Author Lon Outen was guest speaker at a well-attended program Oct. 14, 2012, at Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church in Camden to show slides and discuss his just-published book, A History of Lynches Forks and Extended Areas On Big and Little Lynches Rivers, South Carolina. Book sales and autographing followed.

Sgt. Richard Rowland Kirkland, 2nd S.C.

Richard Kirkland–Angel or Hoax? Nov. 6, 2011, historian Mac Wyckoff spoke on the provocative topic and his extensive research to show that he felt a significant event had occurred during the Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia.  Richard Kirkland, a Confederate sergeant from Kershaw County, is remembered in history as “The Angel of Marye’s Heights”  for risking  his life during the battle to take water to wounded and dying enemy soldiers. He also presented a dynamic new film documentary on Kirkland’s deed, The Angel of Marye’s Heights. The program was enjoyed in the auditorium at Camden High School.

The front of the old store that was Tiller’s Ferry post office.

The Society program on Oct. 2, 2011, dedicated a Historical Marker at Tiller’s Ferry community, crossroads site Bethune Road (SC 341) and Old Stagecoach Road from Camden. History of the Tiller’s Ferry community pre-dates the Revolution and includes Civil War invasions. The ferry was the major early crossing over the Lynches River into Kershaw County.  The program, well attended by a very large crowd, included speakers and a display of area artifacts collected by Harvey Teal.

South Carolina Governor William Henry Lyttelton

May 1, 2011, at the Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church in Camden, Society members were treated to a lecture and slide show by guest speaker Daniel J. Tortora discussing crown-appointed South Carolina Governor William Henry Lyttelton.  The Society also unveiled its leather-bound Special Edition of A History of Kershaw County and placed the books for sale.

A History of Kershaw County, South Carolina, written by Joan A. Inabinet and L. Glen Inabinet for the Kershaw County Historical Society and published by USC Press, has received very favorable response since the Society introduced it to the public with a much-enjoyed Launch Party Jan. 16, 2011. The authors have also given talks from its pages to numerous groups, and have appeared as radio guests on Walter Edgar’s Journal. The South Carolina Book Festival May 14 and 15, 2011, featured the book with two panel presentations and book signings by the authors.

• Click here to read what USC Press says about A History of Kershaw County, South Carolina.
• Click here to listen to an interview with the authors of the book on NPR’s Walter Edgar’s Journal

Local dignitaries in Camden in 1937 for opening day ceremonies at the new Seaboard Air Line Railway station, West DeKalb Street Photo courtesy of Camden Archives.

The Society program Sept. 26, 2010, included slides and an informative lecture on state and local railroads. About 75 persons attended the program in the Kershaw County Fine Arts Center auditorium to hear remarks by Rodger Strop, retired director of the S.C. Department of Archives and History.

Dr. Stroup is the current chairman of the SC Archives and History Foundation and a volunteer at the South Carolina State Museum.  He is also the curator of the South Carolina Railroad Museum and a certified conductor on the museum’s Rockton, Rion & Western Railroad.

An audience of about 75 persons on May 16, 2010, enjoyed the comfortable seating of the beautiful chapel at Camden Military Academy in Camden during the informative and entertaining lecture by Dr. Gilbert S. Guinn on the Southern Aviation School that had operated at that site during World War II.  The program was titled, “The Brits Invade Camden–Again! – World War II British Aviation Cadet Training, with American Pilots, at the Southern Aviation School at Woodward Field in Camden.”  Specifically, Dr. Guinn focused on the training of British pilots there as part of the Arnold Scheme, topic of a book he authored on the subject. Afterwards, the audience enjoyed refreshments and walked on the airport field to inspect a restored vintage Stearman airplane such as had been used there for training during World War II.

Guest Speaker:  Gilbert S. Guinn, Author of “The Arnold Scheme.”  Gilbert S. Guinn of Greenwood, Emeritus Professor at Lander University and a contributor of the Guinn Collection to Cooper Library, USC, was born and grew up near Woodward Field in Camden. Here the Southern Aviation School operated from 1941-1943. Its traces are still observed at  Camden Military Academy where we will meet and at the Camden Airport.  Dr.Guinn’s 2007 The Arnold Scheme, includes details about SAS at Camden.

The Arnold Scheme is available from online vendors and may be previewed at Google Books.

More Resources on the Topic:

• Read here Aviation Special Issue, Fred Ogburn’s extensive articles on the Southern Aviation School that appeared as “A Kershaw County Historical Society Special Issue” in the April 28, 2010, Kershaw County Current, with thanks for the PDF provided us by that publication.
• Snapshots of World War II training in Camden may be viewed on the webpage journal of SAS British flying cadet Anthony Johnstone.  Although the text at this site includes his journal throughout the war, all photographs were taken at Camden.
• More snapshots of training in Camden may be viewed on the webpage devoted to the webpage story of SAS British flying cadet Allan Gent. His son would appreciate any identifications or further information that can be provided. The page also links to a copy of a 1941 publication of Goggles  by the UK cadets, including personal signatures of the some of them.

Built in 1932, Camden Airport hanger used by the Southern Aviation School. SC Archives and History Center photo.

Despite a cold rain, over 65 persons were at the  Robert Mills Courthouse in Camden  Jan. 24, 2010, to hear the moderated panel discussion “The Homefront Is the Battlefront: Domestic Life During the Revolution,” the first part of a two-part “BRITS INVADE CAMDEN” presentation. Moderated by Charles Baxley, the panel included Joanna Craig, Glen Inabinet, John Miller, Jim Piecuch, and David Reuwer.  (Read more about these panelists.)

Inside the Robert Mills Courthouse, above, scenes by Claude Buckley depict local battle actions during the Revolution.

Recent re-enactors at Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site (above) depict roles of civilians, as well as military participants.

Panelist John Miller points to a Revolutionary Camden map, discussed by panelists (top) and audience (bottom).

An audience of 200 filled the auditorium and gallery at the Kershaw County Fine Arts Center, Camden, Oct. 26, 2008, for our first program of this new term of office.  The Life and Art of Kershaw County Native Jak Smyrl program and art exhibit preview was presented by featured speaker Cartoonist Robert Ariail in cooperation with the Kershaw County Fine Arts Center.

Sketch above by Jak Smyrl is used by permission from his book Random Rimes, copyright 2007.