) Blackbeard and Bonnet were headed for South Carolina.

   Blackbeard’s large flotilla reached Charles Town harbor in late May 1718. Charles Town was the busiest commercial port on the Carolina coast. Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet stopped every vessel attempting to leave or enter ”The Holy City”. Approximately nine vessels were sacked over a six day span before the local government retaliated. Blackbeard prohibited any travel whatsoever, essentially crippling SouthCarolina’s largest city. Pirates came ashore and dared the residents of Charles Town to stop their plundering. They walked the cobblestone streets witha “swagger” as the residents quietly fumed over the predicament. A ship filled with some of Charles Town’s most distinguished citizens was stopped while attempting to leave the harbor. The ship, headed for London, contained Samuel Wragg, a key member of the Council of the Carolina Province. Teach sent two pirates and a Mr. Marks to retrieve the medicine chest. For two days nothing was heard from Marks or the two pirates. The captives pleaded to the villainous pirate to spare their lives. Blackbeard agreed to give them 24 more hours. Before the time elapsed an individual arriving on a rowboat boarded Queen Anne’s Revenge. He informed Blackbeard that Marks’ boat had capsized. Teach granted them an additional 48 hours. Once again there was no word from the shore and time was scarce. Mr. Marks found Governor Johnson and told him of Blackbeard’s demands. Robert Johnson reluctantly complied with the request and filled the chest with proper medicines. Blackbeard, his patience now expired, moved closer to port and readied to shell the city. At the last moment Blackbeard’s men, hungover and forlorn, returned with the medicine chest. True to his word, Edward Teach let the hostages go free.                         

   Blackbeard’s flotilla left Charleston and headed north to North Carolina’s Topsail Inlet (Beaufort Inlet). When they reached the inlet Teach purposely ran Queen Anne’s Revenge aground on a sand bar. Israel Hands, commanding the Adventure pulled off the same maneuver helping Blackbeard free his vessel. The conniving Teach convinced Stede Bonnet to accept a pardon from NC Governor Charles Eden. Bonnet, already eager to quit piracy took half his crew to accept their pardons at Bath, NC. Blackbeard also told Bonnet he would resume command of Revenge once he received his pardon from Governor Eden. While Bonnet was away, Teach stole all of his valuables and sailed away with the Adventure. The gentleman pirate returned to the Revenge only to see it had been stripped of its valuable possessions. Stede Bonnet vowed revenge on the tyrannical pirate. Unfortunately for Bonnet, he would never see Blackbeard again. He returned to piracy and was captured by Colonial William Rhett on October 3rd. The gentleman turned pirate was put on house arrest while he awaited trial. Three weeks later Stede Bonnet escaped with his sailing master David Herriott and two slaves. Colonel Rhett caught the fugitives on Sullivan’s Island, killing Herriott and wounding the two slaves. Back in captivity, Bonnet wrote a stirring letter to Governor Robert Johnson begging for clemency. He spoke of a deep faith in God and a chance at redemption, even going as far as allowing them to cut off his arms and legs so he could no longer commit acts of piracy. Governor Johnson reportedly “delayed his execution seven times” before relenting. Stede Bonnet was hanged at White Point on December 10, 1718.                      

   Blackbeard settled in Bath after receiving his pardon. The pirate seemed rather fond of the place, buying a house and marrying 16 year old Mary Ormond in the process. It must be noted that this was Blackbeard’s first (of 14) legally binding marriage. Unfortunately for Blackbeard, abiding by the laws of the land didn’t suit the broad shouldered Englishman. By September 1718 Teach once again prowled the high seas. Blackbeard held up two French ships, forcing one crew to board with the other. Teach and his renegades took the remaining ship back to Ocracoke Island. Blackbeard lied to Governor Eden regarding the disposition of the shop, claiming the ship had been “deserted.” Judge Tobias Knight ruled the ship to be a “derelict found at sea”. The spoils were shared by Knight, Governor Eden and Blackbeard’s crew. Colonists in neighboring areas feared that Eden was working with Blackbeard. Edward Teach’s days were numbered.

   Governor Alexander Spotswood of Virginia was determined to rid the American colonies of its greatest villain. Governor Spotswood believed that Charles Eden stood idly by as Blackbeard and his crew pillaged as they pleased. The precise, obsessive and proud governor commissioned Robert Maynard to track down and kill Blackbeard. Lieutenant Maynard took two sloops, Jane and Ranger to Ocracoke to capture or kill the pirate. On the morning of November 22, 1718 Maynard and his crew were spotted by the Adventure  and fired upon. The broadside attack to Maynard’s two sloops resulted in heavy losses. Blackbeard, assuming victory boarded the Jane. He and his men began unloading on what appeared to be a desolate ship. Much to the dismay of the pirate crew, Maynard’s men furiously stormed out of the ship’s hold. Teach’s men fought valiantly amidst pools of blood on the ship’s deck. Maynard and Blackbeard, now face to face, discharged their weapons. Blackbeard reached back to finish Maynard with his cutlass when he was slashed in the throat from behind. By the time the great pirate fell he had received five bullets and twenty sword wounds to the body. Maynard severed the head of Edward Teach and mounted it on the ship’s bowsprit. The Virginian brought his trophy back to Governor Spotswood in hopes of  becoming a national hero. This never materialized and Maynard died in relative obscurity.

   The life of Blackbeard remains as mysterious and intriguing as his actual birth name. Edward Teach created a larger than life persona that expands with every generation. Nearly three centuries after his beheading he remains a key figure during the Golden Age of Piracy. Why Stede Bonnet, gentleman by birth, deserted his wife and children for a life of crime on the high seas may never truly be known. Both men fought valiantly for the British crown only to mock it later in life. Their devilish deeds, remembered even today, ended the Golden Age of Piracy.   

INDIGO BLUE NOTES: Edward Teach once again made his mythic presence felt on the big screen last Friday, May 20th. Englishman Ian McShane reprises the role of Blackbeard in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Charleston’s White Point Gardens displays a historical marker depicting the capture and execution of the “gentleman pirate” Stede Bonnet.

     To the casual observer, Bishopville is just another small town on the way to the beach. Those who give Bishopville a look will find several pleasant surprises waiting for them off Exit 116. Indigo Blue made a visit to Bishopville on January 15, 2011. We anticipated a good lesson on the history of cotton at the South Carolina Cotton Museum. We were also eager to see the new memorial to local hero and Heisman Trophy winner Doc Blanchard. Our greatest anticipation was the chance to view Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden. Mr. Fryar is the unofficial “Edward Scissorhands” of South Carolina. Our finale found us combing Scape Orr Swamp, reported home of the elusive Lizard Man. 

    Lee County is the unofficial gateway to Pee Dee Country. Pee Dee Country is named for the local Indian tribe that has long inhabited this part of South Carolina. Pee Dee presence was first discovered in 1567 by Spanish explorer Juan Pardo during his second inland expedition into South Carolina. The expedition recorded the tribe’s name as “Vehidi” (Ve-ee-dee). It is assumed that the Europeans thought the name sounded like Pee Dee, so the name stuck. The Pee Dee Tribe remained loyal to Europeans that settled the Palmetto State. The tribe first fought alongside settlers in the Yamassee War of 1715-17. The Pee Dee also served with “Swamp Fox” Francis Marion during the Revolutionary War. The early 19th Century brought great change within the tribe. Many members assimilated into white society. This act enabled many Pee Dee to avoid the Indian relocation act known today as the “Trail of Tears.” Today the proud Pee Dee fight for deserved recognition. The Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina was finally recognized by the state in 2006. The tribe, based in McColl, still longs for federal recognition.

    Bishopville’s roots date back to prehistoric times, “when two Indian trails crossed near the future center of town.” Europeans began settling the area shortly after the Revolutionary War. Daniel Carter sold a 465-acre  property to William Singleton in 1790. Mr. Singleton and wife Francis owned a tavern at the corner of present Church and Main Streets. Visitors to the area named the fledgling community Singleton’s Crossroads. William Singleton died in 1798, leaving the tavern to Francis until her own death in 1820. In 1821 Dr. Jacques Bishop bought the land from the Singleton family. Dr. Bishop owned and operated a general store called C.C. Campbell and Company from 1821 to 1837. Jacques Bishop played an integral part in the early development of Singleton’s Crossroads. Appreciative residents renamed their town Bishopville in his honor. In 1865 Confederates and Federals collided at Mount Elon and Spring Hill. On July 5, 1880 the last legal duel in South Carolina was fought between Col. E.B.C. Cash and Col. William Shannon. Colonel Cash mortally wounded William Shannon. Following Shannon’s death, the S.C. legislature permanently outlawed the practice. Residents of Bishopville voted to create Lee County in 1892. Unfortunately all the requirements to establish the county were not met until 1902. Lee County, named for Confederate general Robert E. Lee, was finally established on December 15, 1902. The cannon used to celebrate the county’s birth still stands on the courthouse grounds. Today Bishopville is the center of commerce in a county of 21,000 residents.

   Bishopville is the boyhood home of Heisman Trophy winner Felix Anthony ”Doc” Blanchard. Blanchard was a three time All-American at Army under legendary coach Earl “Red” Blaik. Doc Blanchard and backfield mate Glenn Davis ruled college football from 1944-46. Blanchard was named “Mr. Inside” for his bruising runs between the tackles. Davis was dubbed “Mr. Outside” for his breakaway speed. Blanchard and Davis won two national championships over three years at Army. During their tenure the Cadets compiled an astounding 27-0-1 record. In 1945 Doc Blanchard became the first Sandlapper to win the Heisman Trophy. After football Blanchard became a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He was cited for bravery in combat several times. Blanchard’s heroic exploits were lost in time here until about ten years ago. Dick Adams, a longtime Army football fan, visited the home of Mr. Inside. He expected to see tributes to the hometown hero, but none were to be found. Adams contacted Lee County officials about the omission. One decade later you can’t help but notice all the tributes to Doc Blanchard. The I-20 interchange in Bishopville is now the Felix “Doc” Blanchard interchange. The Bishopville welcome sign displays the respected Heisman logo. The most detailed tribute to Doc came last summer when the new Doc Blanchard memorial was completed. This monument features three statues depicting multiple stages of “Mr. Inside’s” life. Maxi and I were impressed by sculptor Robert Allison’s work. The statues were flanked by multiple flags, palmettos and a crystal blue January sky.

   Virtually every county in South Carolina has a haunted or mysterious creature beckoning for attention. It just so happens that Lee County has one that received international acclaim. The Lizard Man of Scape Orr Swamp is a rock star in these parts. Lizard Man was first sighted on June 29, 1988 by Christopher Davis, a 16 year old Bishopville resident. Davis was returning home from work when he stopped to change a flat tire near Scape Orr Swamp. As Davis returned to the vehicle he saw a large figure charging at him. The bipedal being jumped on top of Davis’ car before the teen finally shook Lizard Man off. He described the creature as seven feet tall with “red eyes, three big fingers, long black nails and green rough skin.” Davis’ story remained consistent throughout the police investigation. His story brought him great celebrity at a young age. On August 14, 1988 the CBS Evening News ran a special on the elusive creature. Media outlets from as far away as Germany and New Zealand were obsessed with the Lizard Man. Governor Carroll Campbell remarked, ” This is a very elusive sort of fellow.” Several other residents have claimed to see Lizard Man over the years, though nothing will rival the national media exposure of 1988. Lizard Man lives on here in Bishopville, but sadly the person who brought the giant lizard to life has passed on. Christopher Davis was murdered in his Sumter home on June 17, 2009.

