Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Branchville

Sardis Methodist Church, Branchville, SC   

I've been to Branchville, SC. I've had a hotdog and a float at the Churn and I've even enjoyed a great dinner at the Eatery at the Depot but until I recently noticed pictures of the Sardis Methodist Church on SCIway I'd missed it entirely.

A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to direct a drive in the country towards the spot and I am happy I did. I ran into Mickey Byrd who was cleaning debris and tending to the cemetery. He showed me a few of the notable tombs including that of a Spanish American War soldier.

When I asked about the decorated Unknown Indian's grave he said that the Indian had done some odd jobs in the area and when he passed away none of the churches were comfortable burying him in a Christian cemetery. The Sardis church offered a plot just outside the cemetery boundaries and he himself tried to decorated it in a way that would be respectful.

The Orangeburg Times & Democrat: Early inhabitants of the area held religious services outside under the trees prior to the American Revolution. After the war, a little log church referred to as the “Meeting House” was constructed. In 1786, Methodist missionaries preached for the first time there. On Jan. 13, 1811, the log church was moved to a site on the north side of town on land sold by George Hartzog for $1. The land was part of a 417-acre tract which was granted to Tobias Hartzog on Sept. 4, 1786. The name of the church was changed to Sardis. In 1849, a framed church replaced the log structure. Sardis church was in the Orangeburg Circuit until 1866, when it became part of the Branchville Circuit. According to headstones, the cemetery contains the remains of an unknown Indian, Spanish-American War veteran Avery Heaton and at least three generations of the Byrd family.

Train weather-vane for a train station

From my country roads album - a train weather-vane for a train station. Pretty cool I thought. I spotted this in Branchville, SC.

I think I found the train weather-vane here although it would need to be painted black.

The Eatery at the Depot - Branchville, SC

The Eatery at the Depot, Branchville, SC..

An interesting fact about Branchville is that it is the site of the oldest railroad junction in the world. The world! They celebrate the fact each year with the Raylrode Daze Festivul.  The actual depot burned but has been restored into a museum and restaurant called the Eatery at the Depot.

Branchville then became the first railroad junction in the world when the railroad company extended its rails on to Hamburg, across the Savannah River from Augusta, Georgia and to the north, to Orangeburg and Columbia. Both rail lines closely paralleled the Old Indian Trails. The "Best Friend," the first steam railroad in the South, if not in the United States, hauled freight and passengers over the Charleston to Hamburg line through Branchville.

To satisfy the demand, the railroad persuaded a Mr. Chatrand, operator of the tavern known as "The Branch Eating House," at the fork in the Indian trail, to move his establishment to the Branchville depot, Chatrand did so and erected the same sign used by his old establishment. But for railroad purposes, this was not satisfactory, according to old accounts. Hence, the "ville" was added to the name of "The Branch," which soon became known by its present name, "Branchville."

I've been through Branchville before but never happened to be there when the restaurant was actually open. I finally got to sit down and enjoy dinner and has a very pleasant meal. Cars were lined up and the place was quite busy so I felt lucky not to have to wait long.

Cattle Creek Campground

Cattle Creek Campground, S.C,

I've featured a couple of these church based campgrounds and this evening I am presenting Cattle Creek. Wooden tent cabins are built in a circle and used once a year for revival style camps. There were a few differences at this camp. Piles of hay appear to be delivered to each unit to cover the dirt floors. Cattle Creek has a proper white church and a cemetery on the property so the cabins didn't form a complete circle. The meeting house was still in the middle.

There wasn't much evidence of outhouses and I read that some of the campgrounds now have porta-lets delivered. The campgrounds are usually used once a year but this one had a bonus July agenda posted on the door. It recommended that children were bathing suits to Children's Services.

Edit: Sorry for the typos, kids. I discover some of them in the morning and patch the entry up.

Tuesday Blog Hopping

Branchville Pharmacy, Branchville, S.C.

This cute little pharmacy is in downtown Branchville, S.C. I did get out for a walk this chilly evening but it's been too cold and dark to take pictures so I've been dipping into the "Backroads, S.C." album for pictures I haven't used before.

I ended my day talking to the staff at the Marriott on Lockwood Ave. to plan an event. Things seem to be going well for them since it was almost impossible to find free dates to plan lunch time events. They said their phone had been ringing off the hook all year. Good for them. Tricky for me, but good for them.

Sorry guys. Someone was googling "Pot Heads in Charleston" and found this image. Not what they were looking for I'm thinking.

I went all the way to New York City last month and sat at dinner across from a Charleston blogger I had never met before. Meet Accidental Cootchie Mama.

In 2009 I walked coast to coast across England with Pat & Kathie. This year they hiked a 200 mile pilgrimage through Italy and Spain and Pat is blogging the entire trip. I have been enjoying the posts from the comfort of my home. Aaaaah!

Chuck wants to know who has the best fireplace in town and he has a good collection to start us off at Chuckography.

Gotta go kids. Colin Firth is on the Daily Show. Mmmmm.