CAMDEN, S.C. — A new historical plaque has been unveiled in Kershaw County commemorating an important location in the region's history.
Organizers hope it's the first plaque of many there and in Lee County.
"We just thought it would be a good starting point for our chapter," said Retta Tindal, the president of the Wateree Chapter of the National Colonial Dames XVII Century.
The group of women recently unveiled their first plaque at Quaker Cemetery, a process that takes about three months and needs approval from the state.
"This cemetery actually began in 1759, it was sold for one peppercorn a year for 999 years to the Quaker sect that was prominent here in Camden at the time," Tindal said. "They needed a place to bury their dead - there are a number of Revolutionary War soldiers buried out here, three Confederate generals, there's a governor buried here."
Over the next two years, the group plans to install several additional historical markers to ensure that the history of important locations in the Midlands is preserved and acknowledged.
"We're going to put one at Grace Episcopal Church in Camden, Bethany Baptist Church in Lee County and we want to put one at Bethesda Presbyterian in Camden," Tindall said. "We feel it's one of our responsibilities to preserve these landmarks. Our children, grandchildren, and future generations need to know the significance."
Each plaque costs approximately $1,200, and the funds for them are provided through a state endowment.