  The South Carolina Cotton Museum pays homage to the days when cotton was king. Today Lee County produces more cotton than any county in South Carolina. The South Carolina Cotton Museum tells the history of this important Southern cash crop. Highlights of the museum include a 130 year old loom, a 3 foot tall boll weevil, a tenement style farm house and a suspended Cesna Ag-Wagon crop duster. The Cotton Museum offers educational programs for South Carolina students to better understand this important crop and it’s daily impact on our lives. The museum also houses a new display of Doc Blanchard photos and magazine articles. The gift shop has items for sale that represent cotton and Lee County. Cotton sweatshirts and polo’s show why this crop is an integral part of our daily lives. Postcards of Doc Blanchard’s playing days and Lizard Man collectibles caught my eye. I must admit I bought a bumper sticker that read “I Saw The Lizard Man In Scape Orr Swamp, South Carolina.” What can I say, sometimes my imagination gets the best of me.

    Lee County proudly claims the moniker “Garden Spot of the Carolinas.” Bishopville’s beautifully landscaped downtown and the James House camellias exemplify Lee County’s horticultural heritage. Visitors from across the globe are most interested in Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden. Fryar, a Clinton, NC native, moved to Bishopville in 1976. Pearl received a transfer from Atlanta to work at what is now the Rexam beverage can factory. In 1982 Pearl and his wife Metra moved into a predominately white neighborhood. Pearl Fryar heard the stereotype that black people did not keep up their yards. Pearl was determined to prove them wrong. He set out to become the first African American to win Bishopville’s Garden of the Month Award. The only training Pearl received was a “brief” lesson from a nurseryman in Camden. After five years of back breaking work, Pearl Fryar’s 165 Broad Acres Rd. address was the winner. Not bad for a man whose yard was supposed to detract from the neighborhood. In 1989 Pearl met Jean Grosser, a professor and master sculptor from Coker College. Ms. Grosser was thoroughly impressed. Since that first meeting a partnership has grown. She brings her classes to see his topiary masterpiece and Pearl teaches as an artist-in-residence professor at the college. Another milestone for Pearl came in 1998 when he was commissioned to create topiaries for the State Museum. This brought awareness to his amazing talent statewide. Pearl has left his footprint across the city of Bishopville. His topiaries grace the entrance to Broad Acres Road, the downtown historic district and the local Waffle House.  

   Pearl Fryar achieved international critical acclaim when his documentary “A Man Named Pearl” debuted in 2006. Pearl’s story is one that should inspire all people, regardless of race, religion or social standing. We arrived in Topiary Heaven on January 15, 2011. The sun began to fade into the pines on a splendid winter afternoon. Earlier in the week South Carolina received its largest snowfall in 23 years. Though some had melted, the ivory blended perfectly with Pearl Fryar’s emerald kingdom. I had seen the garden on ETV, but I believe this is a place that needs to be experienced firsthand. Fryar’s 40 species of plants and junk art speak to survival and creativity. It’s tough to make comparisons to something as unique as Pearl Fryar’s garden. Let’s just say the creativity of Tim Burton and Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) come to mind. Pearl’s message of “Love, Peace and Goodwill” is etched beautifully in the yard. This is best seen when flying overhead. At the conclusion of our self guided tour we caught up with Mr. Fryar. After two hours of conversing with Mr. Pearl we felt inspired and rejuvenated. His patience, wisdom and docile demeanor endear him to the masses. His contributions to South Carolina are greater than he’ll ever realize. Over the last years few years we’ve repeatedly heard the term “going green.” I think it’s safe to say Pearl Fryar is already there.

  Our day in Bishopville was a great introduction to Pee Dee Country for our website. Residents of Bishopville are proud to hail from Lee County. We learned a great deal about the history of cotton and its impact on South Carolina’s economy. The new downtown tribute to Doc Blanchard commemorated ”Mr. Inside’s” brilliance on and off the field. The legend of the Lizard Man refuses to die in these parts, and that’s just fine by us. Our finale with Pearl Fryar in his magnificent topiary garden will be remembered fondly for years to come. Here in the land of lizards, topiaries, heismans and cotton, visits here are not forgotten.  

INDIGO BLUE NOTES: One place we regret missing was the Button Museum, hosted by the Button King himself, Dalton Stevens. Mr. Stevens, a self described insomniac, began his sewing obsession nearly thirty years ago. He began by sewing more than 16,000 buttons into an old denim suit. The Button King has fancied up everything from cars to caskets over the years, landing him in the Guinness Book of World Records. Mr. Stevens has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and the Regis and Kathy Lee Show.

To view a photo gallery of our trip to Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden please click HERE

For more photos of Lee County click HERE

For more information on Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden call (803) 484-5581, or visit his website at www.pearlfryar.com

Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden      145 Broad Acres Rd.      Bishopville, South Carolina 29010

For more information on the South Carolina Cotton Museum and the Doc Blanchard tribute call (803) 484-4497, or visit their website at www.sccotton.org

South Carolina Cotton Museum      121 West Cedar Lane      Bishopville, South Carolina 29010

For more information on the Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina, please visit their website at www.peedeeindiantribeofsc.com

Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina      P.O. Box 557      McColl, South Carolina 29570

   South Carolina has long been known for her passionate and sometimes controversial politics. Our state government has persevered through the trying times of the American Revolution, Nullification, Civil War and the Civil Rights movement. The words of Rutledge, Middleton, Thurmond, Byrnes, Hollings and Riley still reverberate the walls of the state house. This is a complete list of South Carolina governors that spans the reign of King Charles II to the current administration of President Obama. Their dates of service and a short description of an important event that occurred during their administration are listed.

PROPRIETARY

William Sayle                             1669-71               Appointed 1st gov. in 1669, arrived with settlers in March 1670       

Joseph West                              1671-72               Held office for 10 of colony’s first 15 years

Sir John Yeamans                    1672-74               Died just before “proprietary orders” removed him from office

Joseph West                              1674-82               2nd Term as Governor

Joseph Morton                           1682-84               Clashed with Goose Creek Men during administration  

Sir Richard Kyrle                        1684                    Short term helped temporarily alleviate political chaos

Joseph West                              1684-85               3rd Term as Governor

Robert Quary                              1685                     Served for three months before J.Morton took office

Joseph Morton                           1685-86               2nd Term as Governor

James Colleton                         1686-90               Impeached by the General Assembly and banished in 1690

Seth Sothell                                1690-92               More “humane” slave laws were passed; progressive governor

Phillip Ludwell                           1692-93               Served as Speaker of Virginia’s House of Burgesses

Thomas Smith                           1693-94               Honorable man that served as planter, merchant and surgeon

Joseph Blake                             1694-95               Uncle Robert Blake was the “Father of the Royal Navy”

John Archdale                            1695-96               Devout Quaker that introduced “rice culture” to the colony

Joseph Blake                             1696-00               2nd Term as Governor

James Moore                             1700-03               Made several attacks on Spanish Florida

Sir Nathaniel Johnson             1703-09               Introduced silk culture, son was Gov. Robert Johnson       

Edward Tynte                             1709-10               Act passed to establish free school for colonists

Robert Gibbes                           1710-12               English Barbadian was one of first settlers at Albemarle Point

Charles Craven                         1712-16               Created SC’s first professional army during Yamassee War

Robert Daniell                           1716-17                Privateer honorably served King William III, Prince of Orange

Robert Johnson                        1717-19                Eliminated Pirate threat in SC including Stede Bonnet

James Moore, Jr.                      1719-21                Last Proprietary Governor, son of Gov. James Moore

ROYAL                                

Sir Francis Nicholson              1721-25                Popular governor until he tried to “incorporate” Charles Town

Arthur Middleton                        1725-30                Appointed Deputy on the Proprietary Council of Carolina

Robert Johnson                        1730-35                Nicknamed “Good Governor” Johnson by colonists

Thomas Broughton                  1735-37                Built Moncks Corner’s grand Mulberry Plantation

William Bull                                1737-43                Lieutenant  Governor    

James Glen                               1743-56                 Negotiated Saluda Old Town Treaty                             

Sir William Lyttleton                 1756-60                 Later served as Governor of Jamaica

William Bull                               1760-61                 Lieutenant Governor

Thomas Boone                         1761-64                 Also served as Royal Governor of New Jersey

William Bull                               1764-66                  Lieutenant Governor

Lord Charles Montagu            1766-68                 Good and fair governor; fought for Crown during Revolution

William Bull                               1768                        Lieutenant Governor

Lord Charles Montagu            1768-69                 2nd Term as Governor

William Bull                               1769-71                  Lieutenant Governor

Lord Charles Montagu            1771-73                 3rd Term as Governor

William Bull                               1773-75                  Lieutenant Governor

Lord William Campbell           1775                       Last Royal Governor of SC

STATE

John Rutledge                          1776-78                 Vital figure in the Stamp Act Congress

Rawlins Lowndes                    1778-79                 New constitution dissolved Church of England in SC

John Rutledge                          1779-82                 2nd Term as Governor

John Mathews                          1782-83                 Patriots seized control of Charles Town from British

Benjamin Guerard                   1783-85                 First French Huguenot to be elected as Governor

William Moultrie                        1785-87                 Designed early state flag; repulsed british at Sullivan’s Island

Thomas Pinckney                    1787-89                 U.S. Minister to United Kingdom 1792-96

Charles Pinckney                     1789-92                 Narrowly defeated by Thomas Jefferson for VP in 1796

William Moultrie                        1792-94                 2nd Term as Governor

Arnoldus Vanderhorst             1794-96                 Officer under Francis Marion during the Revolution

Charles Pinckney                     1796-98                 2nd Term as Governor

Edward Rutledge                     1798-00                  Youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence

John Drayton                             1800-02                 Santee Canal completed during his tenure

James Richardson                  1802-04                 Charleston Courier (Post & Courier) was founded

Paul Hamilton                           1804-06                  Served as U.S. Secretary of the Navy

Charles Pinckney                     1806-08                  3rd Term as Governor

John Drayton                             1808-10                  2nd Term as Governor

Henry Middleton                        1810-12                  Father Arthur signed the Declaration of Independence

Joseph Alston                           1812-14                   Wife was Theodosia Burr Alston, daughter of Aaron Burr

David Williams                          1814-16                   Built South Carolina’s first cotton mill

Andrew Pickens, Jr.                 1816-18                    Son of famed “Wizard Owl” Andrew Pickens

John Geddes                            1818-20                    Congress outlawed African slave trade in 1820

Thomas Bennett, Jr.                1820-22                    Marlboro County seat Bennettsville named for Bennett

John Wilson                              1822-24                    Was known for his support of “dueling”

Richard Manning I                    1824-26                    First in the line of Manning family governors

John Taylor                                1826-28                    Director of Columbia Theological Seminary

Stephen Miller                           1828-30                    Father of Confederate diarist Mary Boykin Chesnut

James Hamilton, Jr.                1830-32                    Drowned in TX after yielding lifeboat seat to woman and child

Robert Hayne                            1832-34                    Famous for debate with Senator Daniel Webster of Mass.

