City Directories and History: On the Mount Zion Institute’s campus, this monument was erect to show the area where the British encamped Oct. 1780 – Jan. 1781. From Winnsboro, Cornwallis moved on to Charlotte, NC and other points and later to Yorktown where he surrendered to Gen. George Washington. Erected by the the Thomas Woodward Chapter DAR. [Courtesy of the Chamber of Commerce]
Pictured is one of the many parades on the Mount Zion Rifle Company on the grounds of the institute.
Early Historic Notes from the Mount Zion Society and School
It appears that in 1779-1780 a Mr. Humphries operated a school on the site with some support from the Charleston Mount Zion Society. From another source, I also read that a Mr. M___ operated a school previous to Humphries a little below the hill on the south near the creek. Humphries building was evidently ruined during Cornwallis’s stay and there must’ve been no reopening until 1783. In 1784, the Mt. Zion Committee (the Winnsboro men) wrote to the Mt. Zion Society (Charleston) that they want to start repairing the buildings to start back up. Interestingly, they are sending a committee to the Congarees and another to Turkey Creek to enlist support, so the college must’ve been considered a regional project by the Charlestonians. As the minutes only contain a couple of mentions of attempts to get support from the other areas, they must’ve given up on the outreaches there. In 1785 they rebuild the kitchen by putting a new frame “fitted to the old roof”. They also commit to building a boarding house of stone. In 1785… propose to “Town (Charleston Society)” to erect a wing or center portion of a college building (for classes, etc.) and begin advertising for a contractor who can secure bricks.
In 1786, the Society approves paying for two orphans to attend Mt. Zion. In 1787, the senior students send a letter of complaint to the committee about the terrible condition of the dormitory buildings. By June, the students “riot” and begin tearing down (“taking down props”) the building(s). Gen. Richard Winn offers to sell his old house to the society (he is on the MS board) for use as a temporary dormitory and William Strother offers the use of his town house. Minor Winn, Col. (John) Winn are procuring lumber for repairs. The Committee appeals to the Society to commit to building a college as the community has a poor opinion of the school in its condition. Rev. McCaule, the principal, personally repairs some of the buildings. Members John Winn, Gen. Winn, Wm. Roach (Roche or Rochelle), Thomas Whitehouse and Christian [Senf] are appointed as a committee to order supplies, cypress shingles (not yet forthcoming), hardware, and lime from Charleston. Lumber is coming from Wilson’s Mill. James Austen in 1788 says he has the lime from Charleston and stone is being located. Thos. Baker is by this point making bricks (there is a Baker owning land in Lyles Ford in that period – perhaps the clay is from the pottery on Beaver Creek that we are now trying to locate on former Thos. Lyles property). Baker dies a year or so later and in 1780, James McCreight (on the committee) becomes the contractor and contracts with Mr. Wm. Bradley for bricks. Brick layers are Wm. Graham and Stephen Nailer. James Russell inspects the bricks and the recommendation is that the best bricks are to be used on the exterior. In 1791 Wm Graham is making bricks (or laying them?). In 1781 Maj. Winn, Wm Strother (Jr.), Samuel Yongue are burning shells for lime. In 1791, James McCreight’s bricks are noted not to be so well made. For some reason, at this point, they begin ordering tar. It appears from this (and from another source I read) that they used tar to mix with the mortar or perhaps as the mortar for the interior bricks and used the lime for pointing. A later source by the 1800s mentions the terrible state of this building due to the tar being used. James Cooke (also a member) seems to be the general contractor on the later work of this main building which is 40’ X 65’. Joseph Kershaw writes a letter about his work. A Mr. Buckley (Barkley or Berkeley was also a MS member) and a James Bryant in 1801 are doing repairs. In 1792, Cooke asks for bids for lathing and plastering, the committee asks how much hair, sand, lathes, and lime will be needed. In June 1792, Cooke says he is finished the work and Gen. Winn and James Craig propose to hire an inspector (“umpire”) and hire Mr. Wm. Howell of the Congarees, a carpenter, to do it. All remaining materials to be counted and locked away. There was some dissatisfaction with Cooke’s work afterwards and some letters attest to the concerns. [Contribution by the Fairfield County Museum]
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Pelham Lyles says
The present surviving building on the Mt. Zion campus was begun construction in 1936 with WPA (Works Progress Administration) funding. Before it could open, there was a fire which delayed opening the school until 1937. An old 1930s period 16 MM film was found and edited by Bob Curlee which shows footage of the first homecoming football game– featuring shots of cheerleaders, players, and attendees–including the very recognizable Principal Grover Patton. The group Friends of Mt. Zion Institute (FOMZI) is at present fighting to stave off demolition of the building to allow them to develop the property (go to http://www.mtzioninstitute.com/ for updated information). Please join our cause through the website.