King Street's Path to Narnia

"Our Little Maria"

King Street is well known for the expensive stores and exquisite restaurants, but hidden between is a pathway that leads to a place far different. Flowers and trees adorn the way to the graveyard of Unitarian Church. The church was build in 1772 on 4 Archdale Street Charleston, South Carolina. The yard has been lightly manicured, while still allowing the natural environment to grow freely.

Family plot

Family plots hold many old grave markers with carefully thought epitaphs and ornate fences. One grave states "with a mind strong, comprehensive and aspiring, he united those traits of character. which adorned the husband father and friend. In his death, Science and Literature have caused to mourn. &pure&liberal Christianity. to deplore the loss of an able advocate"

Epitaph

The hours and location of this graveyard make it's access limited, but appreciated. Ive always noticed tourists and mourners when i've visited the graveyard, as opposed to other burial sites that are usually vacant. Unitarian church has also held ghost tours since 1996. The beauty and mystery of this yard allows it to be a quiet place to spend time and appreciate the history of Charleston.

A Presidents Secret Treasure Buried in Cougar Mall

    The College of Charleston campus is regarded as one of the most beautiful and historic campuses in the nation. When most people think of the unique and aesthetic details around campus, they probably think of various fountains, gardens, and sculptures, however, The College has many treasures unknown to most.

    One of these incredible finds includes the grave of the mother of a former U.S. President! Andrew Jackson's mother rests in Cougar Mall beside the Robert Scott Small building. Her headstone is very small, so the hustle of class-bound students and confused tourists can often overshadow it, making it a secret scavenge.

   Elizabeth Jackson was born in circa 1740 in Ireland according to History of American Women. She came to America with her husband and children. As I found in the Post and Courier, Elizabeth Jackson came to Charleston to care for her two sick nephews before becoming ill with cholera. Her grave stone reads "Near this spot is buried, Elizabeth Jackson, mother of president Andrew Jackson. She gave her life cheerfully for the independence of her country on an unrecorded date in November 1781. And to her son Andy this advice: "Andy, never tell a lie, nor take what is not your own, nor sue for slander, settle those cases yourself."

Grave marker of Elizabeth Jackson

Graveyard Symbols Scavenger Hunt

Sue Bennett is church administrator at Bethel United Methodist Church located on Pitt Street in Charleston, South Carolina. She directs informational tours with various concentrations around Charleston, and was kind enough to give an exclusive tour of Bethel United Methodist Church to my Charleston Beyond The Grave class. Bennett spoke of the intricate symbols that symbolized ideas to memorialize loved ones.

One of these symbols being a hand pointing downwards. This symbolizes mortality and is said to represent a secret masonic handshake.

Another reoccurring symbol I found in the Bethel United Methodist Church yard is an angel. This symbolizes spirituality and guarding to Heaven.

  

The symbol shown here is a cross surrounded by a crown, representing sovereignty of the lord.

An hourglass symbolizes the passing of time and the shortness of life.

The cloth over that is draped over this grave symbolizes mourning.

A wreathe symbolizes victory in death or redemption and dates back to the Greeks.

Roses can symbolize a multitude of things, such as, beauty, hope, or love. 

Weeping willow trees are just as meloncholy as they sound; they symbolize sorrow and mourning.

While willows were a vary popular symbol in the victorian era, the Willow and Urn can arguably be the most popular of the era. The combination represents the mourning of the deceased. 

Ivy symbolizes memory, immortality, friendship, and many more values.