The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, July 19, 1973, Page page two, Image 2
Restored
BY MARSHALL SWANSON
In 1780-193 years ago-General
Lord Cornwallis and a contingent
of British troops marched into and
occupied Camden, South Carolina
in an attempt to maintain control
over the Southern portion of the
then Revolutionary American
colonies.
Attempts by American troops
to regain the town were unsucces
sful until a newly-appointed gen
eral by the Continental Congress,
Nathaniel Greene, fought the
British two miles north of the town
in what is now known as the Battle!
of -Congress, Nathaniel Greene,
fought the British two miles north
of the town in what is now knowr
as the Battleof Hobkirk Hill.
There, both the British and thE
Americans suffered heavy losses
forcing the British to evacuate the
area and relinquish control o1
South Carolina to the colonists.
Now, almost two centurie
later, South Carolinians and other
visit Camden and get an idea o
what things were like when the cit)
was under British control fron
1780-81.
It's been made possible by thi
creation of Historic Camden, at
outdoor museum that provides ai
example of what a revolutionarl
era settlement was all about.
The museum, located on US 52
in southern Camden, boasts ai
impressive collection of historica
exhibits and displays which do
credible job of chronicling the his
tory of the town during its year o
British occupation.
Located on the site from whict
the British occupied the town, th
museum features three restore(
structures that are used to hous
most of the site's exhibits and for
nishings.
Craven House, for example, i
furnished with antique pieces o
furniture dating back to revc
lutionary days. Also on hand ar
photographic exhibits showing th
restorative process of the hous
and articles which relate to th
house's original cons truction.
Bradley House, donated to th
museum by a South Carolina tin
ber company, has on display art
facts and relics also furnished b
private individuals. A series of e:
hibits in the house chronicles tP
development of Camden fromi
founding days, featuring pror
inent individuals who had an inflI
ence in the early development
the town.
In addition to Indian arros
heads and other stone implemen1
there are old firearms and oth
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military paraphenalia which date
from Revolutionary times. Particu
lar emphasis is given by means of
maps and diagrams to the British's
"Southern Strategy" or plan to
gain effective control of the
Southern portion of the colonies
during the Revolutionary War.
According to the museum,
much of the information in the dis
plays was ferreted out of old
records and papers dating from the
revolutionary period.
In the Drakeford House, which
was constructed in 182 and con
tributed to the museum by des
cendants of Joseph Kershaw,
Camden town founder. During the
occupation of the town by the
British, the Kershaw home was
used as a military headquarters by
Lord Cornwallis and other British
commanders.
Other displays in the Drakeford
House include biographical
sketches of the two opposing com
manders in the Battle of Camden,
which occured on August 16, 1780.
An original "two bit" piece, or
quarter of a Spanish dollar, is also
shown in. the Drakeford House.
The display explains that the term
"two bits" originated with the
practice of cutting a Spanish dollar
into quarters and using the pieces
as surrogate currency during the
Revolution. According to the ex
hibit, American continental cur
rency at the time wag worthless.
Some of the relics on exhibil
a were found in the Camden area by
individuals. Others are the result of
archeological diggings conducted
on the grounds of the museum by
the USC Institute of Archeology
and Anthropology.
According to museum authori
- ties, the Camden Historical Com
mission and the Camden District
s Heritage Foundation have reason
f to believe that historical records of
the area are in some cases incom
e
e EVERYTHING
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BR ITTON!
ives Histor
plete. These two organizations are
hoping to cooperate with the USC
institute of Archeology and An
thropology in a continuing effort
to reveal any additional informa
tion which may be available
through diggings and continued ex
ploration.
In addition to the three restored
houses at Historic Camden, there
are several "partial restorations" of
other sities that f igured prom
inently in the British's occupation
of the town. These may be viewed
by taking a trail on either bicycles
or electric golf carts provided free
by the museum.
Included in the partially re
stored' sites is a small fort of
redoubt built by the British to pro
tect their supply base during their
occuption of the town. Also, there
is the restored foundation of the
Kershaw home, in the exact loca
tion of the original foundation
built in 1777.
In addition, the bicycle path
provides.a view of a reconstructed
fort which was one of six the
British built in Camden. The shape
of the fort is said to be copied from
the 1781 map of the fortified town
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and is located in the general area of
the one built by the British.
Last on the trail is a powder
magazie originally constructed
under the supervision of Kershaw.
All of the exhibits have signs giving
pertinent information and back
ground data.
The task of creating Historic
Camden was originally undertaken
by a group of Camden residents
who wereanxious to maintain their
town's heritage. Museum sources
say the project is designed to assist
in the "discovery, restoration, and
interpretation of historical features
that existed in Camden during the
18th century."
The Historical Committee of
the Camden-Kershaw County
Chamber of Commerce and the
Camden District Heritage Founda
tion were both instrumental in the
museum's early development. In
addition, the South Carolina De
partment of Parks, Recreation, and
Tourism also has lent support and
technical know-how.
From Columbia, Histor.ic Cam
den may be reached by taking 1-20
east to US 521 then north to Cam
GAME
The Gamecock is published t
on Thursday during the fall ai
a week during the summer, wit
holidays and exam periods.
Change of address forms, sul
mail items should be sent to Thi
Columbia, S.C., 29208. Subscr
and $2 for the summer. The
from the student activity fun
to a subscription. Offices of TI
318 and 319 in Russell Hou
1400 Green St. Telephones i
news, and 777-3888, advertisi
at Columbia, S.C.
"Super
ChilhiE
irchase of ne order of F:rench Fr
den. About one hour driving time
should be allowed.
In addition to a picnic area and
ample free parking, Historic Cam
den has an exchange offering hand
made gifts, homemade preserves
and historical publications. An en
trance fee of $1 for adults and 50
cents for students is charged. Child
ren under six with parents are
admitted free.
. During the summer, the mu
seum is opened on Tuesday
through Saturday from 10:00
a.m.-6:00 p.m. and on Sundays
from 1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. The mu
seum is closed Monday unless it is a
holiday.
Since its opening in November
of 1970, Historic Camden has been
cited by the South Carolina Cham
ber of Commerce in its 1970 Travel
Awards Program, received the Cer
tificate of Merit from the Confed
eration of South Carolina Local
Historical Societies in recognition
of outstanding achievement, and
been awarded the Restoration and
Preservation Award of Excellence
by the South Carolina Chapter of
the American Institute of Archi
tects.
COCK
wice weekly on Monday and
Ad spring semesters and once
h the exception of university
)scription requests'and other
e Gamecock, Drawer A, USC,
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lie Gamecock are rooms 317,
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ire 777-8178 and 777-4249.
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