Eric from “A Day’s Drive from Greenville” recently wrote about a trip he took to the “Children’s Graveyard” near Furman University. His descriptions and photos made me want to take a visit for myself, so today I set off in search of this supposedly haunted location.
I had only heard about this graveyard recently while reading about ghost stories of the Upstate. It’s odd that throughout all my years of association with Furman and the Furman area I was never aware of this cemetery. However, it is easy to overlook the entrance, and the area has been left undeveloped.
Thanks to Eric’s lat/long coordinates, I was able to find the spot with no trouble. The entrance road, Thackston Road on Google Maps, has huge holes in the pavement and doesn’t look like something that’s really accessible. If you didn’t know what you were looking for, you would drive right by.
The road goes back about a hundred yards and ends a a huge patch of kudzu. The cemetery is off to the right, and one lone headstone sits right next to the road, with more further back.
The cemetery is actually the old church graveyard of Duncan Chapel Methodist Church. As Eric had noted, there are lots of children’s graves, but there are also many adult graves. It’s possible that the site got its moniker because many of the headstones are smaller. Some of the adult headstones are smaller than, or the same size as the children’s stones.
The cemetery is in very bad repair. Many of the headstones have been damaged, either through natural decay or vandalism. At least two graves appear to have been looted, and the area is strewn with trash. It was disheartening to see this cemetery in such a state, and that these people might have been forgotten.
Also forgotten seems to be the church itself. I can’t seem to find any record of Duncan Chapel Methodist Church online. However, the entire area bears record of its existence – Duncan Chapel Road, Duncan Chapel Elementary School, etc., etc. One would think that a church that lent its name to so many locations would have more information. I may try checking the Greenville library to see if I can find anything else.
On the other side of Thackston Road is an intriguing set of ruins. There are some unusual concrete and brick foundation works and the remnants of shingles. I don’t know if this was a house, or if it is the ruins of the old church. The floorplan looks unusual, with steps leading to several levels.
The back end of the ruins have given way to the kudzu, which covers the area between the end of Thackston to The Vinings apartment complex. The kudzu itself was in bloom with beautiful pink-purple flowers.
The sense of ruin and neglect started to get to me, so it was time to go. I had to wonder about the future of this site. With Holmes Bible College moving next door, I would hope that some effort would be made for preservation. This is one area that I actually think development might help. At least it would raise awareness of the site. I would hope that any potential developers would be sensitive to the location, and would work preservation into their plans. Then again, the cost and concerns associated with such preservation might be one reason while the site has gone undeveloped for so long.
What an interesting place. I found some history on this site and more. I just spent the last hour searching and reading. I sent you an email with links through Flickr.
Thanks, Ed. I actually own the book you mentioned in the e-mail, and I think I’ll do a follow-up post when I get a chance.
Thanks for all the great info…I am planning on heading out there this week to have a look at it myself. If anyone has any more info on this place feel free to email me at deanna_blackwell92988@yahoo.com
Ok – now how did I miss this entry? I’ve even blogged about this graveyard (years ago) when I first stumbled upon it. Creepy. Now I’m not allowed to go there by myself.
I love your photos though – so much better than mine I won’t even bother to link to my entry with grainy pictures.
Hey, It’s the grainy pics that make folks really believe in ghosts! I think I remember your blog post. I’ll have to revisit it (and maybe this graveyard again)
The other unidentified structures are remnants of Thackston’s Dairy. They are what’s left of the barn foundations, etc. The cemetery layout appears to be in 2 sections–part belonged to the church, part to the dairy. For dairy employees who were too poor or otherwise had no place to bury their dead, the dairy allowed them space in their cemetery.
I grew up with the Thackstons, as did my mother, with a prior generation of them. The last “real” Thackston of that line died in the last year or two I believe. He was the grandfather of the girl I grew up with.
Thanks, Jenn. I thought that might be the case, but wasn’t sure. Since visiting the location I had found out a bit more about both the Thackstons and Duncan Chapel.
That’s fascinating about the cemetery being in two sections.
