Historic bits...

Our State was one of the original 13 colonies...

and it had some failures  trying to gain Independence from the British Empire, the Revolutionary War.  The history is lengthy today I want to share this little bit.  

Unfortunately the stately tree fell down about 10 yrs ago during a bad storm.....these plaques stand on this site and are written as if the Old Oak was a witness to the history that took place all around it, so have a quick read of these plaques...

Our town grew from a Catawba Tribe foot  path and was founded in 1733.  Joseph Kershaw a local merchant had a trade route from the nearby Wateree River,  to the ports in Charleston, named for King Charles II the path became  the Kings Road.  Now it's called US Highway 1. 

German national Baron Johann de Kalb had come to the colonies to spy for the French against the British and he returned to the colonies with the Marquis Lafayette ...to help the Americans with their fight for freedom.  He was made a Major General in the Continental Army and  was unfortunately killed at the battle of Camden here in our town  after having success in Maryland and Delaware.

The Hero  Baron DeKalb was originally buried on this spot...when the Old Oak was 10 yrs old...after he was and most of the Patriots led by Horatio Gates were killed.   Gen Cornwallis,  whopped us good and then he moved on down to Charleston!    I found it interesting to learn the name of the White Stallion we always see George Washington riding, was named Prescott!  He came thru the town feeling obliged to do so due to the huge loss suffered by the Continental Army and he stopped here to pay tribute to the Baron de Kalb. His remains were later moved to the Presbyterian Church in town which was designed by the famous Robert Mills....who also designed the town's Court House and  the Washington Monument..

And if you look to the east of this spot and across the highway up on the hill is  a replica of the Joseph Kershaw - Cornwallis House which was built on the original foundation of the building. 
 British General Charles Cornwallis used this as his command center when he had siege of the town from 1780-81.  Cornwallis had the Baron brought to his surgery in this mansion that had belong to the merchant Joseph Kershaw...but he passed away. 

 Gen Cornwallis moved south about one year after he took control of the town with his roughly 4000 redcoats.....and left the town in shambles.

  all this history is just outside the gates of the Quaker Cemetery where I go birding sometimes, and its only yards away from this historic grounds.  

There is a new HQ building under way one day when it's all done I will go photograph it. 

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The cemetery is full of old Live Oaks, and other nice trees..

the birds I found after  my little history tour....

White throated Sparrow

The rest are some yard birds from over the weekend...

Hermit Thrush

And the large Pileated Woodpecker, these birds are  crow sized and quite striking and have a  loud piercing call. 

The Northern Cardinal 

the  snow over the weekend....it was pretty but it was COLD,.

And now it's gone, Im happy to report! 
BUT we may get more on the 28th which is Today!! So I hope to include more town history in some future posts and you can get a feel of how our town has kept some of the history alive. 

 

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.