George McDuffie                       1834-36                    Fought in two duels while serving in congress

Pierce Butler                              1836-38                    Killed at Battle of Churubusco in Mexican-American War

Patrick Noble                             1838-40                    Practiced law with John C. Calhoun

Barnabas Henagan                  1840                         Served as SC Secretary of State from 1846-50

John Richardson II                   1840-42                   SC Military Academy established (The Citadel) 

James Hammond                    1842-44                   Hammond’s Redcliffe Plantation is a state historic site

William Aiken, Jr.                      1844-46                   1st President of SC Canal & Railroad Company

David Johnson                          1846-48                    Wilmot Proviso introduced in congress, did not pass

Whitemarsh Seabrook            1848-50                    Wrote the History of the Cotton Plant

John H. Means                          1850-52                    Killed in action at the Battle of 2nd Manassas

John L. Manning                       1852-54                    Manning, SC named for Governor Manning

James H. Adams                      1854-56                   Signed the Ordinance of Secession in 1860

R.F.W. Alston                             1856-58                    Won medal at Paris Exposition for rice cultivation

William H. Gist                          1858-60                    South Carolina’s ”Secession Governor”

Francis W. Pickens                  1860-62                    Governor when Civil War began

Milledge L. Bonham                 1862-64                    Confederate general; brother of Alamo hero James Bonham

A.G. Magrath                               1864-65                    Last Confederate Governor

Benjamin F. Perry                     1865                           Unionist appointed by President Andrew Johnson

James L. Orr                              1865-68                     Minister to Russia under Ulysses S. Grant

Robert K. Scott                           1868-72                     Brigadier General in Union Army during Civil War

Franklin J. Moses, Jr.                1872-74                     Lowered the U.S. flag from Fort Sumter in 1861

Daniel H. Chamberlain             1874-76                    Was Professor at Cornell University

Wade Hampton III                      1877-79                    Cavalry wizard, known as the “Saviour of South Carolina”

W.D.  Simpson                           1879-80                     Chief Justice of the SC Supreme Court

Thomas B. Jeter                         1880                           President Pro Tempore of South Carolina Senate

Johnson Hagood                       1880-82                     The Citadel’s football stadium bears Gov. Hagood’s name

Hugh S. Thompson                   1882-86                     Was Comptroller of New York Life Insurance Company

John C. Sheppard                      1886                           President of the Edgefield Bank of SC

John Richardson III                   1886-90                      Noted for fluent and “charming” speech writing

Benjamin R. Tillman                 1890-94                      Helped establish Clemson College in 1889

John G. Evans                            1894-97                      Nephew of Red Shirt leader Martin W. Gary

W. H. Ellerbe                               1897-99                      General Assembly established a state income tax

Miles B. McSweeney                  1899-03                      Big supporter of public schools and higher education

Duncan C. Heyward                  1903-07                       Helped pass Child Labor laws

Martin F. Ansel                            1907-11                       Parents were German immigrants

Coleman L. Blease                   1911-15                       Henry Timrod’s “Carolina” adopted as state song

Charles A. Smith                        1915                             Served shortest term as governor (five days)

Richard I. Manning  III               1915-19                        Popular 2 term governor, grandfather was also governor

Robert A. Cooper                       1919-22                        U.S. District Judge for Puerto Rico 1934-47

Wilson G. Harvey                       1922-23                        Served as Mayor of Charleston in 1902

Thomas G. McLeod                  1923-27                         President of the Bishopville Telephone Company

John G. Richards                      1927-31                         State’s 1st radio station premiered in 1930

Ibra C. Blackwood                     1931-35                         Santee Cooper project was started

Olin D. Johnston                        1935-39                         Proposed bills to help aide state’s textile workers

Burnett R. Maybank                   1939-41                         Palmetto was designated as our state tree

J.E. Harley                                   1941-42                         Member of the “Barnwell Ring”

R.M. Jefferies                              1942-43                         Was editor of Walterboro Press & Standard

Olin D. Johnston                        1943-45                         2nd Term as Governor

Ransome J. Williams               1945-47                         Was a pharmacist and graduate of MUSC                        

J. Strom Thurmond                    1947-51                        1st President pro tempore emeritus of U.S. Senate

James F.  Byrnes                       1951-55                         U.S. Secretary of State under Harry Truman

George B. Timmerman             1955-59                        Served as Lt. Gov. from 1947-55

Ernest “Fritz” Hollings                1959-63                        Served as U.S. Senator from 1966-2005         

Donald Russell                           1963-65                        U.S. District judge under President Johnson

Robert E. McNair                         1965-71                        Worked for civil rights and school integration 

John C. West                               1971-75                         Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1977-81

James B. Edwards                     1975-79                        First elected Republican governor since Reconstruction

Richard W. Riley                          1979-87                        U.S. Secretary of Education from 1993-01 under Bill Clinton

Carroll A. Campbell                    1987-95                        Brought BMW to the Upstate in early 1990′s

David M. Beasley                         1995-99                        Youngest Speaker Pro Tempore in SC House of Rep.

James H. Hodges                       1999-03                       1st candidate to defeat incumbent in gen. election since 1876

Marshall C. “Mark” Sanford        2003-11                       Was a top GOP candidate in 2012 until June ’09 scandal    

Nimrata “Nikki” R. Haley             2011-                           First Female Governor in South Carolina History

INDIGO BLUE NOTES: The above photo features Confederate General Wade Hampton keeping watch above his beloved state house. Wade Hampton, a brilliant cavalry wizard during the Civil War, served as the first post-Reconstruction governor of South Carolina. Hampton’s name is prevelantly featured throughout the entire state. Maxi and I live less than a mile from Wade Hampton Boulevard, the stretch of Hwy. 29 that connects Greenville to Spartanburg.

  

                                                                      States Rights Gist 1831-1864

  Numerous South Carolinians played vital roles for the Confederacy throughout the Civil War. Nearly every able bodied man signed up to fight in the second war for independence. One man from Union District was clearly destined to fight for states rights. His name brought on a certain implication that he fully embraced. This Brigadier General died gallantly leading his troops at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. His peculiar yet unforgettable name was States Rights Gist.

   States Rights Gist was born to Nathaniel and Elizabeth Lewis McDaniel Gist on September 3, 1831 in Union, South Carolina. Nathaniel Gist, a prosperous land owner, was 55 years old. Elizabeth was 15 years his junior. The Gists were distantly related to Mordecai Gist, hero of the Battle of Camden. Mrs. Gist was known by many as a ”pleasant, simple and unpretentious woman.” She was raised in a strong Presbyterian household. Residents of the community placed a deep trust in her. Nathaniel, on the other hand, was quite the controversial character. Mr. Gist lived by the letter of the law, rarely letting petty disagreements or differences slide. Nathaniel Gist was part of a growing faction of South Carolinians desiring political change. States, as he was called, was born at the family home “Wyoming”. Wyoming, built about 1811, was a grand estate. Beautiful paths of brick moved through gardens of gardenias and red roses. Orchards and gardens provided fruits and vegetables for sustainable living. Stables at Wyoming showcased the Gists’ affinity for horses. South Carolina was without a doubt the ring leader in the Nullification Crisis of the early 1830′s. Southern states despised the federal Tariff of 1828, an act passed by Congress to “protect industry” in the Northern states. The South was forced to pay steeper prices “for goods the region did not produce.”

   Vice President and South Carolina native John C. Calhoun gave the Nullification movement it’s greatest voice. Nathaniel Gist was an ardent supporter of nullification and states rights. When Elizabeth Gist gave birth to their seventh son, Mr. Gist wanted to choose a name that spoke his fervent political views. He called him States Rights, reflecting the ideals that most South Carolinians held at the time. States attended the well respected Mt. Zion Institute in Winnsboro as a young man. Upon graduation, Gist entered South Carolina College (USC) in Columbia. He excelled in academic and social circles during his tenure there. States graduated from the college with honors in 1852. Gist attended Harvard Law for one year without graduating. He promptly returned to Union to start his own firm. In 1854 Gist was tabbed by Governor James Hopkins Adams to be his aide-de-camp. Governor Adams would later become States’ father-in-law. By 1856 Gist rose to the rank of Brigadier general in the state militia. Cousin William Henry Gist was elected governor in 1858. William Gist asked States to become his “especial” advisor and live in the residence while he held office. The younger Gist gladly accepted both requests. States resigned his post in the militia in April 1860 to “become full time advisor” to Governor Gist. In October the governor sent his cousin to visit six Southern governors to drum up support for secession should a Republican (Lincoln) be elected. William Gist is known to this day as our ”Secession Governor.”

     Lincoln was elected in 1860 by a wide margin over Stephen Douglas, the “Little Giant” from Illinois, and incumbent vice president John C. Breckinridge. It was only fitting that South Carolina would become the first state to leave the Union. The Union officially dissolved on December 20, 1860 when SC signed the Ordinance of Secession in Charleston. Gist was appointed state adjutant and inspector general by new governor Francis W. Pickens in January 1861. He reported to Charleston to prepare the city for war and to reduce Federal forces at Fort Sumter. Gist was present when Confederates from Fort Johnson shelled Sumter on the morning of April 12th. General Robert Anderson surrendered the fort after 34 hours of bombardment. The Civil War had begun. Both sides expected the war to be short lived. On May 17th Gist stated, “Two battles will close the war and our independence will be acknowledged. Great Britain and France will offer their mediation and the Yankees will gladly accept it and make peace.” In July, Gist headed to Richmond to serve as aide to General Barnard E. Bee. There he received his first introductions to President Jefferson Davis and General Joseph E. Johnston. At the First Battle of Manassas, General Bee was mortally wounded near the end of a Confederate victory. States’ bravery and natural leadership abilities shined during the battle. General P.G.T. Beauregard, admiring Gists’ valor, named him commander of the “stricken regiment.” 

    States assumed command of the SC 24th Infantry Regiment after the passing of Barnard E. Bee. During the Fall of 1861 and Winter of 62 Gist helped prepare state militia for the impending Federal invasion of Port Royal. Gist was promoted to Brigadier General on March 20, 1862. The same day he resigned his post as state adjutant general. Gist spent most of the next year aiding in the defense of the Carolina coast, first at James Island and later Wilmington. He was third in command at the Battle of Secessionville, a Confederate victory, though he did not participate in combat. On May 6, 1863 States married Jane Margaret Adams, daughter of former governor James Hopkins Adams. He took a two day leave of absence to be with his new bride. Later that month Gist was chosen to “bolster” Joseph Johnston’s forces in Mississippi. Gists’ brigade fought in the Vicksburg Campaign and the Battle of Jackson. Gist and his men were sent to Rome, GA to join Braxton Bragg’s Army of Tennessee for the impending collision at Chickamauga. States traveled by train to Catoosa and reached the battlefield by sunrise on September 20th. There he was tabbed acting commander of William Walker’s division. Gist and his brave men were thrown to the wolves early in the battle. They suffered heavy casualties while plugging a line in John C. Breckinridge’s division. They retreated until the final advance of the day resulted in a Confederate victory. Enthusiasm over the victory at Chickamauga was short lived. Brilliant victories at Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge allowed Generals Grant & Sherman to take the strategic city of Chattanooga. The Union army, with Tennessee in hand, headed south to Atlanta.

   Braxton Bragg resigned as commander of the Army of Tennessee on November 29, 1863. President Jefferson Davis was quite happy to accept his resignation. It was said of General Bragg that even his closest allies acknowledged his “quick temper and general irritability.” States Rights Gist and William Walker were two of Bragg’s loyal supporters.  When Bragg was ”transferred” to Virginia the two generals kept up a frequent correspondence. The high ranking general lauded the courage and character of General Gist. The South Carolinian remained with the Army of Tennessee through the winter and spring of 1864. Gists’ brigade continued to fight alongside William Walker’s division, eventually clashing with William T. Sherman and James McPherson at the Battle of Atlanta on July 22nd. Federal forces totalling 100,000 routed a Confederate force half it’s size. Gist was badly wounded in the hand, putting him out of commission for a month. After the fall of Atlanta, Sherman began his infamous “March to the Sea.”    

   John Bell Hood devised a plan to invade Tennessee by “drawing Union military attention from the Deep South.” Fighting in Northern Alabama continued into Middle Tennessee as both sides longed for control of Nashville. Skirmishes in Columbia and Spring Hill set the tone for the Battle of Franklin, often called “The Gettysburg of the West.”  The fighting at Franklin began around 4:00 on the afternoon of the 30th. The Army of Tennessee faced long odds that afternoon. States had a feeling that this could be his last stand. General Gist ordered a gallant charge along the front line of battle. States’ horse “Joe Johnston” was shot in the neck and he continued the charge by foot. As he reached the Federal breastworks he was shot in the thigh and once more through the chest. The second wound proved fatal. Gist died from his wounds at approximately 8:30 that night. By the end of the gruesome battle, six Confederate generals were laid to rest on the back porch of Franklin’s Carnton Plantation. Among those brave generals was States Rights Gist. Casualties totaled nearly 7,000 for the CSA including 14 generals. Federal casualties numbered just 2,500. A humiliating defeat at Nashville sent Hood retreating into Mississippi and the Army of Tennessee became fragmented and largely ineffective. Hood resigned his command a month later.                             

