Back in the corner here, flush up against the big salt marsh that goes all the way to the harbor, is the oldest parts of the cemeteries.
Umbra Plantation house is closer to the old road and the Civil War graves area. The far corner is the place of old Mausoleums, brick walls, and overgrown stones.
I never see anyone here. It’s a quiet spot filled with interesting scenes to photograph. If you’ve lived in Charleston for a while you will recognize the family names.
Corner Spot, Cemetery
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Strawberry Chapel, 301 years old, and one of the last complete chapel of ease standing in the US.
A ‘chapel of ease’ is just that. A chapel that was easy to visit. The Anglican Church Of England has one church per parish. Plantation families could not journey to the parish so small chapels were allowed at times. The actual parish church, Biggins, is right down the road. However there were no roads at that time, so it was a multi day trip.
The original plantation families still own this property, it was on the land of Strawberry Plantation and Comingtee Plantation when built in the village of Childsbury.
The gates were opened to a small group, mostly photographers I think, a week ago. Last winter a long restoration was completed. The goal was to have repairs finished for the 300th anniversary.
I believe the only original feature changed was a removal (about 100 year ago) of a small wooden balcony. The structure is in another church down the road, an African American church centuries old being repaired now.
First Views Of Strawberry, Black And White
The graveyards have various brick and rock walls through the property. Family members are still being buried here.
First Views Of Strawberry, Black And White
Most everything inside the chapel is original. The banner on the back wall is a repaired piece made up of pine cone seeds. The baptismal water urn is also new.
I counted seats for about 50-60 people.
First Views Of Strawberry, Black And White
Strawberry Chapel of Ease, Childsbury (now a field), South Carolina.
I spotted the two stones leaning on each other when we first entered the oldest part of the area. We had to drive past on the dirt track though since it was pretty tight with trees and stones.
I walked back towards the general area, and actually found them! My sense of direction was stunted growing up in NYC. There are signs on light poles always telling you exactly where you are.
Cemetery Walk
I suspected there was a relationship between the stones, I did not expect them both to be for the same person. Other head stones nearby didn’t seem to be with ‘Carrie’. There was a little open space around her though. In a cemetery where burials are stacked tight any area unoccupied can mean the markers are lost to time.
We haven’t gone for a walk around the cemeteries in a while and Ellen wanted to use her OM 90mm macro lens on a few different subject types. If there’s any place with varied subjects it’s one of the old cemeteries.
I resisted the temptation of filling a bag with lenses of all sizes, I went with lighter walk around gear. My original OM-1 has various custom settings so for me it was a ‘point and click’ morning.
Found On A Walk, Charleston Cemetery
The rust and ruin look to the old areas is always fun to shot, it’s impossible not to find corners and spots I’ve never been to. Also there is always a chance of finding storm damage or erosion around the swamps.
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Found On A Walk, Charleston Cemetery
Found On A Walk, Charleston Cemetery
Found On A Walk, Charleston Cemetery
Found On A Walk, Charleston Cemetery
Found On A Walk, Charleston Cemetery
The above were taken using the OM-1 (1), Olympus 40-150 r (plastic fantastic), and an OM 12-200.
I get great pleasure out of shooting the Plastic Fantastic lens. I love the fact I paid a grand total of $ US 60.00 for it. No lens hood, the size of a candy bar, and probably weights less.
Overgrown by grass, within an old brick wall, is the stone for Thomas and Catherine Allen. I know nothing else about them, I found this on a walk this morning.
Thomas And Catherine Allen – Found On A Walk
Behind the brush here is a salt marsh which ultimately joins Meyers Bend on the Cooper River. A few miles south and you are in the center of Charleston, South Carolina.
