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.
Salem Black River is a brick Greek Revival style, similar to Bethany Baptist. Like Bethany, it also has a slave gallery.
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.
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.
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.
Since this is still an active congregation there were quite a few modern headstones.
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.
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.
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.