Friday before mother's day...so as a gift to my Mom we did another town trip! This time it turns into 2 towns since they lay close to each other. Society Hill and Bennetsville, SC . Both of these towns are located in what is known as the Pee Dee region! Named for the Great Pee Dee River that runs through the region and that was named for the Pee Dee tribe of Indians who lived her before whites took over their world!
Mom viewing the Pee Dee
Much of the history of these 2 towns are basically the same with deep roots in Pre-Revolutionary history and Civil War history..Would have loved to do the self guided walking tour but walking is one of Mom's big problems so we did some windows down looking, I got out for a closer look at a few spots. The townies of Society Hill grew rich on the legacy of cotton...when blacks were slaves.
Society Hill Veterans Park Kiosk
There is a cotton trail, it's a 90 mile stretch and I believe I'd love to do that when the cotton is high!..If you have never seen a field full of cotton, its quite a spectacle looks like snow! There is a cotton museum in Bishopsville, SC it's only 18 miles from us. We stopped and snapped this shot of the old Society Hill's 1828 library building.
Then on to Bennetsville, we stopped at the visitors center, which is housed in the D D McColl house c-1826
I realize now I chopped the top off the house! Drat, my photography is not up to par...but you can see how charming this Queen Ann Style home was back in the day and it was moved here!! HOW in tarnation did they move this big brick mansion not once, not twice but 3 times!!
I like this building it says McCall Block on top of it....and its across the street from the Marlboro Co. courthouse...
the Breedeen Inn 1886 a bed and breakfast in town...
At the end of town is Wallace Lake,...
We took a sandwich out and had it by the lake...saw a few birds there too..
A list of birds we saw included Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, Northern Rough Winged Swallow, Cliff Swallows, Red winged Black Bird, Osprey, Cattle Egret and Blue Grosbeak!
Upon leaving the lake we passed a road sign that pointed to Colonel Kolb's tomb...had to go see that so we turned off and here is the story..
he is buried about 50 yards from the Pee Dee river..
There's more to see in this town than one visit could bring back so who knows we may return! I was able to Log these on my lists on Waymarking. I am new to it and my first Waymark was rejected as it was already listed! Once I get the hang of it I know I would enjoy doing some geocaching.
Time...well spent!
PEACE
Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.
Beautiful buildings in those towns, very elegant, especially the DD McColl house with its all round veranda. It was interesting to read the inscription on Kolb's tombstone as the word Tory in the UK is applied to members of the Conservative Party, but the meaning on the tombstone refers to Loyalists. Lots of chicks of all descriptions about now, I saw avocet chicks the other day.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see those avocet chicks!
DeleteNice day trip I bet your mom enjoyed it too. I love the houses the brick one is magnificent, would love to wander around inside.
ReplyDeleteWe both enjoyed these small towns...it reminds us very much of our own small town! One day I'll have to make a few photos of our home town.
DeleteYep those buildings are awesome to look at. Can't believe they moved that one multiple times. Thanks for the slice of Pee Dee history!
ReplyDeleteI know it amazes me how they used to move large buildings back then with mules!!
DeleteHard to believe, but there are cotton fields in Arizona! They all look kind of dry to me though. Or maybe I just never notice them until the cotton is ready to be picked.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they grew cotton in AZ!
DeleteYour mom has a good daughter! And it looks like you both had a great day trip. We did get to see cotton fields in bloom one year on our travels and even toured some of the big mansions/manors in your State. Interesting sad but important to remember history.
ReplyDeletearound Christmas time they hold a Tour of Homes here it's quite a show to see how the wealthy ones spend their money!
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