Calhoun County Museum & Cultural Center
The History of Calhoun County and South Carolina Presented with a Southern Flair
Calhoun County Historical Sites
Oakland
An on-site examination in April of 1972 by the Spartanburg County Historical Association informed “Miss” Nell Reid, then resident of Oakland, that the plantation house was built prior to the Revolutionary War, sometime between 1750 and 1770. Research and investigation of details in the cellar and the attic, or, in other words, the “unfinished” or “uncovered” areas of the house hold strong indications of the dates given above—plus architectural features on the interiors and exteriors on all floors. Also, documents and family tradition bear out these dates.
The large pillars supporting the house are constructed of brick made in the old kiln on the property. The sills are hand-hewn, unbled pine, at least 18 inches wide and extend the length and breadth of the house without piecing. The piazza once extended along the sides. Inside, the rooms have solid pine-board wainscoting, about two feet wide.
The large pillars supporting the house are constructed of brick made in the old kiln on the property. The sills are hand-hewn, unbled pine, at least 18 inches wide and extend the length and breadth of the house without piecing. The piazza once extended along the sides. Inside, the rooms have solid pine-board wainscoting, about two feet wide.
Edward Monts Rast Home
Built in the Greek Revival style, this house was constructed circa 1850. In the 1950’s, Mr. and Mrs. Rast moved the home, at that time mostly dilapidated, a quarter-mile and built under it an old brick first floor featuring a large, livable family room. The house has unique double windows and great high ceilings.
Raysor - Weeks Home - East Bridge Street, St. Matthews
Built by Raysor Family about 1904-1910. It was re-modeled with Ionic columns after 1910.
The Red Store
Built by Herman Geiger around 1820. The part that was used as a dwelling was the first part to be built. Used as a dry goods and grocery store, the front rooms accommodated the dry goods. The long wing was built in 1821 and used to store heavy groceries and other staples. F. W. Muller added a second story about 1846.
Rich House
This possibly antebellum home, built of hand-hewn timbers, was originally a store house or a blacksmith shop. Philip Rich purchased and remodeled the house in 1879.
Sandy Run Lutheran Church
The first house of worship was built about three miles north of the present location of Sandy Run Church on the west bank of the Congaree River, near the mouth of the Sandy Run Creek. The settlers soon found that they could not live so near the river and moved inland. They then built their second church building near the present site on the old State Road. The third building constructed was at the same location on land that is now used for the cemetery. This building had a balcony for the slaves. For a number of years it was used as a “Union Church.” The cemetery contains the dust of the Reverend Christian Theus, who preached in this area until his death in 1789.
During the War Between the States, the ladies met in this old church to sew for the soldiers. In 1889, this building was remodeled and the balcony removed. In 1917, it was destroyed by fire during a church service. The pastor, the Reverend Robert Elford Livingston, calmly picked up the Pulpit Bible, which was later used until 1945, and walked out of the church after the members. The congregation saved the pews, the organ, and the communion set. Sunday services and Sunday School were held in the parsonage until the present church was completed.
The first service was held in 1918 in the present church, and was the funeral of its pastor, Reverend R. E. Livingston. The church was dedicated June 30, 1919.
The Reverend E. F. K. Roof was the only minister who came from this old historic church. He was the son of E. J. Roof, who was the Superintendent of the Sandy Run Sunday School for more than forty years. Reverend Roof graduated from Newberry College in 1910, and the Southern Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1914. He served pastorates in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and was serving the Silver Valley Parish in Lexington, N. C. when he passed away on October 24, 1954.
The Geigers, present members of the Sandy Run Lutheran Church, are descendants of Jacob Geiger who settled in this section in 1737. The present individual communion set was the gift, in 1944, of the late Percy L. Geiger. This replaces the communion service which was the gift of Henry Muller, Sr., and which was purchased in Germany about 167 years ago. During the Confederate War, this Communion Service was buried for safekeeping, and later dug up and placed in use, almost in perfect condition, and may be seen at the Calhoun County Museum.
During the War Between the States, the ladies met in this old church to sew for the soldiers. In 1889, this building was remodeled and the balcony removed. In 1917, it was destroyed by fire during a church service. The pastor, the Reverend Robert Elford Livingston, calmly picked up the Pulpit Bible, which was later used until 1945, and walked out of the church after the members. The congregation saved the pews, the organ, and the communion set. Sunday services and Sunday School were held in the parsonage until the present church was completed.
The first service was held in 1918 in the present church, and was the funeral of its pastor, Reverend R. E. Livingston. The church was dedicated June 30, 1919.
The Reverend E. F. K. Roof was the only minister who came from this old historic church. He was the son of E. J. Roof, who was the Superintendent of the Sandy Run Sunday School for more than forty years. Reverend Roof graduated from Newberry College in 1910, and the Southern Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1914. He served pastorates in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and was serving the Silver Valley Parish in Lexington, N. C. when he passed away on October 24, 1954.
