Old Stone Church and Cemetery, historic church in Clemson, South Carolina
The Old Stone Church and Cemetery is a natural fieldstone building with a rectangular shape and gable roof located on the Clemson University campus. Constructed between 1797 and 1802, it features large windows with flat arches and an exterior staircase to a rear gallery, while the surrounding cemetery holds graves dating back to around 1794.
A Presbyterian congregation met in a log building starting in 1791, which burned down before the stone church was built from 1797 to 1802. The congregation later relocated to the new town of Pendleton, leaving this building to be maintained by volunteers in modern times.
The church served as the center of the Presbyterian community and its simple design reflects their values. People gathered here for worship and community events, while the graves outside preserve the connections between different families and their stories across generations.
The site is freely accessible and visitors can walk around the cemetery grounds and exterior areas without restrictions. The simple stone building has no heating or air conditioning, which preserves its historical character, and services are held only on special occasions.
The legend of Eliza Huger is tied to the church, her grave originally surrounded by a wall to hide a family scandal. Visitors still toss coins onto her grave hoping for luck, and stories persist about mysterious events that have occurred at that spot over the years.
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