Master plan draft helps trail move forward

The Francis Marion Trail has taken another step forward following the presentation of the first draft of a master plan.

The strategic draft was presented by Dr. Jerry Weitz of The Jaeger Co. to the trail commission at its meeting Thursday in Manning.

Weitz recommended specific design features and sizes of regional interpretive centers as well as local centers.

Transportation facilities, signage, interpretive displays, exhibits, audio visuals, support facilities, interpretive trails and bicycle and water access were discussed.

“The first draft of the master plan was the most exciting part of the meeting,” commission chairman Ben Zeigler said Monday. “The Jaeger Co. took archeological work to develop recommendations regarding sites that should be developed into everything from roadside kiosks to full-scale restoration of battlefields.”

Zeigler said that although the sites dealt extensively with the interpretive centers the commission has known about from the beginning, Jaeger made additional recommendations. These would be interpretive centers in Kingstree, Lake City, St. Stephen, Conway, Myrtle Beach and several other communities around the Pee Dee and Lowcountry.

Steve Smith of the S.C. Department of Archaeology and Anthropology gave a presentation on the results of his study of about 15 sites important to the exploits of Francis Marion.

Smith described important discoveries such as several related sites at Wadboo Barony/Avenue of the Cedars (near Moncks Corner), The Battle of Black Mingo (between Hemingway and Georgetown), The Battle of Parker’s Ferry and the location of the Jacksonborough Assembly (in Colleton County), the Battle of Blue Savannah in Marion County, Port’s Ferry in both Marion and Florence counties, Witherspoon’s Ferry (in Johnsonville), Dunham’s Bluff (Marion Camp and redoubt), Snow’s Island and Watson’s Chase (a number of different sites and counties).

“The archeological report reflects a great achievement in and of itself in that it represents the first comprehensive survey of the archeological record related to Francis Marion,” Zeigler said. “This will tell us about where Marion was, what his troops were eating and other things. It’s going to add tremendously to our body of knowledge.”

Zeigler defined the archeology as the building blocks, or the bricks. He said the master plan is the framework that showcases the bricks.

“We are starting to get the structure of this project put in place,” he said. “We will have both the archeology and master plans once the interpretive plan comes out this fall.

“I hope we will have the money for the interpretive plan. This is the next phase which will tell the story, what the exhibits look like and much more.”

Once the interpretive plan is in hand, Zeigler said, it will be time for the local communities to take action. It will be their responsibility to come up with funding to develop and acquire the sites.

Zeigler, meanwhile, plans to step down as chairman at the end of the year. He has been at the helm for six years and says a “fresh perspective” is needed as the trail marches on.