SC Picture Project » Blackville

Barnwell State Park

SCIWAY — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:51:23 +0000

Barnwell State Park is located in Blackville, a small town in Barnwell County. This 307-acre park boasts campsites, playgrounds, walking trails, and a community center. It’s also prized by local anglers for its two lakes, which are home to a variety of freshwater fish including some of the area’s largest bass!

Barnwell State Park is one of only 16 South Carolina parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a work relief program implemented during the Great Depression.

Fairmount Plantation

SCIWAY — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:21:23 +0000

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Blackville Methodist Church

SCIWAY — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:59:39 +0000

The historic Blackville Methodist Church in Barnwell County dates back to the mid 1800s. The current foundation of the church is the original foundation from the first building, which was destroyed by a fire in 1887.

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Union troops used the church to store their horses during the Civil War. This simple yet beautiful church is part of Blackville’s Heritage Trail.

SCIWAY thanks Melissa Roberts of Barnwell for submitting this picture in February 2011.

Shamrock Hotel

SCIWAY — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:12:00 +0000

The Shamrock Hotel in Blackville was built in 1912, and during its heyday it was a popular gathering place for locals and visitors alike. However, during the 1960s business began to decline and the hotel closed during the winter months. It closed for good in 1968 but several business continued to operated out of the first floor until 1982.

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The lobby of the Shamrock was once a lively place, filled with people playing games like pool and poker. According to the Barnwell County Museum, the lobby floor had white ceramic tile with “The Shamrock” written in green tiles near the entrance. A dining room took up a third of the second floor, and there was a kitchen and a screened porch in the back. The hotel had 30 guest rooms, each with their own private restroom.

Passengers from trains in the 1940s frequently stayed at the Shamrock Hotel while passing through Blackville. When the use of trains declined and more people began using cars, unfortunately business declined for the hotel as well.

Even though the Shamrock has not been well preserved, Blackville hopes to restore it back to its former glory.

Many thanks to Melissa Roberts of Barnwell for submitting this picture in February 2011.

To learn more about the Shamrock Hotel, make sure to read this great information from the Barnwell County Virtual Museum. It even has a picture of what the Shamrock used to look like!

Healing Springs

SCIWAY — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:54:20 +0000

Mineral water flows from the Healing Springs in Blackville from nearby artesian wells. The springs are a source of much folklore spanning many centuries, back to the days when Native Americans ruled the land and believed the waters were sacred because of their healing properties.

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Stories of the mythical healing power of Blackville’s springs were perpetuated during the American Revolution. Legends says that four fatally wounded British soldiers were left at the Healing Springs along with two men left to care for them. Six months later, all of the soldiers returned to their post in Charleston saying that the spring water had healed them.

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The owner of the Healing Springs, Lute Boylston, deeded the land to God in 1944 so that all could enjoy the water’s healing powers.

Many thanks to Melissa Roberts of Barnwell for submitting these pictures she took in January 2011.

See a video of the Healing Springs.

Blackville Train Depot

SCIWAY — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:33:55 +0000

The Blackville Train Depot was constructed in the early 1900s, and newly renovated in 2005. It once sat next to the now demolished courthouse on West Main Street, and was moved to its current location on Solomon Blatt Avenue in 1985. The depot is now home to the Blackville Library.

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The small town of Blackville is located along the SC Heritage Corridor. A popular stop for visitors is the Region 3 Discovery Center which has hands-on features highlighting the region’s connection to the railroad and agricultural industries. God’s Acre Healing Springs, a legendary artesian well, is also a neat place to visit.

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Many thanks to frequent contributor Melissa Roberts of Barnwell for submitting these pictures taken in January 2011.