    States Rights Gist’s accomplishments have been somewhat lost in the annals of South Carolina history. His life began during the midst of one national conflict and ended tragically at the end of another. Gists’ bravery and heroism are often overshadowed by his peculiar name. His loyalty to his home state and the protection of its ideals during a trying time should be commended. States Rights Gist died for something he strongly believed in, no matter how controversial the ideals appear in today’s society.

INDIGO BLUE NOTES: The above picture is the grave of States Rights Gist, located in Columbia’s Trinity Episcopal Cemetery. States was originally buried in Franklin at Carnton Plantation’s McGavock Cemetery with his Confederate comrades. His remains were removed and transferred back to South Carolina on May 10,1866 and placed at Columbia’s Trinity Episcopal Church. I highly recommend making a trip to Franklin, TN to see where S.R. Gist made his last stand. Franklin is a true Civil War town. Tours of Carnton Plantation and the Carter House are well worth the price of admission.

Far to the West a hill-crest flames;

Up the long slope a thin line crawls;

Hark, how the “rebel yell” proclaims

Marrigault’s charge! See, brave Gist falls.

Excerpt taken from The History of South Carolina Volume V

  

                     Blu Lagoon Restaurant- 226 Wichman St.   Walterboro, SC 29488   (843) 542-9431

Dillon-    King’s Famous Pizza- 100 Hwy. 301 S    Dillon, SC 29536    (843) 774-3811

                Abingdon Manor Country Inn- 307  Church St.   Latta, SC 29565   (843) 752-5090

Dorchester-    Guerin’s Pharmacy- 140 S. Main St.   Summerville, SC 29484   (843) 873-2531

                          Oscar’s- 207 W. 5th North St.   Summerville, SC 29483   (843) 871-3800

                          The Dining Room at Woodlands- 125 Parsons Rd.   Summerville, SC 29483   (843) 875-2600

                          Skynrd’s Grill & Sports Bar- 129 Frontage Rd.   Saint George, SC 29477    (843) 563- 4112

                          Eva’s Restaurant- 129 S. Main St.   Summerville, SC 29483   (843) 873-5081

Edgefield-    Old Edgefield Grill-   202 Penn St.   Edgefield, SC 29824   (803) 637-3222

                       Edgefield Billiard Parlor-   125 Courthouse Square   Edgefield, SC 29824   (803) 637-9941

                       Murphy’s Irish Pub- 600 Calhoun St.   Johnston, SC 29832   (803) 275-9114

                       Trenton BBQ- 5005 Edgefield Rd.   Trenton, SC 29847   (803) 275-6465

Fairfield-     Laura’s Tea Room- 105 North Palmer St.   Ridgeway, SC 29130   (803) 337-8594

                     Rebecca’s of Ridgeway- 235 South Palmer St.   Ridgeway, SC 29130   (803) 337-8314

                     Enzo’s Italian Restaurant- 147 South Congress St.   Winnsboro, SC 29180   (803) 815-3696

Florence-     Schoolhouse BBQ   2252 Hwy. 52   Scranton, SC 29591    (843) 389-2020

                      Red Bone Alley- 1903 West Palmetto St.   Florence, SC 29501   (843) 673-0035

                      Stefano’s Italian Rest.- 2600 S. Irby St.   Florence, SC 29505   (843) 664-9191

                      Bean Groovy Cafe- 848 S. Woody Jones Blvd.   Florence, SC 29501   (843) 667- 9337

                      Dr. Fishbone-  2112-D  S. Irby St.   Florence, SC 29505   (843) 673-2105

                      Starfire Grill & Spirits- 2130 W. Palmetto St.   Florence, SC 29501   (843) 661-7827

                      Railway Restaurant- 144 S. Acline St. #B   Lake City, SC 29560   (843) 374-8422

Georgetown-     River Room- 801 Front St.   Georgetown, SC 29440   (843) 527 4110

                             Rice Paddy- 732 Front St.   Georgetown, SC 29440   (843) 546-2021

                             Prosser’s Barbecue- 3750 Hwy. 17   Murrells Inlet, SC 29576   (843) 357- 6146

                             Drunken Jack’s-  4031 Hwy. 17 Business   Murrells Inlet, SC 29576   (843) 651-2044

                             Gulfstream- 1536 South Waccamaw Dr.   Garden City, SC 29576   (843) 651-8808

                             Frank’s Outback-  10434 Ocean Hwy.   Pawleys Island, SC 29585   (843) 237-3030

                             Roz’s Rice Mill Cafe- 10880 Ocean Hwy. #22   Pawleys Island, SC 29585   (843) 235-0196

                             Flo’s Place- 3797 Hwy. 17   Murrells Inlet, SC 29576   (843) 651-7222

Greenville-    Charlie’s Steakhouse- 18 E. Coffee St.   Greenville, SC 29601   (864) 232-9541

                        Smoke on the Water- 1 Augusta St. Suite 202   Greenville, SC 29601   (864) 232-9091

                        Soby’s New South Cuisine- 207 South Main St.   Greenville, SC 29601   (864) 232-7007

                        High Cotton- 550 South Main St.   Greenville, SC 29601   (864)335-4200

                        Stella’s Southern Bistro- 684-C Fairview Rd.   Simpsonville, SC 29680   (864) 757-1212

                        The Peddler Steakhouse- 2000 Poinsett Hwy.   Greenville, SC 29609   (864) 235- 7192

                        Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria- 25 W. Washington St. Greenville, SC 29601   (864) 232-3706

                        Sassafras Southern Bistro- 2 West Coffee St.   Greenville, SC 29601   (864) 235-5670

                        Stax Omega- 72 Orchard Park Dr.   Greenville, SC 29615   (864) 297-6639

                        Henry’s Smokehouse- 240 Wade Hampton Blvd.   Greenville, SC 29609   (864) 232-7774

                        BIN 112- 112 Trade St.   Greer, SC 29651   (864) 848-2112

                        Saluda River Grill- 1 Main St.   Piedmont, SC 29673   (864) 845-7100

                        Como’s Pete’s #4- 1611 Augusta St.   Greenville, SC 29605   (864) 233-1385

                        Northgate Soda Shop- 918 North Main St.   Greenville, SC 29609   (864) 235-6770

                        Strossner’s Bakery- 21 Roper Mt. Rd.   Greenville, SC 29607   (864) 233-3996

Greenwood-      T.W. Boon’s-  405 Main St.   Greenwood, SC 29646  (864) 227-3338

                             Polo’s Restaurant- 328 Main St.   Greenwood, SC 29646   (864) 943-4173

                             Cheeseburger House- 104 State St.   Ninety Six, SC 29666  (864) 543-2566

                             Corley’s Market & Grill- 1220 Hwy. 72   Greenwood, SC 29649   (864) 223-1144

                             Pascal’s Cafe & Grill- 307 West Cambridge Ave.   Greenwood, SC 29646   (864) 223-2329

                             Montague’s- 115N Hampton Place Shopping Center   Greenwood, SC 29646   (864) 223-1149

                              Rick’s Uptown Cafeteria- 234 Pressley Street   Greenwood, SC 29646   (864) 223-6545

Hampton-     Lowcountry Seafood- 204 E. Carolina Ave.   Varnville, SC 29944   (803) 943-3141

                        Gator’s Restaurant & BBQ- 321 Rairoad Ave.   Estill, SC 29918   (803) 625-4909

                        Coconut’s- 116 Lee Ave.   Hampton, SC 29924   (803) 943-3399

Horry-      Dino’s Pancake House- 2120 Hwy. 17 South    North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582   (843) 272-5411

                 Flynn’s Irish Tavern- 421 Main St.   North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582   (843) 249-6533

                 Parson’s Table- 4305 McCorsley Ave.   Little River, SC 29566    (843) 249-3702

                 Angelo’s Steak & Pasta-  2011 S. Kings Hwy.   Myrtle Beach, SC 29577   (843) 626-2800

                 Sea Captain’s House- 3002 N. Ocean Blvd.   Myrtle Beach, SC 29577   (843) 448-8082

                 Captain George’s Seafood- 1401 29th Ave. N    Myrtle Beach, SC 29577   (843) 916-2278

                 Rivertown Bistro- 1111 3rd Ave.   Conway, SC 29526   (843) 248-3733

                 Horry’s Restaurant & Oyster Roast- 1155 Hwy. 9 E    Longs, SC 29568   (843) 399-6293

                 The Trestle Bakery- 322 Main St.   Conway, SC 29526   (843) 488-2069

                 Hagood House Inn- 343 8th Ave.   Aynor, SC 29511   (843) 358-2600

Jasper-    Jasper’s Porch- 153 James F. Taylor Dr.   Ridgeland, SC 29936   (843) 726-9521

                  The Pink Pig- 3508 S. Okatie Hwy.   Hardeeville, SC 29927   (843) 784-3635

                  Palms Restaurant- 109 S. Jacob Smart Blvd.   Ridgeland, SC 29936   (843) 726-5509

                  Old House Smoke House- Hwy. 462   Ridgeland, SC 29936   (843) 258-4444

                  Country Morning Bakery- 128 W. Main St.   Ridgeland, SC 29936   (843) 717- 2828

Kershaw-     Mill Pond Steakhouse- 84 Boykin Mill Rd.   Rembert, SC 29128   (803) 425-8825

                       Hard Times Cafe- 2887 Hwy. 1 North   Cassatt, SC 29032   (803) 425-7308

                       Sam Kendall’s- 1043 Broad St.   Camden, SC 29020   (803) 424-2005

                       The Old Armory Steakhouse- 514 Rutledge St.   Camden, SC 29020   (803) 432-3222

                       Blackmon’s Little Midget- 1012 Market St.   Camden, SC 29020   (803) 432-3011

                       Boykin Company Grill- 73 Boykin Mill Rd.   Rembert, SC 29128   (803) 425-6724

Lancaster-     Charley’s Cafe- 306 South Main St.   Lancaster, SC 29720   (803) 285-1145

                         Grinder’s Restaurant- 208 North Park Sq.   Lancaster, SC 29720   (803) 286-4433

                         Jomar’s Family Restaurant- 278 Lancaster Byp. E   Lancaster, SC 29720   (803) 286-6482

                         Gus’ House of Pizza- 101 South Hampton St.   Kershaw, SC 29067     (803) 475-9937

Laurens-      Hummingbird Cafe- 115 W. Public Square    Laurens, SC 29630   (864) 984-1825

                       Steamer’s Cafe- 104 Musgrove St.   Clinton, SC 29325   (864) 833-2800

                       120 Musgrove- 120 Musgrove St.   Clinton, SC 29325   (864) 833-0883

                       House of Pizza- 2171 Hwy. 101 N   Gray Court, SC 29645   (864) 876-0444

Lee-     Watford’s Bar-B-Que- 341 South Main St.   Bishopville, SC 29010   (803) 484-6223

             Charlene’s Taste of Country- 34 Charlene’s Lane   Bishopville, SC 29010   (803) 428-2900

 Lexington-       Shealy’s Bar-B-Que- 380 East Columbia Ave.   Batesburg-Leesville, SC 29070  (803) 532-8135

                            Terra- 100 State St.   West Columbia, SC   (803) 791-3443

                            Cafe Strudel- 118 State St.   West Columbia, SC   (803) 794-6634

                            Hite’s Bar-B-Que- 460 East Railroad Ave.   Leesville, SC 29070   (803) 532-3354

                            Vegetable Medley- 3325 Platt Springs Rd.   West Columbia, SC 29170   (803) 796-7550

                            Flight Deck Restaurant- 109-A Old Chapin Rd.   Lexington, SC 29072   (803) 957-5990

                            Cotton Grill- 711 East Main St.   Lexington, SC 29072   (803) 957-1996

                            The Farmer’s Shed- 2514 Augusta Hwy.   Lexington, SC 29072   (803) 996-0700

Marion-     Thursday’s Restaurant   1106 Godbold St.   Marion, SC 29571   (843) 431-9609

                   Richard’s Restaurant- 501 N. Main St.   Marion, SC 29571   (843) 423-5561

                   Little Pee Dee Lodge- 8758 E. Hwy. 76   Nichols, SC 29581   (843) 526-2101

                   Tio’s Mexican Restaurant- 229 N.Main St.   Marion, SC 29571   (843) 765-3200

                   O’ Hara’s Restaurant- 123 East Wine St.   Mullins, SC 29574   (843) 464-7287

                   Bravo Pizza- 215 West McIntyre St.   Mullins, SC 29574   (843) 464-0045

Marlboro-     Magnolia on Main- 224 East Main St.   Bennettsville, SC 29512   (843) 479-9495

                       Stockyard Grill- 222 Hwy. 9 E   Bennettsville, SC 29512   (843) 479-2122

                       Herb’s Steak House- 525 Tyson Ave.   Bennettsville, SC 29512   (843) 479-3171

McCormick-       La Cantina Restaurant- 1750 Garrett Rd.   Clarks Hill, SC 29821   (864) 333-5315

                             Little Italy Pizza- 108 N. Main St.   McCormick, SC 29835   (864) 465-9300

                             Fannie Kate’s Country Inn- 127 S. Main St.   McCormick, SC 29835 (Reopening soon!)

