Here is something else you may not be aware of. There is a graveyard between the northbound and southbound lanes near exits 95 and 96 in Cherokee County on Interstate 85. Nicknamed the I-85 Median Cemetery, the Lipscomb-Sarratt Cemetery dates to 1799. According to a goupstate article dated April 29, 2001, “The graves are about…
The Poor Houses in South Carolina
In the 19th and 20th centuries, some counties in South Carolina established poor houses as places where paupers were sent to live. Often, they were elderly or disabled people in the community who had nowhere else to turn. Usually, a Poor House was accompanied by a Poor House Farm, where the able-bodied worked until they…
The South Carolina Tornado from HELL
A tornado that stays on the ground for 135 miles sounds like something from a horror movie or the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. But that nightmare became a reality on April 30, 1924. The Horrell Hill Tornado is considered one of the worst disasters and the longest in the state’s history. The disastrous…
Historic 2015 South Carolina Flood
This historic storm had a significant impact on the lower part of the state, including Columbia. The major flood event consisted of a four- to five-day stretch of on-and-off heavy rainfall in early October 2015. It started with an early-season cold front, which stalled off the coast after pushing through the southeast. While Hurricane Joaquin…
2024 Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene is the deadliest hurricane to hit the contiguous United States since Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. The storm caused at least 248 deaths, with 175 of those deaths directly related to this massive storm, whether by wind, flood, or other immediate impacts, and racked up almost $80 billion in damages. Helene has officially…
Was Magic Harbor in Myrtle Beach Cursed
Many may remember this amusement park, located just south of Myrtle Beach, with its signature lighthouse out front that welcomed beachgoers. But, deep inside this fun park lurked something more sinister during its years of operation. Today, people share fond memories of this place as a source of nostalgia, but was this park doomed from…
Did You Know This About Kings Highway
Kings Highway, also known as Highway 17, has a rich and haunted history along the Grand Strand. Many may not be aware, but the origins of this route date back to a Native American path that was established over three hundred years ago. It was called the “King’s Highway” because, when completed by 1735, it…
The 1526 Sinking of The Capitana
The shores around the Grand Strand are home to many shipwrecks. After all, at one time, these waters were considered dangerous to navigate. One of the biggest mysteries is the 1526 sinking of The Capitana. This ship was the flagship of Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon’s expedition to the New World to establish a settlement. It…
The Pirate Queen: Anne Bonny
Murrells Inlet was once a hub for piracy in the early 1700s. It was easy to dip into the inlet to avoid capture and hide, which made it a desirable location. Often, piracy is associated with male figures, such as Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet, but two of the most formidable pirates of all time were…
Is the Isle of Palms sitting on Stolen Loot from a 1955 New York Bank Heist
In April of 1955, the Woodside branch of the Chase Manhattan Bank in Queens, New York, was the site of a $205,000 robbery. Thomas “Duke” Connelly served as the lookout and getaway driver on that day. Since robbing a bank is a Federal crime, Connelly gathered his wife and kids and sought safer confines in…