Poinsett State Park, 6660 Poinsett Park Road, Wedgefield

Source document Quoted word for word from HALS SC-3. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Poinsett State Park gains its significance through its association with the Civilian Conservation Corps which was responsible for the construction of thousands of state parks across the nation as a means of land and natural resource conservation and economic revitalization. Poinsett State Park is significant at the state level as it is one of the original 16 parks developed by the CCC in the state of South Carolina.

The development of these parks resulted in the creation of a state park system in South Carolina, which had not existed prior to the start of the CCC construction in Poinsett State Park maintains much of its historic integrity in that it retains a great number of the original structures built by the CCC from to These buildings exemplify a high level of craftsmanship and rustic qualities characteristic of CCC construction. Description: Poinsett State Park is located in Wedgefield, South Carolina, Sumter County and is acres in size.

Nestled in the High Hills of the Santee, this geographical area is unique in that it is the meeting point of four different ecological regions, these being: the Coastal Plains at the northwestern boundary of the park, the Carolina Sandhills throughout, and habitats from both the Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountain regions. The Coastal Plain ecology is comprised of pine woodlands which are flat and consist of multiple pine like loblollys and longleafs which are both found at Poinsett. The Carolina Sandhills also support pine woodlands, but are hillier with sandy soils. Upland forest and bluffs are associated with the Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountain ecosystems and support thriving growth of pines, hickories, oaks and in the case of the Blue Ridge Mountains, mountain laurel.

Bald Cypress and Spanish Moss are also found in abundance throughout the park. The original construction of Poinsett State Park by the CCC included the creation of access roads, footpaths, several campsites and cabins, the entrance gates to the park, the lake, dam, spillway, bathhouse, changing facilities and loggia, parking areas, various shelters, the caretaker s house and garage, pine nurseries (in nearby Sumter County), and fire places within shelters. Soon after its completion, the park gained popularity for its 10 acre lake which was used for swimming and recreational activities such as fishing. The bathhouse was used as a concession stand, dining room, and housed changing facilities.

Some of the shelters were placed on hills and along trails for more scenic use while others were built near the lake for group picnics. POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 2 Almost all of these original CCC resources are still present in the park today, and retain much of their original architectural and material character, including their coquina foundations. Coquina is a native rock-like material composed of sand and compacted shells left in the landscape, dating from million years ago, at which point in time the park area was covered by the ocean. The coquina used throughout the park was excavated on private land just south of the park.

After excavation, CCC Company 421 shaped this coquina rock into blocks which they then used to construct the foundations for all almost all of the structures in the park, giving the buildings a rustic feel and unique appearance. The dam has a coquina rip-rap on the upsteam face to help stop erosion due to wave action. The small spillway (i.e. raceway) is also made of coquina. The large spillway has coquina walls and rubble at the base to help stop erosion. Used in the construction of many of the other park s structures, the coquina utilized in the foundations of the cabins (with the exception of Cabin 5), shelters (with the exception of Shelter 1), and bathhouses are in good condition.

Additionally, the timber used for the cabins weatherboarding and roof shingles, the shelters, and the bathhouse appear well-maintained. The cabins and shelters appear to be painted regularly since peeling paint was not noticeable. A comparison between current and historic photographs of the bathhouse reveals a difference in the color of the exterior wood cladding, which suggests re-staining. Although the structures remain largely intact their uses have changed over time. The bathhouse serves as a prime example of this change as it now serves as the park office because the lake was closed for public swimming in In addition, the shower/change area located within the building was demolished due to termite damage.

Although the lake was closed for swimming, it is still allowable to fish recreationally on the lake. There are a small number of resources missing from the historic list of CCC facilities present in the park originally, such as the pine tree nursery in Sumter County and cabin #5 that was located near the bathhouse. The absence of these resources is made evident through the examination of a CCC resources map. Additionally, a change can be found in the park s overlook shelter which once boasted a clear view down one of the sand hills. This view has been drastically altered and today showcases an abundance of new growth trees and plants which block the intended view down into the Coastal Plain from the shelter.

Another intrusion to the original landscape is seen in the creation and the existence of equestrian camps and trails. History: Established in by the United States Congress as an extension of the New Deal, the Civilian Conservation Corps served as an outlet to employ jobless single young men in natural resource conservation and development during the Great Depression. Shortly after the establishment of the the citizens of South Carolina s Sumter County purchased about acres of uninhabited land for and donated it to the county for the purpose of the development of a recreational area and refuge as a state park in August of POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO.

PAGE 3 Several separate parcels of land were incorporated to create the park lands, including the Benehaly family s 104 acres, the Levi family s 522 acres, Windham s 86 acres, and the Protestant Episcopal Church of South Carolina s 288 acres. This land, primarily used for farming since the mid-1700s, was also the site of a mill structure at one point. Today, visitors can still find fragments of the mill s coquina walls and foundation on its original site. Named after Joel Roberts Poinsett (for whom the poinsettia flower was also named), Poinsett State Park quickly implemented the CCC program.

Between October and August CCC Company 421 not only completed the construction of camp facilities, but also cleared ten acres for a lake, roads, footpaths, parking areas, and foundations for the park buildings. Additionally, the company had also finished construction on the exterior fa ades of the caretaker s house, the lake spillways, red bud and longleaf pine nurseries (in nearby Sumter County), a picnic shelter as well as several bridges and landscaping projects. The completion of these projects successfully accomplished both forestry and state park goals. As one of the first CCC Companies established in South Carolina, Company 421 was formed by Kershaw County s Superintendent R.A. Conard in April Soon after the organization of Company Conard was promoted to assistant state forester.

Camden resident and Foreman Clarkson then became the project superintendent about the same time Company 421 relocated to Sumter County for the Poinsett State Park project. The Company was sure to utilize the natural resources the land, using local coquina rock and harvested wood for the construction of facilities like the picnic shelter and bathhouse. The bathhouse was multi-functional, and [contained] a concession area, a kitchen and dining room, and a loggia, in addition to shower, dressing, and restroom facilities. Today, this building serves as the Park s office space, and at one point also acted as a small nature museum. With this exception, all of the original remaining structures built by Company 421 remain intact and still maintain their initially intended function.

However, by mid to late Poinsett State Park was forced to address the controversial subject of park segregation. CCC Colonel George Buell announced that the CCC Camp must be moved, and furthermore, that Poinsett should be completed by a Negro CCC Camp, or the camp itself would be abandoned and the state park work halted. Despite strong opposition from Senator Byrnes, County commissioners, city councilmen, State Forestry Commission officials, and other town leaders, Buell would not consider otherwise. Not long after Colonel Buells visit, Company 421 relocated to Rock Hill for a soil conservation project, Superintendent Clarkson transferred to Kings Mountain, and landscape architect promoted to Table Rocks superintendent position.

On September 5, Murray and African American Company began work as project superintendent and attending work crew. After POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 4 completing a two-week conditioning period, during which time enrollees work was evaluated for skill positions, Company began work surfacing park roads and filling in the borrow pit, where rock for the spillway and other structures had been obtained. Among this work, they also completed the caretaker s house and garage, various shelters, and continued work on the bathhouse. Although Company proved to be efficient in work ethic and qualified in skill and craftsmanship, the predominantly white surrounding community was not receptive to their occupancy at Poinsett.

After only two months working in Sumter County, Company was relocated to a new state park in Chester, South Carolina which left progress at Poinsett stagnant for over two months. Finally, Veterans Company received assignment to transfer from Givhans Ferry. During their time spent at Poinsett, the Company completed the incomplete structures, and focused on landscaping. By the summer of the Park was finally equipped for its official opening to the public, designating it as the second state park to do so. Enjoyed by Boy Scout troops, visiting families, visitors, and residents, forestry programs, and other recreational groups, Poinsett State Park became known for its large lake, used primarily for recreational swimming and water sports.

Due to the water safety hazards that arose with such a massive amount of visitors, waterfront safety became one of the main duties of Poinsett s staff. In an August 17, article in Columbia, South Carolina s newspaper, The Columbia Record (now known as The State), then superintendent F. Marion Dwight commented that preventative rather than corrective life saving at the sandy beach were promoted at the lake. By the swimming fell out of favor [and became forbidden] at a number of inland parks. Only last year was the facility reopened at the Park, cautioned with swim at your own risk policy enforcement. The also saw the introduction of a primitive equestrian campground located north of the original CCC Camp site.

With this short-lived program, equestrian trails and horseback riding lessons were also established. Unfortunately, it too fell out of favor with the South Carolina State Park officials after only a few years which resulted in the closing of the equestrian campground since then. While not much has changed structurally at Poinsett State Park since its establishment in the many new programs and community events have been created in the more recent years. For example, the park has recently completed a number of new multiuse trails. Poinsett State Park staff also hosts an annual mountain bike race, and have established various volunteer support programs through a biking group known as Midlands SORBA for the care and keeping of the Park s bike trails.

Even today, the park rangers and programs give significant attention to the Park s strong connection with the including information about the history and results of the program strongly connected with the Park throughout the property. Although Poinsett State Park is just a small example of the history and evolution of the larger State Park program in South Carolina, its establishment certainly played a huge role within POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 5 the implementation of the CCC program. The CCC s presence in South Carolina s state parks ultimately aided in immensely changing the public landscape of the state for the benefit of future generations.

Source document Quoted word for word from HALS SC-3. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition (September 1. Vocational and Career Collection, EBSCOhost (accessed March 26, Copies of deeds located in the Poinsett State Park research files, Resource Management Office, South Carolina State Park Service, Columbia, South Carolina. Gregorie, Anna King. History of Sumter County. Sumter, South Carolina: Library Board of Sumter, Laura Kirk, Interpretative Park Ranger: Lee State Park, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism, Oral History of Poinsett State Park Mielnik, Tara Mitchell. New Deal, New Landscape: The Civilian Conservation Corps and South Carolina s State Parks. Columbia, South Carolina: the University of South Carolina Press,

Source document Quoted word for word from HALS SC-3. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Amber Anderson, Jacqueline Don, Taylor Johnston, Sarah Sanders Candidates, Masters of Science) Clemson University/College of Charleston Masters Program in Historic Preservation 292 Meeting Street Charleston, South Carolina April 3, Entry HALS Challenge: Documenting Landscapes of the New Deal POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 6 Entrance gate and shelter, built by CCC (Jacqueline Don, Entrance gate, built by CCC (Jacqueline Don, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 7 Interpretive sign and adjacent parking lot. (Amber Anderson, Loggia at former bathhouse, now park office. Built by CCC in (Sarah Sanders, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 8 Loggia and tea room at former bathhouse, now park office. Built by CCC in (Sarah Sanders, Loggia at park office. (Amber Anderson, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO.

PAGE 9 Park office and Old Levi Mill Lake. (Amber Anderson, Old Levi Mill Lake and dam. (Amber Anderson, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 10 Park office, Old Levi Mill Lake, and boat house to right. Parking lot in the background center. (Amber Anderson, Large spillway, constructed by CCC in (Amber Anderson, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 11 Large spillway, constructed by CCC in (Amber Anderson, Small spillway, constructed by CCC in & (Amber Anderson, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 12 Small spillway and bridge, constructed by CCC in & (Jacqueline Don, Small spillway, constructed by CCC & (Jacqueline Don, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 13 Stairs to small spillway. (Jacqueline Don, Small spillway, constructed by CCC & (Jacqueline Don, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO.

PAGE 14 Coquina trail, created by CCC in (Amber Anderson, Shelter 1. (Sarah Sanders, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 15 Shelter 1 and restroom facility. (Sarah Sanders, Shelter 2 and drinking fountain, constructed by CCC (Sarah Sanders, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 16 Shelter 2, constructed by CCC (Sarah Sanders, Restroom facility. (Sarah Sanders, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 17 Shelter 5, constructed by CCC in (Amber Anderson, Shelter 3, constructed by CCC in (Jacqueline Don, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 18 Trailside Shelter, constructed by CCC in (Amber Anderson, Dining Hall. (Jacqueline Don, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 19 Roadway to cabins, constructed by CCC in (Jacqueline Don, Sign for cabin locations. (Jacqueline Don, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO.

PAGE 20 Cabin area with Cabin 4 and Cabin 3 from left to right. (Jacqueline Don, Circular roadway between cabins with Cabin 4 right. (Jacqueline Don, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 21 Cabin 1, constructed by CCC in (Jacqueline Don, Cabin 2, east elevation, constructed by CCC in (Jacqueline Don, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 22 Cabin 2, south elevation, constructed by CCC in (Jacqueline Don, Cabin 3 constructed by CCC (Jacqueline Don, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 23 Cabin 4 constructed by CCC (Jacqueline Don, Picnic area near cabins. (Jacqueline Don, POINSETT STATE PARK HALS NO. PAGE 24 Path to trailheads near cabins. (Jacqueline Don, Path to trailheads near cabins. (Jacqueline Don,