                             Strom’s Drug Store- 124 S. Main St.   McCormick, SC 29835   (864) 465-2011

Newberry-      Steven W’s Bistro- 1100 Main St.    Newberry, SC 29108   (803) 276-7700

                         Cannon’s BBQ- 1903 Nursery Rd.   Little Mountain, SC 29075   (803) 945-1080

                         Gasthaus Zur Elli- 205 S. Main St.   Prosperity, SC 29127   (803) 364-9008

                         Delamaters- 1117 Boyce St.   Newberry, SC 29108   (803) 276-3555

Oconee-      Steak House Cafeteria- 316 East Main St.   Walhalla, SC 29691   (864) 638-3311

                      Circa 1930- 112 Ram Cat Alley   Seneca, SC 29678   (864) 888-1933

                      The Tiki Hut- 156 Keowee Marina Drive   Seneca, SC 29678   (864) 882-0800

                      Yousef’s Kitchen- 1109 East Main St.   Westminster, SC 29693   (864) 647-6947

Orangeburg-        Lone Star Barbecue & Mercantile-   2212 State Park Rd.   Santee, SC 29142   (803) 854-2000

                               Four Moons Restaurant- 1145 Orangeburg Mall Cir.   Orangeburg, SC 29115   (803) 531-1984

                               Chestnut Grill- 1455 Chestnut St.   Orangeburg, SC 29115   (803) 531-1747

                               Sweatman’s Barbecue- 1313 Gemini Dr.   Holly Hill, SC 29059   (803) 492-7543

                               Amporn’s Thai Cuisine- 2727 Cleveland St.   Elloree, SC 29047     (803) 897-1151

                               Clark’s Restaurant- 114 Bradford Blvd.   Santee, SC   (803) 854-2101

Pickens-     Aunt Sue’s Country Corner- 107 Country Creek Dr.  Pickens, SC 29671  (864) 878-4366

                     Calhoun Corners Restaurant- 103 Clemson St.   Clemson, SC 29631   (864) 654-7490

                     Tiger Town Tavern- 368 College Ave.   Clemson, SC 29631   (864) 654-5901

                     The Esso Club- 129 Old Greenville Hwy.   Clemson, SC 29631   (864) 654-5120

                     Bella Vita Restaurant- 119 Gulf St.   Easley, SC 29640   (864) 859-1499

                     Pancho’s Mexican Buffet- 100 Anderson Dr.   Liberty, SC 29657   (864) 843-2346

Richland-      Groucho’s Deli- 611 Harden St.   Columbia, SC 29205  (803) 799-5708

                        Yesterday’s Restaurant- 2030 Devine St.   Columbia, SC 29205   (803) 799-0196

                        California Dreaming- 401 S. Main St.   Columbia, SC 29201   (803) 254-6767

                        Rockaway Athletic Club- 2719 Rosewood Dr.   Columbia, SC 29205   (803) 256-1075

                        Pawley’s Front Porch- 827 Harden St.   Columbia, SC 29205   (803) 771-8001

                        The Gourmet Shop- 724 Saluda Ave.   Columbia, SC 29205   (803) 799-9463

                        Big T’s Barbecue- Hwy. 363 Rt. 2   Gadsden, SC 29052   (803) 353-0488

                        Andy’s Deli- 2005 Greene St.   Columbia, SC 29205   (803) 799- 2639

                        Hunter Gatherer Brewery- 900 Main St   Columbia, SC 29201   (803) 748-0540

                        Blue Marlin-1200 Lincoln St.   Columbia, SC 29201    (803) 799-3838

                        Motor Supply Co. Bistro- 920 Gervais St.   Columbia, SC 29201   (803) 256-6687

                        Maggie’s Market-  412 McNulty Rd.   Blythewood, SC 29016   (803) 708-4812

                        Cupcake- 1213 Lincoln St.   Columbia, SC 29201   (803) 212-4949

Saluda-    Juniper   640 East Main St.   Ridge Spring, SC   29129   (803) 685-7547 

                   Matthews Oak & Hickory BBQ- 212 S. Rudolph St.   Saluda, SC 29138   (864) 445-2028

                   The Nut House- 505 East Main St.   Ridge Spring, SC 29129   (803) 685-5335

Spartanburg-     The Beacon Drive-In -  255 John B. White Blvd.   Spartanburg, SC 29306  (864) 585-9387

                              Wade’s Family Restaurant- 1000 N. Pine St.   Spartanburg, SC 29303   (864) 582-3800

                              Ike’s Korner Grille- 104 Archer Road   Spartanburg, SC 29303   (864) 542-0911

                              Stone Soup- 1522 E. Rutherford St.   Landrum, SC 29356   (864) 457-5255

                              Hare & Hound Pub- 101 E. Rutherford St.   Landrum, SC 29356  (864) 457-3232

                              Thai Cuisine- 1580 E. Main St.   Duncan, SC 29334  (864) 486-0226

                              50′s Bantam Chef- 418 S. Alabama Ave.   Chesnee, SC 29323   (864) 461-8103

Sumter-         Lilfred’s- 8425 Camden Hwy.   Rembert, SC   29128   (803) 432-8750

                        Baker’s Sweets- 1089 Alice Dr.   Sumter, SC 29150   (803) 775-6016

                        Hampton’s- 4 W. Hampton Ave.    Sumter, SC 29150   (803) 774-4400

                        Plantation Restaurant- 4101 Thomas Sumter Hwy.   Dalzell, SC 29040   (803) 499-1919

Union-        Midway BBQ-   811 Main St.   Buffalo, SC 29321   (864) 427-4047

                    Heart’s Family Restaurant-  204 S. Duncan Byp.   Union, SC 29379   (864) 427-7000

                    Gene’s Fine Food- 217 N. Duncan Byp.   Union, SC 29379   (864) 427-7530

                    Buffalo Seafood House- 2018 Main St.   Buffalo, SC 29321   (864) 427-0142

Williamsburg-     Brown’s Bar-B-Que- 809 N. Williamsburg  Cty. Hwy.  Kingstree, SC 29556   (843) 382-2753

                               Scott’s Variety Store & BBQ- 2734 Hemingway Hwy.   Hemingway, SC 29554   (843) 558-0134

                               The Galley Restaurant- 134 East Main St.  Kingstree, SC 29556   (843) 355-5559

                               Moree’s- 677 Morrisville Rd.   Andrews, SC 29510   (843) 221-5643

York-     The Garden Cafe-   307 West Liberty St.   York, SC 29745   (803) 684-7019

               White Horse Restaurant- 1022 Camden Ave.   Rock Hill, SC 29730   (803) 328-2172

               The Coal Yard Restaurant- 105 Garner St.   York, SC 29745   (803) 684-9653

               Ebenezer Grill- 1525 Ebenezer Rd.    Rock Hill, SC 29732   (803) 327-6700

               The Brandon House- 36 North Congress St.   York, SC 29745   (803) 684-4484

               Captain Steve’s Seafood- 1975 Hwy. 21 Bypass   Fort Mill, SC 29715    (803) 547-2340

               T-Bones Steak House & Saloon- 3990 Hwy. 49 Lake Wylie, SC 29710   (803) 831-0170

Felix Anthony “Doc” Blanchard 1924-2009

   South Carolinians love outdoor sporting events. Many Sandlappers rise early to hunt assorted game. Others prefer the smell of freshly mowed grass at Greenville Drive or Myrtle Beach Pelicans baseball games. Thousands of race fans flock to Darlington each May to see the Southern 500. Yet none of these events match the love our state has for football. Young boys dream of Friday night lights in Winnsboro, Greer, Moncks Corner and Lamar. Fans of the college game obsess over their team 365 days a year. The gridiron is almost sacred in these parts. Our next Notable South Carolinian dominated college football in a time of great conflict. This quiet, powerful man from South Carolina’s Pee Dee Region reached the pinnacle of both individual and team achievement. World War II era fans called him ”Mr. Inside” for his bruising runs between the tackles. This football and military legend was born as Felix Anthony Blanchard. Fans of the game know him simply as Doc Blanchard.

   Felix Anthony Blanchard was born to Dr. Felix Anthony and Mary Tatum Blanchard on December 11, 1924 in McColl, South Carolina. Dr. Blanchard, a local physician, excelled as a college fullback at Tulane and later Wake Forest. Dr. Blanchard was known by the locals as “Doc”. Naturally, when his son was born he was nicknamed “Little Doc”. Anthony, as he was called, was destined for gridiron glory. As an infant “Little Doc” had a football in his crib. As a toddler he would throw and kick the pigskin around the front yard. In 1929 the Blanchard’s moved to the small town of Dexter, Iowa. Two years later they moved back to South Carolina, this time to Bishopville. Young Anthony had a pleasant life growing up in the heart of South Carolina’s cotton belt. Bishopville was a small, friendly Southern town. At twelve years of age “Little Doc” shed the first word from his now famous nickname. Anthony “Doc” Blanchard stood five feet ten inches and towered over his classmates. Blanchard was a skilled tennis player, however football remained his greatest passion. Blanchard tried out for the JV football team in seventh grade. One coach remarked that Blanchard “would never make it”. Dr. Blanchard knew his son had the talent and heart to succeed on the gridiron. The only thing lacking in his game was discipline.

    At 13 years of age Anthony Blanchard was sent to St. Stanislaus College Prep School in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. St. Stanislaus was a highly touted Catholic School for seventh through twelfth grade boys. There, Doc Blanchard struggled in the classroom but excelled on the football field. Blanchard started at halfback, linebacker, place kicker and punter. As the years went by Blanchard grew taller and stronger. He was heavily recruited by schools across the nation. In 1942 Doc decided to enroll at the University of North Carolina. His choice was influenced by a family connection. Blanchard’s mom’s cousin was UNC Head Coach Jim Tatum. After one season with the Tar Heel football team Doc attempted to enlist in the Navy’s V-12 Program. This program let students finish their educational requirements “in return for a service commitment”. Blanchard was rejected for his poor eyesight and for being “overweight”. Doc enlisted in the Army and soon after received his appointment to West Point in July 1944. In Europe the Allied forces were putting the final nail in the Axis Powers’ coffin. Back in the states, America was about to experience the greatest backfield duo the game had ever seen. Blanchard was going to play for legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik.

