Historic Homes
Hewn Timber Cabins
Two cabins (c. 1836) built by African-Americans to house slaves who were brought to this area to raise cotton remain on the campus of Francis Marion University. The quality of the woodcraft, especially the full-dovetailed corners, shows that the builders were skilled craftsmen who took great pride in their work. The cabins are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hewn timber cabins are open and available to the general public from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM on the second Wednesday of each month from March through November, weather permitting. If you visit the site when the cabins are not open, signs outside each cabin provide visitors with a wealth of information and pictures. Photos show the cabin interiors and artifacts, many of which have been donated by families who lived in the cabins.
Bonds Conway House
This restored house (c. 1812) is the former home of Bonds Conway, believed to be the first African-American in Camden to purchase his freedom and that of his family. An accomplished architect and father of 11 children, he died at the age of 80 in 1843. The Kershaw County Historical Society is housed here.
Denmark Vesey's House & Marker
Born into slavery in the Virgin Islands, Vesey purchased his freedom from his Charleston slave holder and settled into life as a carpenter on Bull Street. In 1821 Vesey's home was the meeting place to organize what is considered the most extensive black insurrection in American history, involving thousands of free and enslaved blacks in the Charleston area. The house is a National Historic Landmark.
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