Columbia Star

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Pineville, a historic refuge—Santee Canal in 1988

Originally published June 22, 2007


This woodcut of a barge leaving the Santee Canal tide-lock is on display at the Old Santee Canal State Park.

This woodcut of a barge leaving the Santee Canal tide-lock is on display at the Old Santee Canal State Park.

In 1988, the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA) did a study of the Old Santee Canal Sanctuary under the auspices of the Santee Cooper Public Service Authority and the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. Mark M. Newell and Joe J. Simmons III were the principal investigators. The purpose was to determine if the state should preserve this increasingly fragile and tenuous tangible link to the past, and in particular, develop a wildlife sanctuary from the remnants of an almost 200-year-old canal.

The scientists concentrated their work on the southern end of the 22-mile canal at Biggin Creek near Monck’s Corner. The survey discovered the tide-lock and remains of the tide-lock gates, several vessels, and earthworks.

Artifacts were found that provided historic information on river craft construction, blacksmithing, carpentry, masonry, brick manufacture, lifestyles of the lock tenders, and the nature of trade between the Upcountry and the coast. Additionally, they found abundant wildlife and prolific vegetation. They concluded, “It is a repository of data on the life and industrial skills of a time and people bent on forging a new world power.”

The Old Stony Landing House at the Old Santee Canal State Park was built around 1843 by John H. Dawson. It is open to the public.

The Old Stony Landing House at the Old Santee Canal State Park was built around 1843 by John H. Dawson. It is open to the public.

The result of the study was the development of the Old Santee Canal State Park, one of the most important historic and scientific interpretive sites in South Carolina. The park is located at the end of Stony Landing Road in Moncks Corner, S.C.

The high bluff at the headwaters of the Cooper River has, for generations, been known as Stony Landing. Because of the natural advantages of its setting, it became a crossroads of early commerce.

The Old Stony Landing

House has been restored and is open to the public for tours. It was built circa 1843 by the Charleston merchant, John H. Dawson, who acquired the land in 1839.

The 1988 study did not survey the northern section of the Santee Canal, the portion in Pineville. The two ends of the 1800-1855 canal are now separated by Lake Moultrie of the 1939 Santee Cooper Project. It is time that SCIAA and the Santee Cooper Public Service Authority initiate an archaeological survey of the Pineville section of the historic Santee Canal. This series, “Pineville, A Historic Refuge,” is justification enough for such a survey.

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