The Williamsburgh Historical Society held its 2023 Annual Meeting Sunday at Thorntree House.
It has been a busy year for the society as it prepares for the June 23-24 ribbon cutting and grand opening of the African-American Archives, located in the building next door to the Williamsburgh Historical Museum on Hampton Avenue in Kingstree. Society president C.M. "Bubba" Hammet, Jr., said much hard work has gone into the creation of the Archives and gave special recognition to former society president Beth Horton during whose tenure plans for the African-American Archives began.
He also recognized retiring recording secretary/treasurer Rosa Cherry for the many years of dedication and service she has given to the Historical Society. Museum Director Wendell Voiselle also thanked Mrs. Cherry for the hours she has put in working with the society's finances.
Board members re-elected for two-year terms were Billy Jenkinson, Archie Ward, Lynn Wilson, Joanne Brown, Irma Brockington and Sam Clarkson. Two new board members, Fran Clowney and Lane Mayor Charlie Fulton, were also elected. Other members of the board are Bubba Hammet, Darby Ward, Harriet McIntosh, Helen Tyler McFadden and Margaret Chandler. Society and Museum Director Wendell Voiselle also serves on the board as an unelected member.
Hammet was re-elected president of the board, with Margaret Chandler to serve again as vice-president. Harriet McIntosh will take over the duties of recording secretary, and Lynn Wilson agreed to serve as treasurer for a trial period. Rosa Cherry promised to be available to answer questions she might have.
The speaker for the afternoon was Pineville resident Keith Gourdin. Although he lives in Berkeley County, he has deep family ties to Williamsburg County and has long been a member and supporter of the Williamsburgh Historical Society. Gourdin is one of the organizers and leaders of Berkeley County's 250 Committee. Counties in the states which represent the 13 original colonies are forming 250 committees to plan ways each county can recognize and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the colonies' fight for independence and the founding of the United States. These events began in 2020 with a commemoration of the Boston Massacre and will continue through 2033, the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris. Most of Williamsburg County's events will take place in 2031-32.
Gourdin said that he had been talking to Camden Revolutionary War historian Charles Baxley for about four years, looking at how counties can best memorialize the events of the American Revolution. He felt the best way for him to start in Berkeley County was to identify the existing historical markers in the county that were tied to the American Revolution. This led to three years of putting together a book in which all historical markers in Berkeley County are pictured and the story of their significance is told. He later converted that book into a pocket-sized guidebook, in which those interested can check off each marker as they visit it.
He said that for the 250 Committee, though, he is working on the RIMM theory, which means he Researches, Identifies, Marks and Maps each of the "action sites" that have Revolutionary War significance. He initially found approximately eight historical markers identifying Revolutionary sites, but he has now been able to identify over 30 documented sites with Revolutionary War ties.
He then began looking for an economical way to mark these sites as official South Carolina Historical Markers cost over $2,600 a piece. A local sign company gave him a good price, and he was then able to get the support of the Berkeley County Council. The County Supervisor has assured him that as funding becomes available, the county will systematically replace the cheaper signs with official historical markers.
He has, however, run into some difficulties with the South Carolina Department of Transportation. SC-DOT no longer allows such signs in its rights-of-way, and private landowners are wary of allowing the public access to their properties to view markers. He said he hopes that perhaps the SC Legislature will be able to work out some sort of provisions, particularly as the 250th anniversaries of various events associated with the American Revolution approach.
In his introduction of Gourdin, Museum Director Wendell Voiselle noted that the South Carolina Legislature will again provide funding for the Francis Marion Trail Commission, which was established in 2005, but which lost state funding several years ago.
Gourdin noted that he has been able to identify more sites associated with the Revolution by seeking help from Berkeley County residents. "I know my area of the county, but I realized that others know more about other areas of the county and could help us identify more sites," he said.
Williamsburg County, like Berkeley, likely has far more sites associated with the American Revolution than have been formally identified. If anyone has information about such sites, please consider contacting Williamsburg County 250 Committee chair Margaret Chandler at margaretchandler15@yahoo.com.
Kingstree and Williamsburg County residents have much to look forward to in the coming months and years as this year marks the 200th anniversary of the construction of the Williamsburg County Courthouse and 2032 will mark the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Town of Kingstree, as well as the events in between that commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
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