History & Genealogy

Many local African-American leaders are buried in this cemetery, including Reverend M.P. Hall, founder and president of Friendship College, Ida Mae Barber, a teacher at Emmett Scott School and J.A. Gatlings, a local doctor. The cemetery has fallen into a state of disrepair over the years, but recently, a group of concerned citizens volunteered to clean up and look after the area. It appears that there are more than 100 graves dating from the early 1900s to the late 1940s in the cemetery.

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.

Situated between two Revolutionary battle sites, The Battle of Kings Mountain and The Battle of Williamson's Plantation, the town can trace its roots back to the early 1700s (named county seat in 1785). Much of this quaint little town stands from the past 200+ years that makes it an outstanding part of American History. Originally called Fergus Crossroads, the first white settlers came to this area in the early to mid-1700s following the chain of Blue Ridge Mountains from Virginia and Pennsylvania southward. Mostly Scots-Irish, they called their settlements the same familiar names of York, Chester and Lancaster that they carried from the British Isles and more recently from the north. Prior to this, the first known inhabitants of York County were the Catawba Indians. The War Between the States disrupted life of ease and educational opportunity and Yorkville became a hotbed of insurrection immediately following the war. Federal troops were called to restore order and they occupied the town, living in Rose's Hotel until 1876. In 1915, the name Yorkville was shortened to York. The city boasts of a large 364-acre National Register Historic District, one of the largest in the state.

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.

John A. Inglis, one of the partners in this practice, was the chairman of the committee that drew up the South Carolina Ordinance of Secession from the Union. Chesterfield County was the first in the state to call for secession, and on December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first Southern state to declare its secession and later formed the Confederacy. Inglis later served as Chancellor of the state courts, and his one time home remains at 226 Third Street. The law office for Inglis and Henry McIver was built on Front Street around 1820, and the Greek Revival structure was one of few commercial buildings to survive an accidental explosion during the Confederate War. The building was moved to the Town Green in 1948.

This plantation style home built in 1904, offers all the modern conveniences expected in comfortable and pleasant accommodations. The century old front porch is perfect for watching the hustle and bustle of the community. The Inn is also a blues and jazz museum which contains the Dave CC Club Library for researching the blues. Throughout the inn are numerous pieces of art and collectibles that reflect the innkeeper's passion for the blues. Other amenities include 6 coal burning fireplaces, 10-ft. ceilings, and a front porch with rocking chairs to experience small town comings and goings.  Cable is available in every room along with complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi access. Located in the historic district, the inn is within walking distance to the quaint and historic downtown and within easy driving distance of other area attractions.