Old Darlington County jail gets historical marker
THE MESSENGER/JIM FAILE
The Darlington County Historical Commission unveiled a new historical marker for the old Darlington County jail, which houses the commission’s offices and collection of historic records and artifacts. The marker is the 60th state historical marker in Darlington County. On hand for the unveiling were, from left, Jannie Harriot of the commission, commission Chairman Bill Segars, commission member Doris Bateman, commission Director Doris Gandy and commission member Judy Knight.
DARLINGTON – The Darlington County Historical commission unveiled the county’s newest state historical marker Friday, this one at the commission’s office in the old Darlington County jail on Hewitt Street.
“This is our marker,” said commission Chairman Bill Segars.
Dr. Tracy Power of the S.C. Department of Archives and History oversees the state’s historical marker program and was on hand for Friday’s unveiling.
“This is the best part of my job,” Power said.
The new marker is the 60th to be erected in Darlington County, which boasts more markers than most S.C. counties, Power said.
“The marker belongs to the community,” he said.
Segars said it typically takes about two years to get a marker erected from the initial application process.
The old jail houses the commission’s offices and its collection of historical archives and artifacts.
When it was built in 1937 with funding from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Public Works Administration the jail was a state-of-the art facility. “It was one of the most modern jails in the South,” Segars said.
The historical commission, established in 1965, moved into the renovated jail in 1984.
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