    Doc Blanchard’s career at Army ironically began against his former school, North Carolina. The Black Knights of the Hudson pasted the Tar Heels 46-0 behind the bruising style of Doc Blanchard and fleet footed teammate Glenn Davis. Blanchard’s classic north-south running style inspired New York sportswriter George Trevor to call him “Mr. Inside”. Trevor also dubbed Davis “Mr. Outside” for his breakaway speed. Blanchard also starred at linebacker on defense. He delivered a volley of broken bones and sprains to several victims throughout his career. The South Carolina native even handled place kicking duties on multiple occasions. The Black Knights crushed everyone in their path that season, posting point totals of 59, 59, 62, 69, 76 and 83. A 59-0 win over Notre Dame was witnessed by more than 74,000 stunned spectators. The shutout of the Fighting Irish was the largest margin of defeat in Notre Dame history. The humiliating loss prompted Irish coach Ed McKeever to say “I’ve just seen Superman in the flesh. He wears number 35 and goes by the name of  Blanchard”.  Army completed an undefeated season three weeks later with a 23-7 victory over fierce rival Navy. The Black Knights completed one of the finest seasons in College Football History. Their perfect season produced the school’s second national championship. Glenn Davis finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting while Doc Blanchard finished third.

  The 1945 season was an exciting time for young Doc Blanchard. Red Blaik’s tough Black Knights once again plowed through the competition. The Cadets raced to another undefeated season as the world celebrated the end of the war. Army defeated traditional stalwarts Notre Dame and Michigan by a combined score of 76-7. The closest game for Army in 1945 was a 32-13 victory over Navy. Army won their second consecutive national title behind the exploits of Blanchard and Davis. It was nearly impossible to duplicate the numbers of 1944. Army racked up 412 points in only 9 games, yet it paled in comparison to the previous season. Still, the ”Touchdown Twins” collected several individual honors. Blanchard earned the Maxwell Award, Sullivan Award and college football’s ultimate prize, the Heisman Trophy. Doc Blanchard became the first and remains the only native South Carolinian to win the Heisman.

   The Black Knights entered the 1946 football campaign riding an 18 game winning streak. Red Blaik was coaching a seemingly untouchable team. Army was a near unanimous pick to capture it’s third straight national title. The Cadets raced out to a 7-0 record behind Blanchard, Davis and quarterback Arnold Tucker. On November 9, 1946 the Black Knights faced Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium. Red Blaik’s undefeated Cadets were ranked number one. Frank Leahy’s undefeated Fighting Irish were rated number two. The game was hailed by many critics as the “Game of the Century”. Most fans expected a high scoring affair. What they received was an old fashioned defensive struggle. Notre Dame held Blanchard and Davis in check the entire afternoon. Army’s defensive line contained Notre Dame’s future Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Johnny Lujack. When the dust cleared Army and Notre Dame had battled to a scoreless tie. Both teams won the remainder of their games that season. In the final AP poll, Notre Dame was awarded the national title, outdistancing Army and undefeated Georgia. Glenn Davis beat out UGA’s Charley Trippi for the 1946 Heisman Trophy. Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis ended a fine career together at West Point. Their final record was an astounding 27-0-1. Both players won the Heisman and made three straight All-America teams during their unprecedented run as Army Cadets.

   Doc Blanchard was selected third overall in the 1946 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately for Blanchard, pro football was not in the cards. The War Department vetoed his entrance into the league due to his service commitment. Blanchard soon began his career as an Air Force jet fighter pilot. Doc’s poor grade point average left him with few options. Years later he joked that by the time they got to his GPA the “infantry and the Air Corps was all that was left”. Blanchard received his degree from Army in 1947, graduating 296th out of 310 cadets. Later that year he played himself in “The Spirit of West Point”, a low budget film about the lives of Davis and Blanchard. Doc later described his bad acting as a ten on a one to ten scale with one being “perfect”. Blanchard married the former Jody King of San Antonio on October 12, 1948. Doc and Jody produced two daughters and a son. In the late 40′s and early 50′s Blanchard coached with his mentor Red Blaik and also directed the JV team. He compiled an impressive but brief record of 29-6-2.

   Doc’s military career was just as successful and dramatic as his time at West Point. Blanchard did tours in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. During the Vietnam War Blanchard flew 113 missions, the majority of them being over North Vietnam. He was often given the opportunity to pilot the Air Force’s newest and fastest jets. Blanchard’s supreme athletic ability and fearless nature helped him succeed in combat missions. In 1959 Doc Blanchard was stationed in England. He was making a routine flight near London when oil started leaking on the plane’s motor. Minutes later the plane caught on fire. Instead of bailing out over a heavily populated area Blanchard somehow managed to land the plane himself, sparing several lives. The Air Force awarded him with the medal of bravery for his courage in the face of extreme danger. Blanchard retired from the Air Force in 1971 with the “rank of full colonel”.

   Doc enjoyed retirement in San Antonio with his wife Jody in relative solitude. He “gave up” golf several times. Blanchard loved his Black Knights from afar, rarely attending games on the banks of the Hudson. In 1989 Doc gave St. Stanislaus his Heisman Trophy, Sullivan Award, Maxwell Award and his game worn jersey. On September 1, 1993 his beloved Jody died after 45 years of marriage. Doc suffered from dementia late in life and rarely made public appearances. Young people were not familiar with “Mr. Inside”. In April 2009 Army decided to retire Blanchard’s number 35 at an October home game against Vanderbilt. Shortly after the announcement was made Doc’s strong body began to wear down. Doc Blanchard died of pneumonia on April 19, 2009 at his daughter and son-in-law’s home in Bulverde, Texas. He was buried next to his wife at San Antonio’s Fort Sam Houston, the place where they first met. 

     An accomplished man of few words leaves behind a legacy of courage and determination on the battlefield and the gridiron. Doc Blanchard will always be best known for his extraordinary talents on the football field. A deeper reflection of his life shows a quiet, witty, honest man that served his country with utmost valor. Blanchard was loyal to his wife Jody and to his three children. It’s been nearly 21 months since Doc Blanchard passed. His legend lives on here in his native South Carolina. A new generation is asked to keep the stories of “Mr. Inside” alive. Somewhere along Highway 15 near Bishopville young men play a game of touch football during a rare winter snow storm. A young boy scores a touchdown and strikes a famous pose that needs no introduction. After all, striking the Heisman pose comes natural to people in this town. 

INDIGO BLUE NOTES: The memorial pictured above is Doc Blanchard at three different stages of his life. The middle statue is Blanchard as a young child. The left statue is “Mr. Inside” at West Point. The statue on the right depicts Blanchards time serving as an Air Force pilot. The tribute was sculpted by South Carolina native Robert Allison and dedicated last summer. The vision behind the statue comes from longtime Army football fan Dick Adams. Mr. Adams was a young child living in Pennsylvania when Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis ruled College Football. He hero worshipped the two Black Knight stars as a young boy. Ten years ago Mr. Adams and his wife visited Bishopville on their return trip home from a Charleston wedding. Dick Adams was eager to see how Bishopvillians had honored their hometown hero. No tributes were to be found. Some people had never even heard of the 20th Century icon. Mr. Adams got in touch with the powers that be in Lee County and the rest is history. Motorists driving on I-20 near Bishopville will be pleased to know that the interchange is named for Felix “Doc” Blanchard.

For more information on Doc Blanchard please contact the South Carolina Cotton Museum at (803) 484-4497, or e-mail them at DocBlanchard2010@hotmail.com

South Carolina Cotton Museum      121 West Cedar Lane      Bishopville, South Carolina 29010      (803) 484-4497       Sccottonmus@ftc-i.net

Historic Brattonsville is a 775 acre living history site located in the rolling hills of southern York County. The property was named for the Bratton Family, owners of the property for three generations beginning in 1765. Historic Brattonsville portrays life in the Carolina Piedmont from the 1750′s-1840′s. This National Register historic site is home to more than 30 historic buildings and structures. Interpreters in period costume bring this well preserved historic site to life. The staff displays 18th Century farming techniques and general “day-to-day” activities around the plantation. Uncommon breeds of animals such as Ossabaw Island (GA) hogs, Gulf Coast sheep and Devon cattle live here as their ancestors once did. Dominique chickens, a rare five “toed” breed, can also be found at Brattonsville. Self-guided tours of the resplendent property are welcomed 361 days a year. Historic Brattonsville also hosts an 8.5 mile network of walking trails called the Walt Schrader Trails. Native Americans and early settlers made their mark here centuries ago. This chain of footpaths crosses through wetlands, woodlands and open fields. Historical markers can be spotted along the way.

Historic Brattonsville hosts several planned activities throughout the year. Children’s Day is the first major event, held each March. Historical interpreters teach children some of the customs and games from the 18th and 19th Centuries. Activities include a petting zoo, tall tale telling, music and a puppet show. The Battle of Huck’s Defeat is held each July. Huck’s Defeat was an important local battle won by Patriot militia on July 12, 1780. We will talk about this battle later in the article. By the Sweat of our Brows chronicles the African- American experience from slavery to the present day. Stirring theatrical presentations, story telling and food demonstrations highlight a people’s arduous journey. Fall brings back memories of a time when our nation wasn’t so civil. The Civil War Reenactment is held here in late October. Cannon firings, period music and firearms presentations highlight a weekend sure to entice enthusiasts of our nation’s four year struggle. December ushers in Brattonsville’s Christmas Candlelight Tour. Eighteenth Century costumed interpreters showcase the holiday season in the Old South. Theatrical situations bring history to life. The Brattonsville Christmas Candlelight tour was named a “Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event for 2008″.

Many historic sites conveniently skirt the issue of slavery. Historic Brattonsville is NOT one of those sites. Brattonsville is known for their honest and forthright portrayal of this unfortunate institution. Slave interpretation is a vital link to Brattonsville’s past. We all know slavery was real, cruel and inhumane to the core. Here the lives of those who were not free are carefully examined. Many slaves including those of the Bratton family were extremely loyal to their masters despite their circumstances. One interpreter that shines in her craft is Kitty Wilson-Evans. “Ms. Kitty”, a retired school teacher, has given 20 years to the portrayal of her people’s struggle. In the beginning Mrs. Wilson-Evans was the only person of color on site. Her work inspired other African Americans to volunteer at Brattonsville. Ms. Kitty’s late husband John portrayed the Bratton’s loyal slave Watt before passing in 1995. Kitty portrayed Watt’s faithful wife Polly. ”Kessie the Slave” is a character contrived by Kitty Wilson-Evans. At Historic Brattonsville Kitty transforms into Kessie. Her heartfelt portrayal has earned her local, national and international acclaim. Mrs. Wilson- Evans has penned a children’s book about Kessie called Kessie’s Tales: The Adventures of an African American Slave Girl in South Carolina. The impact Kitty Wilson-Evans has had on Historic Brattonsville is truly immeasurable.

Brattonsville is aptly named for the Bratton Family. The Brattons migrated to America in the late 1730′s from Northern Ireland’s Ulster Province. The Brattons lived in Pennsylvania and Virginia in the early days. In 1765 William Bratton and his brothers Robert, Hugh, Thomas and John traveled down the Great Wagon Road to present day York County. Like many Upcountry migrants of the period, the Brattons were steadfast Scots-Irish Presbyterians. William Bratton and his wife Martha built the first home on the property around 1770. This two story log home is now known as the Colonel William Bratton House. The Bratton House served as a makeshift hospital during the Revolutionary War. After the war the home doubled as a tavern. In 1839 Bratton’s son John renovated the home to host a local school. Catherine Ladd was hired to teach the Brattonsville Female Seminary. The school operated in various locations on the property until the beginning of the Civil War. Across the street from the Bratton House is the most notable structure on the property, The Homestead. This large Antebellum home was built in the mid-1820′s for the Bratton’s son Dr. John Simpson Bratton and his wife Harriet. The Homestead reflects the aristocratic life led by the Bratton family. John S. Bratton and his brother William began a long line of trained physicians that have served York County for more than 200 years. The Homestead served as Aunt Charlotte’s home in the 2000 Hollywood film ”The Patriot”. The rear dining hall was used in a particular chilling scene with Colonel Tavington (Jason Isaacs) pursuing one of the Martin children.

