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Traveling the historical trail [The Union Daily Times, S.C.](Union Daily Times, The (SC) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Dec. 18--A group of seventh graders from Beaufort Academy College Preparatory School took a field trip to Union Monday morning to tour three sites on the Union County Historical Trail. Beaufort Academy students attend school on a trimester schedule, with a two-week break between each trimester to allow time for travel and outside learning. During their current break, the Beaufort seventh graders took a field trip to Washington to learn about national history and then to Union to learn about history from within their home state. The students left at 6 a.m. Monday for their trip to Union, with the first stop being the Union County Museum. Museum Executive Director Ola Jean Kelly welcomed the group, giving them an overview of the history of Union County and introducing them to the various sections of the museum. Students and chaperons were impressed with museum exhibits such as the table used by Benjamin F. Arthur to draft the Ordinance of Secession of the State of South Carolina in 1860, Native American artifacts dating back over 5,000 years, a cupboard which was made in 1700 in Pennsylvania and brought to Union by the first settlers, and two Civil War flags from Union County which are still intact. Students were also excited to make use of the museum's genealogy software. The group's second stop was Rose Hill Plantation State Park, where they toured the grounds and the mansion built from 1828-1832 by secession governor William H. Gist. "They were a great group," said Rose Hill park manager Trampas Alderman. "Everyone seemed to have a good time, and hopefully they learned a thing or two." Field trip chaperon and Beaufort Academy teacher Anne Lindsay said the seventh graders are currently taking American History and just finished a unit on the Revolutionary War. Much of the students' trip to Union will coordinate with history classes following their break. Lindsay teaches fifth and sixth grade language arts, but family ties elicited a special interest in Monday's trip, especially the third destination. The group's third and final Union County destination was Flint Hill -- the ancestral home of William and Jill Jeter. Lindsay is the niece of William Jeter. Lindsay's father -- who also joined the group during the day trip to Union -- is Union native Russell Jeter. The domestic quarters/kitchen in the rear of Flint Hill was built as a dwelling circa 1790 by Revolutionary War Capt. Bernard Glenn, who is buried nearby. The main house with Greek Revival portico was built circa 1828-1832 by Reuben Sims Rice. Lindsay said she had been looking forward to the group's lunch at Flint Hill and the stories she was sure her Uncle William would have to tell. The group chose the destination sites from the Union County Historical Trail, which was developed by the Union County Historical Society in collaboration with the Union County Tourism Commission and opened on Dec. 1. The trail consists of 23 historic sites including Union County Museum, Rose Hill Plantation State Park and Flint Hill. Other sites are as follows: * Musgrove Mill Battlefield State Historic Site * Blackstock Battlefield * Cross Keys Plantation * Padgett's Creek Baptist Church * Governor David Johnson House * Fair Forest Baptist Church Historical Marker * Nicholson Mansion Bed and Breakfast * Union County Jail * Union County Courthouse * Union Community Hospital * Corinth Baptist Church * Governor Jeter/Sarratt House * Merridun * Presbyterian Cemetery * Culp-Beaty Hall * Dawkins House/One-Time State Capitol * Wallace House * Episcopal Church of the Nativity * Union County Carnegie Library * Site of Union Church Brochures containing maps, photos and information about each of the sites are available statewide at each of South Carolina's nine welcome centers and locally at the Union County Museum, Union County Carnegie Library, Merridun, Union County Chamber of Commerce and area motels. ___ (c)2011 The Union Daily Times (Union, S.C.) Visit The Union Daily Times (Union, S.C.) at uniondailytimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |