Salem Black River Presbyterian Church
From Mayesville it’s only five miles down to Salem Black River Presbyterian Church. This is another spot I’ve always wanted to visit.
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-50-1024x768.jpg)
Salem Black River is a brick Greek Revival style, similar to Bethany Baptist. Like Bethany, it also has a slave gallery.
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-52-1024x678.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-55-1024x678.jpg)
I would have loved to have seen the interior, but all of the doors were locked and I couldn’t get a good view through the one open door. All I could do was admire the beautiful door knobs that wouldn’t let me in.
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-53-768x1024.jpg)
Behind the church was a wooden building that served as the Session House, still decorated for Christmas. Beside it was an elaborate gate to the historic cemetery.
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-56-1024x678.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-57-1024x678.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-58-1024x678.jpg)
As one would expect from such a historic church, there were lots of old headstones, including some signature stones with names I’ve encountered in other cemeteries.
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-59-1024x678.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-62-1024x678.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-66-1024x678.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-68-1024x678.jpg)
Since this is still an active congregation there were quite a few modern headstones.
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-65-1024x678.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-83-1024x678.jpg)
One family, the Dabbs, had some of the most beautiful, tasteful headstones I’ve seen. Though of a consistent style, each had striking individual elements. These caught my interest even more than the historic stones.
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-86-1024x678.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-87-678x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-88-1024x678.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-90-678x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-91-678x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-92-678x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-95-678x1024.jpg)
These seemed like very interesting people. I think I would have enjoyed having a conversation with them.
I left Salem Black River, not exactly sure where I was headed next. Nearby was an old roofless store sitting next to an old farm house.
![](https://www.randomconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-111-1024x678.jpg)
Continued on the next page…
Great post, as always. Collecting the stamps from the state parks has been a lot of fun. I only have 2 more to go, and my book will be done. The project has gotten me to see a whole lot of interesting place I never would have seen otherwise. I drove right past Harry and Harry Too last year, and didn’t see it. I will make sure to stop in if I am ever in Bishopville again.