Church Island Graveyard

Under the cover of the regal willows and fragrant pine trees and hidden behind the lengthy grass, their stories remain untouched, yet not forgotten. Nature has been kind to them, careful to erode very little of the memories and tributes to the people that once lived in Cross, SC. Even the creation of Lake Marion has proven to be a mighty shield protecting the tombstones on Church Island from the physical and social changes of society over the decades.

Upon beaching our kayak onto Church Island, it became evident that we were on hollow ground. Birds quieted their calls while even the waves seemed to gently brush against land, careful not to disturb the island's inhabitants. One only has to visit the island for a few minutes to see the magic in imagining the lives these South Carolinians might have once lived.

First view of the Church and graveyard from the gate.

And grand lives they must have lived! It is believed that many of these headstones belonged to people associated with the fame Swamp Fox himself, Francis Marion who once owned land nearby. Francis Marion is considered to be one of the great war heroes of the Revolutionary War and is credited as one of the fathers of modern guerilla warfare. A man of his time, Marion owned slaves and fought in campaigns against the Cherokee Indians. Yet, it was his experience in fighting against the Cherokee during the French and Indian War that influenced his battle tactics against the British. Marion noticed the Cherokee would hide themselves within the Carolina backwoods and were able to construct devastating attacks. As an officer in the Revolutionary War, Marion's militia would use those same guerilla tactics to surprise British regiments. Due to his crafty and resourceful leadership, he was able to scare the British right out of South Carolina! His legacy and myth loosely influenced Mel Gibson's character in The Patriot as well!

I bet they never thought they'd get a resting place with a view!

While Francis Marion himself is not buried here, some of the headstones date back to 1815. One of the "newer" graves belongs to Joseph Simons who lived on Pond Bluff Plantation, which was originally Marion's home. In the process of building Lake Marion, many peoples' lives were displaced. Simons refused to give up his land at the time and when Santee Cooper Project invoked eminent domain, Simons ended his life on his front porch. Read more about the building of Lake Marion in my last post about Ferguson Island Ghost Town.

While this looks like the foundation of the church, it was actually another graveyard!

This pulpit is all that remains from the Church.

While visiting Church Island, I couldn't help but be reminded that these people lived lives reflective of the time period in which they lived. Most likely their daily "normal" was very different from my own. No doubt their political and social views contrasted with my own as well. Yet, I like to think that all those things that make life worth celebrating and remembering, were the same.

For example, I'm sure "Lydia" loved playing tag like most children do. 

and I'm sure Mrs. Dwight loved her husband and laughing with friends!

This headstone touched my heart! In a time often characterized by short lifespans, these two were married for 60 years!

Unfortunately, our time for exploring the island was limited due to the impending sunset. If you are interested in going to Church Island, and I hope you are, we put our kayaks in at Spiers Landing in Cross, SC. From there, it was a 20 minute paddle to the island. We brought a GPS just in case, but it's easy enough to find!

So until we meet again, a final glance back at an amazing location and tribute to South Carolina history!

Ferguson Island Ghost Town

Off the beaten path, just past a campground and a hot dog stand, the trees part way to form a boat landing. Upstream, behind the cypress tress and the osprey nests you will find the remains of Ferguson Island, a ghost town, both above and below the water. A token to progress and Americas pursuit for a better life. What's left of the late 18th and early 19th century town stands as a reminder that life is full of opportunity and change. Yet, those sturdy walls pay tribute to the memories and the stories of those who've came before us.

The only remaining structure is a lumber kiln.

This past weekend, Mark and I had the opportunity to adventure with friends on Lake Marion! I recently learned about Ferguson Island and was enthusiastically counting down the days until we got to explore the remains of this once logging town. Accessible only by boat or kayak, Ferguson Island was once a town, but the development of Lake Marion during World War II just about covered up what was left of it.

Ferguson's story started long before Lake Marion existed. It all began when two Chicago businessmen, purchased large amounts of forest land at bargain prices in post-Civil War South Carolina. Both men realized the potential in logging the bald cypress trees in the Santee floodplain. Thus, they built a lumber mill and town on the Santee River that they named Ferguson.

Ferguson was a self-sufficient community that did not interact much with outside villages. Logs were sent by rail to Eutawville and Cross and were later transported to other parts of the state. While Ferguson had indoor plumbing and gas lighting in the streets, employees were not paid in cash. Instead, they were paid in scrip, forcing workers to buy only from company owned stores. However, the town was short lived and the post office closed their doors by 1917.

Yet the actual fate of Ferguson, like so many other towns throughout the state, derived from the need to develop a waterway that could transport goods throughout South Carolina to Charleston. While this desire existed long before Ferguson, plans were finally put into action in 1934 when state legislation established the SC Public Service Authority which created and operated the Santee Cooper Hydroelectric and Navigation Project. Years later, Lake Marion was built and covered up what was left of Ferguson.

Ferguson Island is located on the south shore of Lake Marion, near Eutawville and requires a quick kayak trip from the boat landing to the island. 

Finn was a little worried. He'd heard there were gators in the water!

Adventures are always better with friends :)

The bare limbs of the cypress trees add to the ghoulish atmosphere surrounding the ghost town. 

Just think, in the spring and summer these trees provide the perfect cover for gators and snakes!

Once we beached our kayak, we got out and explored the tiny island. While we didn't find any ghosts, we sure did find a lot of fish and gator skeletons!

While these may look like stumps, they're actually Cypress knees!

Where are all the ghosts?

Some of us lucky enough to have long legs actually went inside the kiln...

and got to take this really cool silhouette picture! Photo creds go to Rachel!

Besides the lumber kiln, all that is visible are the remains of various building foundations and lots of crumbling bricks! They are best seen by kayak and canoe!

As we left, I was reminded that this single lane road that brings visitors to and from Ferguson Island was once the rail bed that transported the lumber out of town to the rest of South Carolina. Just think of all the lives, towns, and cities those logs built!

Love is in the Air... at Gibson Pond!

Veni, Vidi, Amavi

~We came, we saw, we loved~

Happy early Valentine's Day to all you lovers out there! We came across this heart last weekend on one of our adventures and I thought it was so fitting considering this weekend's holiday!

One of the most beautiful and secluded places best experienced by kayak is Gibson Pond in Lexington, SC. While kayaking the more remote parts of the pond, you easily forget you're in the middle of Lexington.  Cypress trees, hanging moss, geese nests, and lily pads in spring, create a magical and romantic atmosphere. Mark perfectly compared this place to the duck scene in The Notebook and I couldn't agree more with him!

Before the October flooding, Gibson Pond looked more like this...

The water in the pond comes from a creek that is connected to other ponds within the area. All the rain in October caused the dam in Gibson Pond to break, which led to the draining of the pond. We went last weekend to explore what the pond looks like now. A lot has changed!

Most of this dock was once underwater. 

Life on the pond continues despite the drastic change in the habitat.

After exploring what was left, we enjoyed an easy and enjoyable walk along the pond. Even though I'd kayaked the pond and through the creek that it connects to numerous times, I'd never once walked the path. I definitely recommend it!

It may be chilly, but the sun is out! I hope you all can get out and enjoy your weekend! Happy Valentine's Day!