Historic Brattonsville was the proving ground for a decisive Revolutionary skirmish on July 12, 1780. The Summer of 1780 appeared to be the beginning of the end for Patriot Forces in the Revolution’s Southern Theater. Demoralizing defeats at the hands of a superior British army left Patriot, or Whig forces in disrepair. Unfortunately for the British, the cruelty of one Tory officer inspired local Scots-Irish farmers to take a stand. Captain Christian Huck, a staunch Loyalist in Banastre Tarleton’s legion despised the backcountry Presbyterians. Earlier that summer Huck murdered an unarmed boy in present Chester County that was reading a bible. Captain Huck also burned the home of ardent Whig and Presbyterian Minister John Simpson. The final straw for many locals was the destruction of William Hill’s iron plantation in June of 1780. Local farmers that once dabbled in Pacifism now fought as ardent Patriots. On July 11th Captain Huck  raided the home of Whig leader John McClure on Chester County’s Fishing Creek. Huck arrested McClure’s Brother and brother-in-law and sentenced them to death. Approximately 115 men in Huck’s detachment reached the home of William Bratton during the early afternoon hours of July 11. The Tory militia harassed and one soldier threatened Martha Bratton with a reaping hook. Mrs. Bratton refused to give the officers any vital information. Later in the day Captain Huck questioned Martha of Colonel Bratton’s whereabouts. Much to his dismay, not a helpful word was uttered. Martha Bratton sent her most loyal slave Watt to find Colonel Bratton and alert him of British and Tory presence. Their courageous act set the tone for the rest of the war.

Christian Huck relocated his troops to the plantation of Mr. James Williamson. This was an ideal location for his horses due to the ample supply of oats in Mr. Williamson’s field. Patriot forces gathered at Walker’s Mill, where they learned of Huck’s location. The Whigs arrived at Bratton’s home early on the morning of July 12th. They planned a sunrise attack on Huck by dividing their forces into two companies. One group attacked the east lane leading to the main road and the other attacked the west. This maneuver prevented the Tory militia from escaping to the main road. The Scots-Irish rebels took cover behind the fence and trees that surrounded the Williamson home. As the warm summer sun began to rise the Patriot forces began their spirited attack on the shell shocked Loyalists. Many Tories abandoned their posts and fled to the woods. Some were not so fortunate. Captain Christian Huck, the ultimate villain to backcountry Presbyterians, was shot and killed immediately by Patriot John Carroll. Ten minutes later a bloody but swift battle was won by the Whigs. Tory casualties included 35 dead, 30 wounded and approximately 30 taken prisoner. Only one Patriot was killed in the melee. The men set to be executed later that morning by Captain Huck were set free. The battle brought great optimism to a cause that for so long seemed hopeless. Some refer to the skirmish as the Battle of Williamson’s Plantation, but most historians refer to it as Huck’s Defeat.

Our experience at Historic Brattonsville is one I will remember for years to come. We arrived early on a comfortable late October afternoon. Maxi and I had come to capture the spirit of the American Revolution. Little did we know we were just in time for the Civil War reenactment. License tags from across our nation dotted the makeshift parking lot. Small white tents and soldiers from another era basked in the October sunshine. Only Brattonsville enables you t0 change centuries with such ease. Bugels sounded in the distance and cannons shook the earth beneath us. Reenactments may not be real, but they sure have a way of making us believe! Much like the real Civil War, Johnny Reb fought valiantly but came up short. Someone in the crowd asked why we (Southerners) couldn’t enjoy the spoils of a pretend battle. One of the organizers said, “Come back tomorrow, the outcome might be different”. After the battle we bought some old style ginger ale at a makeshift saloon behind Hightower Hall, the beautiful Italian Villa style mansion of John Simpson Bratton, Jr. & his wife Harriet R. Bratton. The Revolutionary side of Brattonsville showcases life before and after the Revolution. The contrast in lifestyle between slave and slaveholder was staggering. The farm animals live here without a care in the world. The Homestead had Antebellum charm with a dash of Hollywood appeal. The Colonel William Bratton House typified a charming colonial farmhouse. Brattonsville has the “wow” factor that keeps people coming back year after year. Count me in that group of enthusiasts.

As we departed Brattonsville we were advised by staff to view the Bratton family church. Bethesda Presbyterian Church is believed to be the longest running church congregation in York County. Bethesda began as a ”mission” church in 1760. Reverend William Richardson of Waxhaw Presbyterian Church is credited with the formation of the “formal” congregation in 1769. Bethesda was “one of the four original Presbyterian churches” in South Carolina’s York District. Robert Becqum Walker was named the first minister of Bethesda Presbyterian in 1794. During his 40 year tenure the church experienced great spiritual growth. In 1800 Rev. Walker attended church camp meetings in Kentucky. He brought these same practices back to York County as part of the Second Awakening. Bethesda held camp meetings until the end of the Civil War. The “present structure” was erected from Charleston made brick in 1820. This is the third building on site. Although a few modifications have been made, the building still holds the same basic structural integrity. The church has a large cemetery that reflects two and a half centuries of worship. Veterans from virtually every major war since the American Revolution are buried here. Some prominent names in the churchyard are Bratton, Neely, Moore, Byers, Harris and Williamson. Today Bethesda’s members reflect on their storied past while looking toward building a bright future.

Our afternoon at Brattonsville and Bethesda Church reminded me why I look forward to October eleven months out of the year. The sounds of Civil War Cannons, Hoop skirts and the reminder of slavery’s scars helped us reflect on our state’s varied cultural history. We enjoyed seeing what life was like during South Carolina’s frontier days. York County’s Bethesda Church celebrated 250 years of worship this year with no plans of slowing down. The old graveyard bears testament to the thousands that have worshipped on her grounds. York County is rapidly moving forward alongside it’s neighbor Charlotte. In many respects she is commended for her steps of progress, but not all places are meant to join the 21st Century. Here in the shadows of Historic Brattonsville everything exists as it did two hundred years ago. There is one noticable exception. Slavery exists only as an interpretation, not a reality.

To view more photos of Historic Brattonsville please click HERE  (More photos coming soon)

To view more photos of York County please click HERE

For more information on Historic Brattonsville please call (803) 684-2327, or visit their website at www.chmuseums.org/brattonsville/

Historic Brattonsville      1444 Brattonsville Highway       McConnells, South Carolina 29726

Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday 10:00 A.M- 5:00 P.M.      Sunday 1:00 P.M.- 5:00 P.M.

Admission: Adults (18-59) $6      Seniors (60 & Over) $5      Youth (4-17) $3      Children 3 & Under- FREE

For more information on Bethesda Presbyterian Church please call (803) 328- 1360, or visit their website at www.bethesdapres.org/

Bethesda Presbyterian Church      4858 McConnells Highway      York, South Carolina 29745

    Both Chester County and it’s seat of Chester were named for Chester County, PA. During the 1750′s many Pennsylvanians traveled the Great (Philadelphia) Wagon Road to their new home in South Carolina. Settlers in neighboring York and Lancaster Counties also named their new homes for counties in PA. Several Revolutionary skirmishes were held in the area. General Thomas Sumter was defeated by the British at Fishing Creek in August of 1780. Sumter exacted revenge three months later with a victory at the Battle of Fishdam Ford. Patriots ambushed British troops at Beckhamville led by Captain John McLure and nine Gaston family sons. Chester County was one of seven counties formed from the Camden District. The county’s rectangular shape has remained unaltered for more than two centuries. Chester County is bordered by the Broad River to the west and the Catawba River to the east. The town of Chesterville was established as the county seat in 1791. The county was heavily influenced by it’s planter class during Antebellum times. Chesterville was hailed as a center of “trade and industry.” The town received it’s official charter in 1840. Eleven years later the Columbia-Chester rail line sparked local growth. Post Civil War Chesterville thrived through agriculture and textiles. Chesterville was shortened to Chester in 1886. Chester enjoyed substantial growth until the market crash of 1929. Towns like Chester became isolated after the establishment of the Interstate System. The city experienced hardships from the 1960′s-80′s. Downtown shopping gave way to shopping malls. In 1996 Chester received a $1.8 million face lift that invigorated this lovely town. Today Chester earns it’s long standing moniker, “The Pretty Little City on the Hill.”           

     There are certain restaurants that speak volumes about the small towns they occupy. The Cyclone Drive-In Restaurant is one of those establishments. The Cyclone has served short order food for the people of Chester since 1970. The Cyclone’s friendly staff gives a glimpse of what life in the South is all about. The restaurant takes it’s name from the Chester High School Cyclones. Maxi and I started off with The Cyclone’s fried green tomatoes with homemade sour cream. For lunch we had two Greek entrees. The chicken souvlaki had a distinctive Mediterranean flair. Desserts made from scratch are sure to make grandmothers envious. If you’re looking for comfort food in Chester, this restaurant will not disappoint you. The Cyclone truly made us feel like one of the locals. If you’re looking for an uptown dining experience, look to Anna’s Arbor, located at 129 Gadsden Street. Owner Karen Hutto named this restaurant for her daughter Anna. Karen and Anna have given the restaurant their unique personal touch. A large portrait of a fluffy white cat greets the patrons of this eatery. Last year I brought my Mom and Grandmother to Anna’s for lunch. I was so impressed by this bistro that I invited my Dad to experience lunch with me at Anna’s. Dad had meatloaf, fried okra, macaroni pie and tea. I devoured the chicken salad sandwich and pasta salad. We also sampled Anna’s lemon poppy seed and banana nut muffins. The muffins are pure heaven! For dessert we shared a slice of German Chocolate cake. The atmosphere at Anna’s Arbor is relaxing and roomy. Anna’s Arbor also has a locally renowned catering business. A friend of mine attended a wedding catered by Anna and Karen. She raved about the presentation and professionalism displayed in their business. A trip to Anna’s Arbor is a must on a visit to Chester!                   

    Our first adventure took us to the Chester County Transportation Museum. Numerous volunteers worked tirelessly restoring the 1888 freight depot. The Chester Transportation Museum opened for business in Oct. 2007. The museum is operated by director Bob Shannon. Mr. Shannon, a Chester County native, possesses an uncanny recollection of local transportation lore. Once we entered the building Bob showed us several museum artifacts collected through the years. He told us the story of Sherman’s men pillaging their way through Chester County in 1865. A copy of the Daily South Carolinian gives a glimpse of life at the war’s conclusion from a Confederate perspective. Mr. Shannon gave us background on a few citizens that made the museum possible. The man he mentioned most was R.D. Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins was a lifelong local that took pride in repairing old automobiles. Mr. Jenkins operated a general store in Chester. Bob Shannon and R.D. Jenkins developed a special bond over the years. Late in life Mr. Jenkins donated his personal tool collection, counters from his old store and a vintage car to the museum. Inside the museum Mr. Shannon showed us a mural of South Carolina license tags. The earliest one was from 1917, the year SC first issued mandatory tags. On the left side of the museum we learned about 19th Century Transportation. A buggy made at the Rock Hill Buggy Company and a cotton filled wagon highlight this time period. A schedule of the old Southern Railroad recalls the stops made between Columbia and Charlotte. The right side of the museum is dedicated to 20th Century Transportation. Some of the highlights include a vintage Chester Fire Engine, a 1925 Chester Co. School Bus, a 1934 Ford ” Bonnie and Clyde” V-8 Model and a 1906 Ford on loan from the Henry Ford Museum. The Chester Transportation Museum is a must see. Bob Shannon’s oratory alone is easily worth the $3 price of admission. His passion for preserving Chester’s storied past is evident. On a sunny afernoon in May we gained a true appreciation for nearly two centuries of travel. More importantly, with Mr. Shannon, we gained a friend.      

