SCIWAY thanks Stephen Brenton of Ladson for this great picture taken in 2012.

For more information on the Sumter County Courthouse, see its listing in the National Historic Register.

The park is named for Charleston native and US Ambassador to Mexico, Joel R. Poinsett, (the Poinsett Bridge near Greenville is also named for Poinsett) and is situated in a unique region of South Carolina known as the High Hills of Santee. This land, where the sandhills of the Midlands meet the coastal plains, was originally used by several Native American tribes (Santee, Wateree, and Catawba) for hunting.

Features of the park include a 10-acre lake with boat access, campsites and cabins, a fishing pond, and the ruins of a grist mill dating back to the American Revolution. Many of the park’s hiking, biking, and equestrian trails also connect to the statewide Palmetto Trail.

Special thanks to Leonard Vaughn of Lexington, who took this photo in March 2012. Vaughn writes, “One of the most unique features of the park is the coquina-lined spillway (pictured above) built by the CCC in the 1930s. The park is a lovely place to spend the day or weekend. You can canoe on the lake, hike the many trails, and check out the unique flora and fauna of this diverse area.”

SCIWAY thanks Kevin Travis of Sumter for submitting this picture he took in November 2010. Kevin took this picture on Thanksgiving morning, and says that “while watching the morning sunrise give way to this awesome sky, I soon found myself giving thanks.”

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Unique as an example of the seldom seen pise de terre (rammed earth) construction method, this church building has stood for almost 160 years and survived earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

In fact, the pise de terre construction method makes a building almost impervious to earthquakes. It is achieved by pouring clay into wooden molds and allowing it to harden. Layers are added until the walls are the correct height. Finished walls are then covered with stucco. The walls of the Church of the Holy Cross are 13 inches thick and up to 40 feet high.

Joel Roberts Poinsett is one of several notables buried in the church’s cemetery. Before he died in 1851, he was a well-regarded statesman and botanist. The Christmas poinsettia is named for him because he introduced the flower to this country from Mexico. Every year, on his birthday and on the date of his death, poinsettias are placed on his tomb in the churchyard at the Church of the Holy Cross.

Learn more about this still active historical church by visiting their own website here

SCIWAY thanks Wilson Jumper, who took this photo in November 1991.

The present church was built in 1846, and stands as one of the earliest brick churches in South Carolina. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

SCIWAY thanks Harold Motte of Florence for sharing this picture taken in January 2007. See more photos by Harold here.

Cynthia describes the setting: “Sparkleberry Swamp, also known as the Upper Santee Swamp, is located at the northern end of Lake Marion, in Sumter County. It’s not far from Pinewood. Sparkleberry is an ecological jewel revered by birdwatchers and sportsmen alike. Gorgeous scenery abounds, with a canopy of tupelo, ash, and majestic bald cypress providing habitat for numerous species of birds, reptiles, and four footed creatures. The area is open to the public with a boat ramp and a parking area.”

Sparkleberry Swamp is also the same area threatened by the possible construction of the Briggs-DeLaine-Pearson Connector, a controversial bridge project that would connect the communities of Lone Star and Rimini. These two communities were separated by the creation of Lake Marion in the early 1940s. While aimed at spurring economic development in the region, the project has also received a lot of criticism for potentially damaging a pristine natural area of our state. To find out more about this issue click here.