:: The History of Lowther's Hill Cemetery in Darlington, SC ::


PLEASE NOTE: Lowther's Hill Cemtery is the final resting place of Confederate and Revolutionary War soldiers, community leaders and some of the first settlers in our area. Please DO NOT VANDALIZE OR TRESPASS!



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Site History:
The old Montrose church was build in a bend on the Pee Dee River. It was said to have burnt down during the 1800's. It was rebuilt and renamed Mount Hope Church. That too burnt down or flooded. It was then moved to higher ground, no evidence of the church stands now. It is said that the church was later abandoned because it was built on "unholy grounds". Many revolutionary war and civil war soldiers call Lowther's Hill (Montrose) their final resting place. Also several county and state leaders are buried there, including the founder of Hartsville Thomas E. Hart and Major Robert Lide, second in command to Francis Marion. The earliest grave was in the 1780's and the latest was in the 1950's.

The land was part of Atkinson’s farm and at one time was owned by the Coastal Timber Company but there aren't any records of that transaction now. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Lee Atkinson, Sr., gave Lowther’s Hill Cemetery to the Darlington County Historical Society many years ago according to Suzanne Calcutt.

In the 50's or 60's the cemetery became the local 'haunted graveyard'. Teenagers soon started to kick over and shoot tombstones, eventually they completely destroyed the cemetery. Entire tombstones have disappeared from the cemetery at times and what wasn't stolen was broken. Due to the vandalism, the Historical Society eventually removed what was left of the stones and placed them behind their building in Darlington. They collected funds to have a large marble stone marker placed outside of the cemetery gates.

Today the cemetery's upkeep is being done by members of the Cashua Ferry Organization of Old Timers, aka "COOTS".




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