The Geigers, present members of the Sandy Run Lutheran Church, are descendants of Jacob Geiger who settled in this section in 1737. The present individual communion set was the gift, in 1944, of the late Percy L. Geiger. This replaces the communion service which was the gift of Henry Muller, Sr., and which was purchased in Germany about 167 years ago. During the Confederate War, this Communion Service was buried for safekeeping, and later dug up and placed in use, almost in perfect condition, and may be seen at the Calhoun County Museum.
Shady Grove Methodist Church
Land on which this church stands was granted to Conrad Holman in 1740 by King George II. The oldest section was built in the early 1800s with hand-hewn log framing pegged together with wooden pegs. The structure has been remodeled three times. It is presently a white frame building with bell tower and steeple. The historical marker here was unveiled June 7, 1970.
St. Matthews Parish Episcopal Church
The parish was established in 1765-1768. The present structure was built in 1851-1852; its style is Gothic with Greek Revival influence. In 1800, the church site was moved from the public road from Charleston to Columbia near Halfway Swamp, and again in 1815 to a two-acre plot of land given by Andrew Heatly. The present building is the fourth church building used by the congregation. A communion service presented to the church by Mrs. Ann Heatly Reid Lovell in 1819 is still in use, as is a chalice given by Tacitus Gaillard in 1777.
George Sterling Site
George Sterling, explorer and Indian trader, received a 570-acre land grant in March of 1704, and settled here when Santee and Congaree Indians were living along banks of the river. Sterling’s daughter Mary married Richard Heatly in 1714 and moved here about 1717. Their son, William, born 1718, was thought to be the first European child born in the area. After Heatly’s death in the early 1720’s, Captain Charles Russell married the widow Mary Sterling Heatly and by 1725 they were living on a part of the original land grant, then owned by William. This land was sold to Russell in 1731.
Captain Russell had served as Commandant of “Fort Congaree” near the present town of Cayce from 1718 until the end of its operation in 1722. He and Mary Sterling Russell built their home on the Cherokee path near Amelia. Appointed to the offices of Justice of the Peace and Captain of the Rangers, in 1734 Russell was also appointed by Governor Johnson as agent for the three townships of Amelia, Saxe-Gotha and Orangeburg. When he died in 1737, he was serving as Agent to the Cherokees. The Russell home was a stopping place for Indians using the Cherokee Path. Later, Mrs. Russell was among the residents of the area who permitted Reverend John Giessendanner to hold services in their homes. A chapel was built nearby in 1757 and services were held there.
Captain Russell had served as Commandant of “Fort Congaree” near the present town of Cayce from 1718 until the end of its operation in 1722. He and Mary Sterling Russell built their home on the Cherokee path near Amelia. Appointed to the offices of Justice of the Peace and Captain of the Rangers, in 1734 Russell was also appointed by Governor Johnson as agent for the three townships of Amelia, Saxe-Gotha and Orangeburg. When he died in 1737, he was serving as Agent to the Cherokees. The Russell home was a stopping place for Indians using the Cherokee Path. Later, Mrs. Russell was among the residents of the area who permitted Reverend John Giessendanner to hold services in their homes. A chapel was built nearby in 1757 and services were held there.
Tabernacle Church Burying Ground
This is the site of Whetstone’s Meeting House in the early 1800’s and later Tabernacle Methodist Church. Among those buried here are Confederate War hero Colonel Olin Miller Dantzler and the daughters of Governor John Adam Treutlen, first patriot governor of Georgia, 1777.
Totness Town Site
In St. Matthew’s Parish, Orangeburg District, was Totness, a small but, "much frequented," summer watering place on the north side of High Hill Creek, about three miles from the Congaree River and twenty miles from Orangeburg Court House. The Totness Academical Association was chartered in 1833; in 1850, the village was incorporated, its limits marked by a circle with a radius of a half mile from the village church. Mrs. L. A. Taveau, of Charleston and her daughters, Mrs. Thomas Waring and Mrs. William Haskell, stopped at Totness on the way to the Up Country in 1838 and 1839. In 1865, the town was burned by Union soldiers.
John Adam Treutlen Marker
Located at the intersection of Old State Road and the Belleville road, this historical marker was erected to John Adam Treutlen. While visiting some of his lands here, Mr. Treutlen was murdered by the Tories near Mett’s Crossroads in 1782. Treutlen was a member of the first Provincial Congress and was elected the first governor of Georgia in 1777.
Ulmer - Summers House
Built by John Jacob Ulmer on a grant dated 1804 on the Santee River, the house was inherited by his son George Jacob, who moved it to its present location in 1836. It has been in the Summers family for four generations. It was remodeled over a period of three years, 1966-69, and restored. The original, "dog trot," which once ran wide open to carry the cool breezes through the house, was enclosed. It is painted in authentic period paint and the stair entrance of old brick and wood is an authentic reproduction.
This site is funded by the SC Arts Commission, which recieves funding from the NEA, as well as, the Calhoun County Council, and the Friends of the Calhoun County Museum.
Property of the Calhoun County Museum Archives. Not to be used without written consent.
