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Pratt
Memorial Library:
Jasper County’s public library in Ridgeland is significant
both for what it houses and for its exterior. Inside,
the walls of the library are graced with more than 200
portraits and maps relating to lowcountry history. Some
250 rare books tell the history of the area, and archeological
artifacts make for fascinating displays. Outside, the
building is adorned by a beautiful garden designed by
nationally renowned landscape architect Richard K. Webel.
It was Mrs. Webel who donated the building to the people
of Jasper County in memory of her late husband, Frederic
R. Pratt. The building was formerly a part of the Ridgeland
Elementary School, built in the 1920’s. |
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Museum
and Chamber of Commerce / Visitors Center:
Located just behind the library are the Pauline Pratt
Webel Museum and the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce
Visitors Center. The museum offers a wonderful, eclectic
collection of artifacts, prints, and other items documenting
the people who have inhabited the lands known as Jasper
County. From ancient Indian pottery shards and arrow points,
to Civil War memorabilia and a detailed diorama of the
bygone rice culture, the museum offers a unique sampling
of the history of Jasper County. The friendly staff of
the Chamber and Visitors Center will be glad to direct
you to lodging, restaurants, and fun-filled vacation activities
or to provide relocation information should you decide
to call Jasper County your new home. |
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Ridge
Pointe Square:
At the heart of Ridgeland’s downtown business district,
the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Avenue, is
a community park reminiscent of those found in small towns
at the turn of the nineteenth century. The park’s
gazebo and grounds may be used with permission for gatherings,
political forums, weddings, or old-time band concerts. |
5
Church
of the Holy Trinity:
This stately Episcopal Church was spared on General Sherman’s
march through the area simply because it had been used
as a headquarters for Federal troops during the Civil
War. Built at Grahamville in 1855, the church now has
a recently refurbished interior. A more modern parish
house nearby simulates the Gothic design of the church
building. The church Bible, probably stolen during the
Civil War, was returned to Grahamville in 1928. A New
York music publisher had discovered it in an attic. |
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Tomb
of Thomas Heyward, Jr.:
One of South Carolina’s finest sons, Thomas Heyward,
Jr. (1749-1809) was most famous as a signer of the Declaration
of Independence. He was a member of the South Carolina
Bar, a statesman, a circuit court judge, and a founder
and the first president of the Agricultural Society of
South Carolina. When he was named a delegate to the Continental
Congress in 1776 he was not yet 30 years old. The burial
site is across the creek from White Hall Plantation where
Heyward lived. A half-mile-long lane of live oaks leads
from Highway 278 to the family cemetery where the State
of South Carolina erected a monument and bust of Heyward
in 1920. |
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Argent
Steam Engine:
“Old Number 7” stands as a reminder of the infamous
turn-of-the-century railroading days. Restored and preserved
at 36 Main Street (Highway 46), next to Hardeeville’s
town hall, the locomotive was once a workhorse of the
Argent Lumber Company operating in Hardeeville. The steam
engine is a 1910 model Porter, which had a top speed of
35 mph empty, or 15 mph fully, loaded. |
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Lowcountry
Visitors Center & Museum:
The front room on the ground floor will offer visitors
a view of a recreated 1900s plantation house parlor or
sitting room, complete with antique furnishings. The adjoining
room features display cases from the ten museums in the
four-county Lowcountry region, and encourages travelers
to get off the interstate to see the museums in the surrounding
communities. This room also includes displays from Beaufort’s
North Street Aquarium, Walterboro’s South Carolina
Artisans Center and a special display about the many major
motion pictures filmed in the Lowcountry. |
9
Savannah
National Wildlife Refuge:
Located in lower Jasper County the Savannah National Wildlife
Refuge is one of the oldest members of the National Wildlife
Refuge System, having been established in 1927. Evidence
of the rice industry, which flourished early in South
Carolina’s history is found in the refuge with its
rice levee remains, foundations of slave quarters, old
mill sites and small graveyards. The 22,940 acres of the
refuge lie along the Savannah River, protecting numerous
kinds of wildlife - ducks of many species, marsh and water
birds, Whitetail deer, and Alligators. The tract is well
known as one of the outstanding refuges along the Atlantic
Flyway, which extends from Canada to the Caribbean. A