Hey Jenn, I spent my early years friends with the granddaughters of Thackston Dairy owners. Spent a lot of time at the house that was there, swimming in their pool and exploring the old dairy barn. Don’t recall the graveyard, we were in our single-digit years and stayed on the dairy side of Thackston Rd where there was quite enough to keep us busy! (Side note: Furman got it’s land thanks to the Thackstons.) Thanks for your info. I’m guessing you must have grown up with the daughter of one of my childhood friends, Sallie or Weezie?
Also found a link to a national archive, with a list of 74 inscriptions that they’ve recorded from the stones. They’re all attributed to the church.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GScid=2182091&CRid=2182091&pt=Duncan%20Chapel%20Methodist%20Church%20Cemetery&
Cool! Thanks!
I thought it was interesting as well, but I haven’t been able to find much published info about the dairy.
I’m such a history fanatic…I’ve lived within about 2 miles of that area my whole life, so I’ve grown up on local lore 🙂
I have been to this cemetary several times…but i do go at 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the morning…once i couldnt get out of the car because of the feelings of dispair and foreboding….but when we did go in…you hear running sounds…you see apparitions of little kids…i have pictures of orbs….and its definately colder back there…but you also have to be careful of the bobcats out there especially in the summer time…but i go for the paranormal experience…i would like a career in paranormal research…feel free to e-mail me with any comments or complaints…hopefully no complaints
I visited the cemetery on 6/5/11. It was sad to see it in such disarray. At one point while walking through the area my head felt like it was trapped in a tightening vice. As I walked a little further the feeling disappeared. I went back to the area where it happened and it occurred again. After doing this several times I realized it only happened in front of Jesse C. Hollingsworth’s gravestone. It was the strangest experience I’ve ever had. Would like to learn more about Mr. Hollingsworth and maybe understand why this happened. RIP Jesse C. Hollingsworth, whatever your story may be.
Hello People, This place Thackston, you are talking a bout is for real. Now the Grave yard is on Left side of RD. I use to go down this rd, Then they nade a new Rd beside Gas Station. The Church was to the left of Grave yard. Now the concret you are talking a bout is the Thackton Dairy. I was in it in 1939 -1940. To day I’m 83 years old. Now what you don’t know now is that they are making a Children Clinic Here, also to the left they are going to make, I think a WalMat Grocer Store ?? I know were a picture of Church is. Will try to get it. I know Mr Neely, Who is a grad for Duncan school, He has famly there also a ladie,Who has family there. If I can help you I will Write to me Chatterbox0070@charter.net I have a bottle 1/2 pint of Dairy now mite. A worker found it .
Hello Mr. Thomas
They did put a Walmart Store there and destroyed the headstones. It is a very sad sight. You mentioned a picture of the Church. How could I go about getting a copy of that? Or at least see it? I have a friend that has distant family buried there.
Thank you,
Cheryl McBryde camcb66@bellsouth.net
John Thomas. Now I have 3 1/2 Pint bottle’s. Also MR Thackston Store was Just near Rail Rord. The Duncan Home is beside rail RD.Now used by Furman. Talk to a man today, He told me of Thackston Death and were it was.He also told me were to go and found out more.I hope they will clean the Grave Yard up.If you know any thing, Please let me know Thank you.
Today, July 18, 2014. I was across the street from the childrens grave yard entrance. There were earth movers and dump trucks. A lot of digging going on there. I have heard about stores being put up. But what about the graves. Will they move them?, Leave them? I have been to the grave yard many times it’s good to hear a bit of history to go along with it.Please let me know what you think about the future of the graves, I really don’t know what the law is about that. Thank you
I have been to the Graveyard many times over the years as I have a friend that has distant family buried there. I really hate to say they destroyed it doing all the building. What head stones that was not broke got broke during construction. When I went back after it was all said and done most of the head stones are gone as well as the field stones that marked graves. They have put a fence around it. You have to walk up a pretty good size hill to get to the gate. It is so sad….
My husband had a great interest in the graveyard. We also have a milk bottle from there. I would like to see it protected.
Jean, I wish I could post some pictures here for you to see last summer during construction and what it looks like now. Heartbreaking.
Could you send a picture of the milk bottle? weatherman2013@aol.com