God’s
Acre Healing Springs
Blackville,
South Carolina
The
inscription on the front side of the state historical markers reads as follows:
“By tradition, Healing Springs got its name during the Revolutionary War. In 1781 after a bloody battle at nearby Windy Hill Creek, four wounded Tories sent inland from Charleston by General Banastre (the Butcher) Tarleton were left in the care of two comrades who had orders to bury them when they died. Luckily, Native Americans found them and took them to their secret, sacred healing springs. Six months later the Charleston garrison was astonished by the reappearance of the six men. All were strong and healthy.”
The
inscription on the reverse side of the state historical markers reads as
follows:
“Ownership of the springs passed
from the native “Indian” tribes who revered them to Nathaniel Walker, who
bought them with corn. The site passed through several hands until it was
acquired by L. P. Boyleston. On July 21, 1944 he deeded the land and springs to
GOD.
The waters, by analysis are exceptionally pure and contain healthful
minerals. People today, as in the past, believe they truly are Healing Springs.”
Location. 33° 23.668′ N, 81° 16.652′ W.
Marker is in Healing Springs, South Carolina, in Barnwell County. Marker is on South
Carolina Route 3 near Healing Springs Road (South Carolina Route S-6-32), on
the right when traveling north.
Located
near SC #3 north of Blackville, South Carolina. Take I-20 to exit #18 and go
south on SC #19 (Edgefield Road / Laurens Street) for 9.1 kilometers (5.7
miles) into downtown Aiken. Turn left onto US #78 (Richland Ave.) and go
southeast 51 km. (32 mi.) into the town of Blackville. Turn left and go north
on SC #3 (Soloman Blatt Ave.) for 4.6 km. (2.9 mi.). Turn right onto Healing
Springs Road (#32) and go east a short distance. Turn right onto Springs Court
(#358), and go south until you reach the Healing Springs.
On a hot summer day it is a most refreshingly cool place to be. Just watching the gallons and gallons of water flow from inside the earth as it has for apparently untold centuries brings to mind not only the events relayed by the marker but brings to mind the possibility, if not the probability, that Samuel and Mary Clark Reed's families drank from these very same springs. Watching my grandchildren play in the water set my mind to wondering if children of our ancestors didn't play in the cool waters on the hot South Carolina days.
Below is
Gabriel Christian Reed (2004 - ), the last Reed male of my direct lineage
on a hot day in 2012. I wondered, as I watched him there, if one day will he
reflect on the struggles and history created by his fifth great grandfather
Samuel and his fifth great grandmother Mary Clark Reed. I'm sure all that is going
through his mind at this moment is how cold the water is.
Gabe's
big sister, Megan Michelle Reed (2001 - ) samples the water also. She will, I'm
sure, be interested in the history of our family because even at this
young age she is an avid reader and absorbs almost everything she reads or
hears.
I'm
not certain, but I think she's enjoying her time at Healing Springs.
