Springville, DARLINGTON COUNTY’S GHOST TOWN

a summer getaway back in the 1800s

If you’ve ever traveled the Society Hill Road en-route to Darlington you’ve likely seen a historical marker between Lide Springs Road and North Springville Road. Decades upon decades ago this area was known as Springville, and had become a summer village for local prominent families beginning around 1820.

While it was never incorporated and had no exact boundaries, it had population enough to require it’s own post office.

Many of the families who spent their summers in Springville were farmers and while they worked the bottom land along the Pee Dee River for growing crops, life in the summer around the river could be unhealthy, the wetlands could cause sickness, malarial fevers, and more.

When it was discovered that Springville consisted of elevated “pineland” with sandy soil that wouldn’t “puddle” water, had mineral springs, and a large creek, Black Creek, for water and bathing, families began building cottages and homes for summer getaways.

The first to build was Hugh Lide, who is also credited for naming the area Springville. Others followed suit, the Cannons, Ervins, Harts, and Goodsons. By 1850, Springville was thought to have around 35 homes. Even today, several of the homes still stand.

So, how’d I land on Springville? I recall, in my reading of a book about the Coker family, Springville was mentioned several times and remembered seeing clues in my travels to Florence, passing through Darlington. With my interest peaked, the research had begun… I never would have thought that this pinelands village that I’ve passed through so many times before, would have been a summer getaway… another reason our counties are so very cool.

R.

Sources & Photo Credits: United Department of the Interior National Park Service Historic Places Inventory, South Carolina Historic Properties Record, Landmark Hunter