Old St David’s Episcopal Church, Cheraw, SC. (Robin Gibson photo)

One of the perks of living at Lake Norman is its proximity to rich, vibrant history. Newcomers and transplants have certainly discovered the beauty here and continue to make this area home, but they may not know about the surrounding region and what it has to offer for recreation. As a native, I take great pride in sharing what I know and making travel suggestions. Last month, I wrote about Charleston, but there are other less well-known destinations equally worthy of discussion and discovery. The Olde English District of South Carolina fits the bill.

From Revolutionary War sites to Native American history, this culturally and historically significant part of South Carolina is an easy drive from Cornelius and Davidson. I have roots here that go back several generations in the Olde English District Town of Cheraw, in Chesterfield County. Home to Old St David’s Episcopal Church, the last Anglican or state built church granted by the King of England, King George III, in 1770, the Town, itself, dates back to the mid-1700s when it was established as a trading post along the Great Pee Dee River. With approximately 45 spots on the National Register of Historic Properties, 25 are featured in the Historic Cheraw Cell Phone Tour available 24 hours a day, and a wonderful way to take in the gorgeous tree lined streets and gardens at your own pace.

History not your cup of tea but golf is? You’re in luck. Cheraw State Park Golf Course is an award winning, scenic, 18-hole championship course found on the same sand hills ridge as the famed Pinehurst course in North Carolina only an hour away.

The following sites were useful to me in preparing for this column, and will be helpful to you in planning your day trip back in time. Of course, feel free to stay longer than a day! Whether you visit Cheraw, or any of the other destinations that make up the Olde English District corridor, there’s nothing quite like experiencing history for yourself:

RELATED LINKS

http://www.oldeenglishdistrict.com/
http://www.cheraw.com/
http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/cheraw/cheraw-golf.aspx

May, with its beautiful spring blooms, is the perfect month to get out and explore this area. Hopefully, when you return to Lake Norman the rain will have stopped, the weather will be warm, and water levels will be back to normal and ready for boats!

Robin Gibson is a writer living in Cornelius. You can find her blog at http://www.robingibsonart.com/blog.html. See her previous columns under the “Robin Gibson” category.

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