Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
Tim Moore, a leading force behind establishing Veterans Memorial Park, stands alongside the color guard at an event relocating historic markers earlier this year.
Barnwell County, along with the other 45 counties of South Carolina, is engaged in planning for events leading up July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
The state’s SC250 Commission oversees the activities of the various county organizations such as our own Barnwell County SC250 Committee. The SC250 Committee welcomes any assistance that would be given by those who have information on their ancestors who fought in the Revolution as well as any memorabilia and stories they might want to share.
One of Barnwell’s sons, Capt. Tarlton Brown (1757-1845), left behind published memoirs of the war. His exploits are well known. The SC250 Committee would like to discover facts on the many other veterans whose records of service are not well known. Additional memorial markers to be placed in Veterans Memorial Park are already being acquired for three African-American soldiers from Barnwell District who fought in the Revolution.
There has been some concern expressed by citizens of Barnwell County about the relocation of military style headstones from Winton Park on S.C. Hwy. 3 to Veterans Memorial Park on U.S. 278 in Barnwell. Most importantly, it is essential to point out that these were not grave headstones but rather memorials to some veterans of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 from Barnwell District. There are no graves in Winton Park. In the early 1950s, Mrs. Edna Anderson Manning, wife of long-time auditor of Barnwell County, Mr. W. H. Manning Jr., was Regent of the Gen. John Barnwell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Mrs. Manning started acquiring these markers and placing them on land that had been given to the DAR by Mr. Fred Molair (1872-1964), well known merchant in Barnwell, in memory of his wife, Mrs. Sina Cave Molair (1873-1948). The markers had been in Winton Park for over 70 years.
The relocation of the markers was planned to give these memorials the prominence they deserve on grounds that are well maintained and accessible to the public.
As more details on veterans are discovered, markers can be added to the arc-like arrangements that separate the Revolutionary War markers from those commemorating the War of 1812. Since Winton Park was also established near the site of the original Winton County Courthouse, the bronze historical marker pointing the way to that location has remained in place on Highway 3. Winton County was the name given to our region of South Carolina in 1785, a designation that remained in place until the formation of Barnwell District in 1798.
