48 Old Haig Point Road
City Directories and History: This lovely little Greek Revival Church was built in ca. 1942 and currently houses the Billie Burn Museum on Daufuskie Island, S.C. The brick columns are original features of the building.
“The church building and its predecessor were built by the Cooper River residents of the north end of the island. The first church was destroyed by a hurricane in 1940, this building was built shortly after that. In time the declining population of the island caused the church to close. In 2001 the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation bought the property, restored the building, and opened the Billie Burn Museum, named after long-time resident and island historian, Billie Burn. The museum contains artifacts illustrating periods of island history.” (Information courtesy of the Daufuskie island Historical Foundation)
Postal map of the region in ca. 1896 – Courtesy of the UN of NC Archives
Daufuskie Island Historic District includes the geographic entirety of this South Carolina sea island. Accessible only by boat, Daufuskie contains 5,200 acres of mostly high dry land. The district’s character is defined by eighteen properties of particular historic and/or architectural note, and fifty-six contributing sites or structures. Wooded tracts account for another 167 contributing properties. Most of the buildings consist of folk housing, which is concentrated in two building complexes, both on the island’s western side. They were constructed from 1890-1930, but reflect a much earlier building technology. They are significant architecturally as a survival form.
The buildings also include educational, religious, and public buildings which serve the whole population. The design of Daufuskie’s two lighthouses has architectural significance in its structural combination of a functioning lighthouse with living quarters. Other areas of significance are historical in nature. Military engagements of note during the Yemassee and Revolutionary Wars took place on Daufuskie. In addition, buildings, sites, and structures represent Daufuskie’s antebellum plantation society based on the cultivation of long staple cotton as well as the history of the island in the early twentieth century when life revolved around the oyster industry, logging, and truck farming operations. Daufuskie’s cultural resources illustrate a three-century long history (ca. 1700-1930) that has evolved with a minimum of outside influence. Listed in the National Register June 2, 1982. Click here to see the nominating form for the properties. [Courtesy of the SC Dept. of Archives and History]
Yorkville Enquirer, Thursday, December 5, 1861
John Chaplin Captured by Union
The Savannah Republican reported that the Union captured Mr. John Chaplin at Dawfuskie, took him to Union HQ on Hilton Head, and discharged him on Wednesday. Chaplin left Savannah on Wednesday, November 20th and arrived on Daufuskie the same day to “look after matters on the estate of Mrs. Dunn.” He was captured the next morning and a black told the Union men that Chaplin was there to shoot blacks to keep them out of the hands of the Union men. He was taken to Hilton Head, warned that if he took an oath not to bear arms against the Union and broke it, he could be killed. He was offered a job at good wages and had a fine time talking with the Union officers. He reported the Union appears to be able to have a “permanent tenure of the island.” They claimed to be able to erect a city on the north of the island to rival anything in the South.
Images courtesy of photographer Bill Segars – 2013
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church
The 1981 historic survey map of Daufuskie Island does not correspond to the numbering system on the historic survey cards – pictures. R&R has noted on each page the correct corresponding number. See enlargeable maps of Daufuskie Island’s historic survey at: Daufuskie Historic Survey Maps.
Click here for additional information on Daufuskie Island. And see enlargeable Daufuskie Island maps under the More Information links.
Take time to visit both the Palmetto Trust and Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation’s (DIHF) websites, to see how you might engage, in helping preserve the local Daufuskie Island’s culture and architecture.
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R&R HISTORY LINK: ANOTHER DAUFUSKIE LINK – MARY FIELDS SCHOOL
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
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