4-mile driving tour along the refuge levees is open to
the public. |
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Purrysburg:
A lonely, cross-shaped monument of stone on the banks
of the Savannah River marks the site of Purrysburg, an
early Swiss settlement that eventually failed. In 1731,
the King of England granted land on the Savannah to Swiss
colonizer Jean Pierre Purry. Hundreds of German speaking
and French speaking Swiss colonists arrived with the dream
of establishing a silk trade in the new colony. But malaria
and other hardships proved fatal to the European colonists,
and the settlement died a slow death. Purrysburg lingered
on at least until the time of the American Revolution,
serving as the first headquarters of the American army
under General Benjamin Lincoln. Today, the river landing
and the cemetery at Purrysburg are still in use, and several
fine, new homes are being built near the site. |
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Honey
Hill Battle Site:
In late November of 1864 Union troops were attempting to sabotage
the Charleston to Savannah railroad, as they had tried to
do since the beginning of the Civil War. On this occasion,
Confederate troops numbering under 1000, engaged close to
5000 Union soldiers and killed or wounded about one-fifth
of them, according to a Union general. This Confederate victory
at Honey Hill was one of the last battles the south could
claim in the closing days of the war. Nevertheless, the confederate
commander wrote, “ The Victory at Honey Hill released
the city of Savannah from an impending danger. Which, had
it not been thus averted, would have necessitated its immediate
evacuation.”
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Tillman
Sand Ridge:
The highest point between Savannah and Charleston, the sand
hills of the Tillman/Ridgeland area of Jasper County provide
a unique environmental habitat for the endangered Gopher Tortoise.
Prior to the 1880’s, Ridgeland was known as Gopher Hill.
The Town sprang up when the Plant Railroad laid tracks through
the area. It was the railroad, in fact, which changed the
community’s name to Ridgeland, with the opinion that
the sound of “Gopher Hill” was not sophisticated
enough for a stop on their line. Game trails through the Sand
Ridge are accessible to experienced hikers by permission.
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Robertville
Baptist Church:
Black Swamp Baptist Church was organized in 1781, but its
church building was burned by Sherman’s troops during
the Civil War. About three years later the Black Swamp congregation
bought the present-day structure, then a 20-year-old Episcopal
Church building, and moved it from Gillisonville. The white
frame building has Greek Revival architectural features. Black
Swamp Baptist was renamed Robertville Baptist in 1934 to honor
the native Robert family, one member of which was the author
of Robert’s Rules of Order.
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Gillisonville
Baptist Church:
Gillisonville was the governmental seat of Beaufort District
when the church building was completed in 1838. The pulpit,
in fact, had once been the judge’s seat. All that has
been changed on this simple but beautiful church is the steeple,
which was demolished by a Union cannon during the Civil War.
Box pews and a slave gallery in the rear remains today. Union
troops used the church as a headquarters during the war, and
one of the old Communion plates still used today is inscribed:
“War of 1861-2-3-4. Feb. 1865 This done by a Yankee soldier.”
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Pocotaligo:
In the early 1700’s, Pocotaligo was the chief council
town of the Yemassee Indians who gave the settlement its name.
The Yemassee War began here in 1715 because of difficulties
between the Indians and traders, who used Pocotaligo as a
trading post. In later chapters of history, Pocotaligo became
an important stage coach stop on the King’s Highway and
was visited by President George Washington on his Southern
tour in 1791. Today, the “King’s Highway” is
U.S. 17, a major north-south route, near to Interstate 95.
16 Point
South:
Near to historic Pocotaligo, the interchange provides accommodations,
campgrounds, outlet stores, restaurants and other services to
travelers at the junction of U.S. 17 and 1-95. Point South is
the gateway for northbound traffic to Beaufort, Charleston and
the Grand Strand.
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Coosawhatchie:
A peaceful spot just off Interstate 95, this community took
its name from the Coosaw Indians who once inhabited it. As
a white man’s settlement, Coosawhatchie began to grow
in the early 1700’s around the Coosawhatchie River Bridge,
which serviced the road from Charleston to Savannah. In 1788,
the seat of Beaufort District was moved from Beaufort to Coosawhatchie,
and a courthouse was built on the river. A 19th century writing
tells us that the settlement had about 100 winter residents
in 1812, but by 1840 the county seat had moved elsewhere.
