Sumter Juncture
When people think of the Palmetto Trail, they tend to think of beautiful woods, seldom-seen birds, and interesting plants. The trail also provides access to some very significant historical areas.
Thanks to the generous support of The Williams-Brice-Edwards Charitable Trust hikers and other trail users will be more knowledgeable about an area of Sumter County that has been less accessible to those seeking glimpses into the state’s past. The Charitable Trust investment in the trail made possible installation of four signs describing the Civil War era happenings in the vicinity of “Wateree Junction” as the area was called at the time.
The most notorious of these events was sparked by Union General Edward Potter, who launched his now famous “Potter’s Raid” on Confederate stores kept at or near Middleton Depot in the Wateree Swamp. The raid captured 200 railroad cars and was a blow to the Confederacy. Today, some of the warped iron rails on the Rails to Trails passage can still be seen at Wateree Junction (now called Sumter Junction) by those hiking or biking along the Wateree Passage.
Town of Manchester
“The Palmetto Trail, when finished, will consist of approximately 500 miles from the upstate to the coast. What better way to see our beautiful state and experience all the history and natural resources we have. The Palmetto Trail is an outstanding organization dedicated to preserving our state’s natural resources, while providing access and education,” said Frank Edwards, board chair of The Williams-Brice-Edwards Charitable Trust.
“Wateree Passage is one of the most diverse sections of the Palmetto Trail, traversing a variety of landscapes, from high hills down to a magnificent river swamp. Three miles from the Poinsett State Park trailhead the trail reaches Molly’s Bluff (elevation 260 feet), one of the higher elevations in Sumter County. The bluff offers excellent vistas across Wateree swamp to Richland County. From there the trail descends to the old South Carolina Railroad bed where it travels five miles through swampland until it crosses a trestle over the Wateree River. Trailheads are located at Poinsett State Park, Farmstead Road, and Foxville Road, which is closest to the ‘Sumter Junction’ historical signage.”
General Thomas Sumter
For location information, visit palmettoconservation.org/passage/wateree-passage/.
The Palmetto Trail was started in 1994. When fully complete, it will stretch 500 contiguous miles from the coast at Awendaw to the mountains of Oconee County. It is available free of charge and is heavily used by both locals and thru-hikers from South Carolina and well beyond. For location information, visit www.palmettoconservation.org.
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