History & Genealogy

Built in 1927, is the second sanctuary to stand on this site. Second Presbyterian Church was organized here in 1881 as an African-American “preaching station.” The original building also served as the Coulter Memorial Academy. Both the church and the school were founded by the Board of Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the school was the first to serve African-American children in Chesterfield County. The church and school guided only a small group until Reverend Dr. George Waldo Long, a graduate of Biddle University (now Johnson C. Smith University) in Charlotte, arrived to Cheraw with his wife, Lillian, in 1908. Dr. Long served as pastor of Second Presbyterian Church and principal of Coulter Academy. Together the Longs worked to increase the population of the church and the school, making needed improvements along the way. Under Dr. Long’s guidance, a brick building was constructed behind the church in 1924 to house Coulter Academy. The current church, shown here, was constructed a few years later, in 1927, replacing the original. Dr. Long died in 1943 but saw his decades of work flourish, as Coulter Memorial Academy increased from eight students in 1908 to 298 in 1943. Sometime after his death the church changed its name to G.W. Long Memorial Presbyterian Church in his honor. Coulter Academy began offering junior college credit in 1933 and continued until 1947. The school merged with the public school system in 1949 and operated until 1955. Still located behind the church, the former school building now hosts Freemasons as Sanctorum Lodge Number 25. Dr. Long is buried in the graveyard of the church that bears his name.

Horace King was born a slave in Cheraw around 1807. He was sold to the Godwin family in 1829. Under the guidance of John Godwin and by working with his bridge building company, Horace soon gained the knowledge and experience that would make him one of the most respected engineers in the South. After his release from slavery in 1846, King formed his own construction company. Prior to the Civil War, he built bridges in Georgia and Alabama. During the war, he built several different types of bridges for the Confederacy. In the post war era, the prosperous King Brothers Bridge Company rebuilt bridges that were destroyed during the conflict. Most of the bridges built by Horace King are gone today. A marker over the Pee Dee River in Cheraw discusses the Ithiel Town bridge where King learned his engineering skills. A remnant of the bridge is on display at the Lyceum Museum (Town Green, Market Street). The park was the site of Cheraw's first ferries, bridges and steamboat landing. It was the site of the skirmish for the Pee Dee River bridge, gunboat Pee Dee engagement, and the ravine holding gunpowder whose accidental explosion killed several Union soldiers and destroyed Cheraw's business district. The museum is opened upon request at the Cheraw Chamber of Commerce. For tours, contact the Cheraw Visitors Bureau.

Private collection of riverboat artifacts and artifacts from Sherman's March. Mon.-Fri. 9 am-5 pm and by appointment for groups. Free.

Isaiah Moore was a slave who belonged to a young son in the Brice family in the community of Woodward. One of the sons, Thomas, and Isaiah grew up together and became the best of friends. When the Brice son, by then Major Thomas W. Brice, was so severely injured in the War Between the States that he had to be left behind, Isaiah went out to search for him. After finding Thomas, Isaiah nursed him back to health. Isaiah's deathbed request was that he be buried close to his master. On December 22, 1917 when he was around 75 years old, Isaiah died and was buried a few feet beyond the fence of Concord Presbyterian Church's cemetery. More recently, the fence has been extended to include Isaiah Moore's grave site on the inside. Located in Woodward Community of Blackstock (14 miles south of Chester on US Hwy. 321).

When Confederate General James Chesnut built this house (c.1854), its then remote location from the town inspired him to name it "Kamschatka" (colloquial spelling) for one of the northernmost points in Siberia. He and his wife, Mary Boykin Chesnut, left this home when he was elected to the US Senate in 1858. This home was later owned by the William F. Buckley family. Private Residence.

Genealogical research documents covering mostly Lancaster and the surrounding counties. Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9 am-8 pm; Friday: 9 am-5:30 pm; Saturday: 9 am-5 pm. No paid researchers.

The Wall honors community natives who have contributed significantly to society. Included among the likenesses of Andrew Jackson, our seventh president, US astronaut, Charles Duke and others is Nina Mae McKinney, actress and Broadway star. Ms. McKinney was the first African-American actress to perform in a sound movie, Hallelujah, directed by the famed King Vidor (MGM Studios) in 1929. She also starred with the great Paul Robeson in the film, Sanders of the River in 1935. In 1938, Nina was inducted into the Black Film Makers Hall of Fame. Her singing, acting and dancing techniques served as a model for such successors as Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge. She died at age 54 in New York on May 3, 1967.