Founded in 1883, Oakwood Cemetery is the final resting place for many prominent members of Spartanburg. The cemetery is often referred as “Hell’s Gate Cemetery” for the oft-reported paranormal phenomena. Some claim a woman in white walks the grounds. It’s often listed as the most haunted cemetery in South Carolina.
The cemetery was vandalized, and a skull was removed from a coffin. It was returned a few weeks later.
It’s a lovely smaller town cemetery with some Victorian monuments.
Tax records indicate this farmhouse with gingerbread details was built in 1890.
Founded in 1759, the Salem Black River Presbyterian Church is also known as the Brick Church. The first brick church was built in 1802 and used until 1846. The current building has been in use since 1846. Like many antebellum churches in the South, a second-floor gallery was used where the enslaved people of the local plants who attended the church would also worship. In 1867, the Black church members broke away to form the Goodwill Presbyterian Church.
The white Old Session House was built in 1846 and used for meetings and a library. Author James McBride Dabbs (1896-1970) donated his library to the church. He was a lifelong member of the church.
The cemetery was first used in 1794 and officially deeded to the church in 1830.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
This house was built in 1890 and is a contributing property to the Amelia Street Historic District.
This house was built in 1890 and is a contributing property to the Amelia Street Historic District.