General Robert E. Lee was headquartered at Coosawhatchie when
he was in command of the Lowcountry just before the Civil
War.
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Euhaw
Baptist Church:
Although the existing building at Grahamville is relatively
new, the original Euhaw Baptist Church was organized in 1751
as part of the Charles Town Baptist Association. Located on
Euhaw Creek, a few miles from the present site, the original
building fell into disuse as families began moving to Grahamville,
and in 1865 it was destroyed by Union troops. The present
structure, built in 1907 has beautiful twin towers on each
side of the entrance.
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Hardeeville
Methodist Church:
No sooner had the Hardeeville Methodist Church been dedicated
for worship in 1860 than the nation was launched into civil
war and the building was put to use as a hospital. The frame
church building originally contained a sizeable gallery for
use by local slaves. Church members also adhered to the custom
of seating men on the right and women on the left.
20
Blue
Heron Nature Trail:
Travelers are invited to visit The Blue Heron Nature Trail
at 1-95 and SC336, Exit 21. This trail identifies native
plant species and offers visitors the option of taking
a leisurely walk or extended stroll through the Town of
Ridgeland. Located beside the Depot Restaurant, which
offers country breakfast and lunch buffets, Blue Heron
is a unique opportunity to experience a variety of lowcountry
landscapes. Situated between a quaint little town and
a rapidly developing interchange, Blue Heron Nature Trail
is protected green space that offers a relaxing and educational
introduction to the charm and intrigue of lowcountry wetlands
and wildlife. |
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21
Frampton House Museum:
The "Frampton House" property was part of
an original King's Grant to the Frampton family in the
1700s. In 1865, General Sherman's troops burned the
plantation house arid all the farm buildings which stood
on this site. In 1868, John Frampton rebuilt the present
charming Lowcountry farmhouse and continued to work
the land. About 1930, major renovations were done to
the old house.., indoor plumbing, electrical wiring,
and tire first thin sheetrock or dry wall was applied,
replacing the old lath and plaster walls.
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Charles
Fraser and the Sea Pines Company purchased the house in 1970
and used it as a point of sale center for Sea Pines on Hilton
Head Island, while they were developing she Point Sooth interchange
as 1-95, Exit 33. More renovations were made to the old structure.
New wiring was installed, as was central heating and air conditioning.
However, 1974 brought the recessions and gas rationing. Sea
Pines pulled out of Point South and the Frampton House was
sold to a private owner once again.
For several
years, the old house was rented or vacant, abused, neglected
and run down. In January of 1991, the executive director of
tire Lowcountry Tourism Commission began what would become
three years of negotiations with the owner to secure the donation
of the old house and four acres of surrounding land just off
Interstate 95 at Exit 33.
In December
of 1993, Wyman Boozer, a Columbia developer, donated the Frampton
House to the Lowcountry Tourism Commission for she creation
of the Lowcountry Visitors Center & Museum, thereby assuring
the restoration of the old farmhouse and the preservation
of the magnificent old oaks framing the building, and the
Civil War earthworks in the backyard-- erected by General
Robert F. lee's troops in defense of the Savannah to Charleston
railroad, an important supply line for the Confederacy.
Today,
thanks to donations from municipal and county governments
in the form of "bed tax" grants, contributions from
private industry, and other grant sources, major renovations
have taken place to bring the building up to codes and to
prepare it for resurrection and a new life. The Lowcountry
& Resort Islands Tourism Commission has moved its offices
into the upstairs of the Frampton House and the ground floor
now serves as the Lowcountry Visitors Center & Museum.
The front
room on the ground floor will offer visitors a view of a recreated
1900s plantation house parlor or sitting room, complete with
antique furnishings The adjoining room features display cases
from the ten museums in the four-county Lowcountry region,
and encourages travelers to get off the interstate to see
the museums in the surrounding communities. This room also
includes displays from Beaufort’s North Street Aquarium,
Walterboro's South Carolina Artisans Center and a special
display about the many major motion pictures filmed in the
Lowcountry.
We hope
that you enjoy your visit to South Carolina and that you will
come back to see the additional developments at the Lowcountry
Visitors Center & Museum. Please sign our guest book while
you are here, and drive carefully when you leave.
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