    Downtown Chester is filled with memories and monuments to past leaders and events. The heart of Historic Chester is known simply as “The Hill”, due to it’s location on a steep hilltop. There are four important markers in Monument Square. The most visible of these tributes is the Confederate Monument. This marker commemorates the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for the CSA. The monument was erected in 1905 by the Daughters of the Confederacy. The Civil War Cannon is one of four cannons discovered at Calvary Baptist Church in February of 1986. Across the street from the cannon is an important monument that some overlook. Aaron Burr Rock is the actual stone that politician Aaron Burr stood on during his memorable, yet brief visit to Chester. The rock states, ” In 1806 Aaron Burr, while passing through Chester a prisoner dismounted on this rock and appealed in vain to the citizens for help”. The Burr caravan actually marched through town in March of 1807. Aaron Burr had recently been arrested for high treason in the Mississippi Territory. Burr was accused of organizing a potential monarchy west of the Mississippi that would separate the Atlantic states from the Western states. When Burr arrived in Chester the town citizens ignored his desperate plea. The Burr caravan spent that night at John Lewis’ Inn. Authorities had escorted Burr through SC on the way to his trial in Richmond. Aaron Burr was a Princeton man known for extreme self confidence, but not on this night. A soldier reportedly found Burr lying in a “flood of tears”. The last of the four monuments at Monument Square is the 19th Century Cistern. The cistern held approximately 22,000 gallons of water. This relic was filled by rain water runoff from downtown buildings. The cistern served Chester’s citizens until 1897.                        

    The Chester County Courthouse is one of South Carolina’s oldest and most revered halls of justice. The courthouse, built in 1852, was designed by Edward B. White. Mr. White was an early disciple of Charlestonian Robert Mills. The courthouse was expanded in 1896 and 1928. An elevator tower was added in 1994. Hollywood has also taken to the old courthouse. Actor Justin Long delivered a powerful speech to the citizens of Patriotville (Chester) from the courthouse steps in the 2009 film Taking Chances. Another local landmark is the Brainerd Institute. Brainerd was an expansion of an 1866 school for freed slaves. In 1868 the NY Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church sent Rev. Samuel Loomis to Chester to start schools and churches for the black community. This school for freedmen was Chester’s only school for blacks until the 20th Century. Brainerd was strictly a primary school for many years. By 1913 the school had grown to ten grades. Brainerd Institute eventually added 11th & 12th grade in the 1920′s. New public schools for blacks in the 30′s saw Brainerd’s enrollment plummet. Brainerd Institute became Brainerd Junior College in 1935. Unfortunately the school lasted a short time in that capacity. Brainerd JC closed it’s doors in 1939. Kumler Hall is the lone building that serves as a reminder of Brainerd’s past glory. Actress Phylicia Rashad, beloved as Claire Huxtable from the Cosby Show, bought the entire 12 acre property in 1998. Rashad and her sister, dancer Debbie Allen, honored their mother Vivian Ayers with this tribute. Ms. Ayers was a member of Brainerd’s last graduating class. Kumler Hall is currently being restored to it’s past glory by Sparta Construction of Matthews, NC. Once Kumler is renovated the team will begin the next project, called Arena AHAU. The Arena will “house the museum and theater complex.”

    A visit to Chester County would not be complete without perusing a few historic churches. We explored two churches inside the city limits and two in the countryside. Our first stop was to Purity Presbyterian Church. This church, founded in 1770, is located downtown on Wylie Street. Purity has one of the most beautiful magnolia trees you’ll ever see. The present brick sanctuary dates to 1854. The other downtown church we explored was Chester ARP Church. My friend Cecelia and her husband Chris married here in 1997. Chester ARP is located across from the courthouse. Chester ARP was established in 1869, though the current sanctuary dates to 1897. This historic church held a celebration last month dedicating their renovated sanctuary. Chester County is also home to two rural churches that bear historical significance. Catholic Presbyterian is Chester County’s lone house of worship on the National Register of Historic Places. Catholic Presbyterian was organized in 1759 by noted minister William Richardson. Richardson aimed to unite Presbyterians in the area by choosing the name “Catholic”. The term catholic means broad minded, or universal. The present brick church was built in 1842 by David Lyle. Catholic Presbyterian has a monument noting the sixty two Revolutionary War soldiers buried in the cemetery. The cemetery is surrounded by a beautiful fieldstone wall. Our last church tour was Fishing Creek Church. Fishing Creek Presbyterian is the oldest church in the county. The congregation of this historic church reportedly began meeting in 1752. The current structure was built in 1785, though the church was encased in brick in 1958. Fishing Creek has a cemetery that houses several Revolutionary veterans. There is a marker in the churchyard to Colonel Robert Patton, a patriot who fought with Thomas Sumter.        

    Chester County has been a hot spot for filming locations since 1983. Several directors have taken advantage of Historic Chester’s small town charm and ambiance. The most famous movie filmed in Chester County was 2000′s The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson, Jason Isaacs and the late Heath Ledger. This smash hit about a family’s struggle during the Revolution featured many rural Chester County locations. Taking Chances is a recent movie that was filmed in Chester. Unfortunately the movie went straight to DVD. The film does have several bright spots, including the strong performance given by rising star Justin Long. The ensemble cast includes Emanuelle Chriqui, Rob Corrdry, Nick Offerman and Missi Pyle. Most people easily forget made for TV movies. One that is fondly remembered by South Carolinians is the 1983 Mini Series Chiefs. This film tells the story of three different police chiefs investigating serial murders in small town Dixie. The all-star cast includes Charlton Heston, Danny Glover, John Goodman, Stephen Collins and the suave Billy Dee Williams. I’ve often wondered if Williams, best known for his role as Lando Calrissian from Star Wars, knew that Chester Co. had a community named Lando?

    Located on the shores of the scenic Catawba River, Landsford Canal State Park is one of South Carolina’s greatest outdoor treasures. The term ”Land’s Ford” derives from the name of an early settler in the region, Thomas Land. Land was granted a substantial parcel by King George II in 1755. Thomas Land operated a store in an “aboriginal ford” in the river. This important crossing in the Catawba played a vital role in the American Revolution. Generals Sumter and Cornwallis crossed the ford several times during the war. Sumter religiously used the ford as a rendezvous point. William Richardson Davie longed for a canal to be built along the Catawba. Davie donated the land for the canal’s construction. In 1819 the SC Board of Public Works approved the construction of the new canal. The board was made up of Robert Mills, Joel Poinsett and Abram Blanding. Mills was responsible for designing the canal and it’s locks. Scottish Engineer Robert Leckie was contracted by Poinsett to supervise the construction of Landsford Canal. Labor was mostly made up of skilled workers and local slaves. The purpose of the canal was to ”lift and lower barges around the Catawba’s rocky shoals” so that goods could reach Charleston and the Atlantic with ease. Landsford Canal was the northernmost of four canals built on the Catawba-Wateree system. These four canals were built with the intention of connecting the East Coast to the Mississippi River by water. Under Leckie’s leadership, the impressive canal was completed in 1823. Unfortunately for Robert Leckie, personal tragedy struck three times during Landsford’s construction. Leckie’s two year old son, aunt and wife all perished between August 1822 & January 1823. They are buried nearby in an unusual grave at Old Waxhaw Presbyterian Church. Landsford Canal’s lifespan was relatively short. The onslaught of railroad transportation quickly made this mode of shipping market goods obsolete. By 1835 the canal was no longer a viable means of transportation.

   Today Landsford Canal State Park pays tribute to South Carolina’s best preserved canal system. The park encompasses 448 acres on the Chester & Lancaster County shores of the Catawba River. Most of the navigable section of the park is in Chester. Landsford Canal is known to have the largest expanse of Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies in the world. These lilies annually paint a white canvas in the turbulent current of the Catawba from mid-May through mid- June. If you are visiting LCSP for the first time the lilies are a must. If you cannot visit in late spring the park still offers a plethora of activities for year round visits. Hikes down the canal trail invoke memories of a once great transportation system. Canoeing down the Catawba River is a favorite pastime for many park visitors. Families can enjoy a picnic lunch under a canopy of trees at Landsford Canal. Fishing on the banks of the Catawba is a must for any outdoorsman. Largemouth bass, bream, carp, catfish and gar are some of the most abundant fish spotted in this part of the river. Birding and nature watching is a nice way to relax as you walk along the Canal Trail. If you’re lucky, you might spot one of Landsford Canal’s “resident” bald eagles.

   This was my second trip to Landsford Canal State Park. We entered the park at 6 PM for the extended Rocky Shoals Spider Lily viewing hours. Rain crept in from the coast, threatening our exploration of the park. We had driven 95 miles to see Landsford’s majesty, so there was no turning back. Our first stop was to the old lock keeper’s house at the top of a wooded hill. The architecture was fascinating and the house well preserved. We headed toward the log cabin that serves as the park’s office. You are given the option of three trails to hike at Landsford Canal. These trails include the Eagle Point, Nature and Canal trails. We took the 1.5 mile out and back Canal trail. This leisurely hike blends nature with history. Along the trail you will be reminded of this once impressive mode of transportation. Remnants of the 1820′s canal linger to the left. The rest of the scene reminded us of an English forest. The lush Canal Trail is home to a wide array of wildflowers. Some common species found here are Jack in the pulpit, liverwort, fire pink, crane-fly orchid and spicebush. The swift moving waters of the Catawba River is soothing to hikers at Landsford. Halfway down the trail you will see the Rocky Shoals Spider Lily viewing area. Before our eyes the lilies bloomed an ivory white against the blue waters of the Catawba. This was the most beautiful natural occurrence I have ever seen. Maxi and I just smiled at each other, appreciating every moment as if it was our last. After viewing the lilies we forged on. We passed an old stone bridge just before reaching the mill complex. The mill, built in 1810 by William Richardson Davie, was used to saw local lumber and grind grain by using water power. The upper lifting locks mark the end of the Canal Trail. These remnants remain in great condition after nearly two centuries. A historical marker honoring the “Great Indian Warrior Trading Path” tells the story of treaties made between Indian tribes in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Our return trip up the trail featured a beautiful sunset over the mighty Catawba. A great blue heron stopped long enough to pose for us before taking flight once more. William R. Davie and Thomas Land would be proud to know the area they called home is loved by so many.

    Our day in Chester County turned out to be one of the finest trips we have made for our site. The combination of history, hospitality and natural beauty in Chester captivates the mind and ignites the imagination. Downtown Chester held many memories from the Civil War and a memorable plea from Aaron Burr. The Chester Transportation Museum is a great find for all ages interested in varied means of travel. Chester County’s many historic churches represent centuries of worship in a place that stands the test of time. Our finale at Landsford Canal State Park amongst the spider lilies was magical. Watching ducklings wade in the Catawba River at sunset helped us realize how simple and beautiful life can be.          

INDIGO BLUE NOTES: Indigo Blue would like to thank Mr. Robert (Bob) Shannon of the Chester County Transportation Museum for his enthralling tour of Chester County’s storied travel history. Mr. Shannon displayed a great enthusiasm for the preservation of local transportation throughout the years. I would also like to thank Mrs. Karen Hutto of Anna’s Arbor Restaurant. She and Anna have made this restaurant the toast of Downtown Chester. We would also like to thank the staff of Chester’s Cyclone Drive- In for the great service and hospitality they provided. Thanks also goes to Ms. Joanna Angle for her fabulous article on Landsford Canal in Carolina Gardener Magazine. I really gathered some great information on the history behind this state relic. Last, but not least, we would like to thank the rangers at Landsford Canal State Park for tidbits on the park and a good debate on the Carolina-Clemson rivalry. The feud never really ends, does it?

To view a photo gallery of our trip to Landsford Canal State Park please click HERE

To view a photo gallery of the Chester Transportation Museum please click HERE

For more photos of Downtown Chester & Rural Chester County please click HERE (More photos coming soon!)

For more information on Landsford Canal State Park, please call (803) 789-5800, or visit their website at www.southcarolinaparks.com

Landsford Canal State Park      2051 Park Drive      Catawba, South Carolina 29704

For more information on the Chester County Transportation Museum please call (803) 385-2330

Chester County Transportation Museum      157 Wylie Street      Chester, South Carolina 29706

For more information on Historic Chester and Chester County History please call (803) 385-2330, or visit their website at www.chestercounty.org