Cheraw

Cheraw was the market town for the surrounding area. In centuries past cotton bales lined streets during the market season and waited for steamboat shipment at the Cheraw Landing. The banks in town handled profits from cotton sales. While no longer a cotton market, Cheraw is one of South Carolina’s oldest and most picturesque inland towns. See the architectural legacy of three centuries, cypress swamps and Sugar Loaf Mountain. Play on an award-winning golf course or hike on numerous trails. Explore the heritage of a small Southern town (pop. 6000). Come linger awhile, wander tree-shaded streets, taste some country cooking and shop for antiques.

Named for the Cheraw Indians, Cheraw began as a small trading post at the head of navigation on the Great Pee Dee River. By the time of the Revolution it was officially laid out with a Town Green and wide tree-lined streets. These are now the nucleus of a 213-acre National Register Historic District. Self guides, including “Cheraw – The Cotton Tale”, “Cheraw and the American Revolution”, “Confederate War Sites in Cheraw, South Carolina”, “A Guide to the Cheraw Historic District”, “Dizzy Gillespie in Cheraw”, and information on lodging and restaurants can be found at the Cheraw Chamber of Commerce, 221 Market Street, on the back side of the Town Green.

CHERAW ATTRACTIONS:

OLD ST. DAVID'S CHURCH

Built in 1770, Old St. David's was the last Anglican or "state" church built in South Carolina under King George III. The church was used by the Americans and the British during the Revolution, and later by both the Confederate and Union armies. For many years, it was the cotton planters' church for the Upper Pee Dee. The church has soldiers from every war buried in its graveyard, and the oldest Confederate monument in the country. Keys to the church may be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce. 100 Church Street.

CONFEDERATE MONUMENT: CEMETARY, OLD ST. DAVIDS

Dedicated in July of 1867, this was the first monument in the country to be erected in memory of those who had fallen in the Confederate War. There are unknown Confederate soldiers buried in this vicinity.

LYCEUM MUSEUM

(c. 1820?) The Lyceum now houses a museum depicting Cheraw's history. It began life as a chancery court, became the Lyceum Meeting Room and private library, Cheraw's first telegraph office, and both the Confederate and Union quartermaster's headquarters. Included in exhibits are a field cotton scale and photographs of early cotton markets. Town Green, Market Street. Keys for the museum may be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce across the Green.

CHERAW MUSEUM AND HISTORY COMPANY

The Cheraw Museum and History Company houses a changing exhibit room and also provides tours for a fee of an antebellum home on Market Street furnished with Southern antiques and art. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 181 Second Street. (843 921-2090)

TOWN HALL

(c. 1858). The Masons paid for part of this building and used it as a meeting place. The exterior double staircase is thought to have been designed by Christopher Werner of Charleston. The building is still used for city offices. It was once also an opera house. Market Street.

MARKET HALL

(c. 1837) Once used as a public market and court of equity, this steepled building was designed by Conlaw Peter Lynch. Restored by the town, it is used for civic purposes. Market Street.

Cheraw also has a number of 17th, 18th and early 19th century dwellings. The four below are just a sample of some of them. A more complete listing can be found in “A Guide to the Cheraw Historic District”.

THE TEACHERAGE

Built prior to 1780, “The Teacherage” is said to be the oldest dwelling in the original town of Cheraw. The south “L” was added in the 1840’s by the Malloy family who were merchants and cotton brokers. Teachers once boarded here in the mid 20th century. Along the cotton trail these residences for teachers were called “Teacherages.” This is a private residence, please view from the street only. 230 Third Street.

THE LAFAYETTE HOUSE

The Lafayette House was built by Dr. William Ellerbe in 1823 and was the site of a public reception for Gen. Lafayette on his 1825 return visit to the United States. Dr. Archibald Malloy remodeled the house after his marriage to Henrietta Coit in 1843. The interesting cross halls and balustraded roof were formed during the 1852 remodeling. Several of the owners of this house were involved in the buying and selling of cotton and the manufacture of cotton thread. Private residence. 235 Third St.

143 McIVER STREET

Gen. Erasmus Powe probably built this plantation house around 1794. Gen. Powe was a large cotton planter who later gave this residence to his daughter. Town has now grown to include this portion of the Powe lands, including this house and “Enfield” nearby. This was Gen. Sherman’s personal headquarters during the Civil War Union occupation of Cheraw in March of 1865. The large side wing was once the law office of SC Chief Justice Henry McIver. In the early 20th century the Hartsells ran a tourist home here for Northern visitors in the winter. Private residence.

324 THIRD STREET

In 1919, near the end of the “king cotton” era, Walker Duvall built this fine example of a brick Neo-classical. Mr. Duvall was a banker and cotton broker. The sudden drop in cotton prices in the early 1920’s had a devastating effect on Cheraw’s financial interests. Private residence.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS:

RIVERSIDE PARK

Riverside Park, on the banks of the Great Pee Dee, was the site of Kershaw's Ferry, the steamboat landing, covered bridge, and Confederate War skirmish. It features a boat ramp, trails, and picnicking. Until 1926 this landing was stacked with cotton awaiting shipment throughout the fall. Northeast end of Church Street.
 

CHERAW STATE PARK

Cheraw State Park was South Carolina’s first state park and was for many years the largest. Portions of the park were built on worn out cotton lands. It is now home to an award winning golf course, a lake, ponds, trails, cabins and camp sites. US 52 south of Cheraw. $2/adult admission fee. Visit their web site.

CHERAW STATE FISH HATCHERY

The SC Wildlife Department breeds warm water fish in 31 ponds at the hatchery. The Hatchery is on what was once worn out cotton fields acquired by the Federal government during the Depression. US 1 South. Free.

CAROLINA SANDHILLS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Bird watchers love the refuge with its observation towers, and photography blinds. There's also an auto tour, hiking trails, hunting and fishing.

SAND HILLS STATE FOREST

Also built on worn out cotton land, the forest offers mountain bike, hiking and bridle trails, as well as fishing, hunting, camping and Sugar Loaf Mountain, a mini-mountain rising above the surrounding sand hills. The H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trail Center hosts sporting dog and equestrian events. The well trained bird dog was part of early plantation and farm life.
Link to Sand Hills State Forest
Link to H. Cooper Black Recreation Area

JOHN BIRKS "DIZZY" GILLESPIE

Cheraw's most famous native son was the late Dizzy Gillespie, who was born here in 1917. A world-renowned jazz artist, he played at the White House for eight U.S. presidents. Gillespie's boyhood home on Huger Street no longer exists, but a brochure detailing other sites associated with his life is available at the Cheraw Chamber of Commerce. There is also a small exhibit on Gillespie in the Cheraw Lyceum on the Town Green. Gillespie once claimed he became a musician to avoid picking cotton.