The Chilling Old City Jail

standing across from the jail

Before this tour, I had never been to the Old City Jail. I have heard plenty of spooky stories about how haunted the jail is, so I figured this was the moment I would see for myself!

I am not going to lie, I was pretty scared. However, I find haunted places fascinating so my excitement was more overwhelming than my fear. I found the outside of the jail beautiful in a way with the vines growing along the old outside walls.

The jail was also a lot smaller than I thought it would be and I wish that we went to more of the rooms. However, none of that took away from the experience.

The jail opened in 1802 and housed some of Charleston's most famous criminals and even held prisoners during the Civil War. The prison closed in 1939 due to inhuman conditions.

tour guide Randy Johnson

Our awesome tour guide, Randy Johnson, was from bulldog tours. He did an amazing job bringing stories creepily to life. He told us plenty of stories about prisoners and ghost that still roam the halls of the old jail.

Johnson said, "there are countless accounts of people seeing the ghost of Lavinia Fisher in her wedding dress." Lavinia Fish was the first female serial killer here in the U.S. that was imprisoned in the jail with her husband.

window in one of the jail rooms 

Johnson also told us that "the executioners were found in bars" and guards would force them through withdrawals so they were more willing to execute the prisoners. After the execution was completed, the executioner would receive all the whiskey they wanted.

My favorite room we went into was the room where they kept the psychiatric prisoners. In there, Johnson made us keep it completely dark and it was the only room we toured that had no windows. As we were all standing around, Johnson told us about the ghost they called Animal. The ghost Animal runs on all fours and likes to grab peoples legs. How creepy!

 

Francis W. Capers: Academic Adventures and Military Marvels

General Francis Capers 

Francis W. Capers was born in Savannah, Georgia in August of 1819. His father was William Capers, a Methodist Episcopal Bishop. He first began his studies at Randolph-Macon College in Virginia in 1835 but transferred to the College of Charleston in 1836. 

Capers graduated first in his class from the beautiful college in 1840. For a few years after he graduated, he stayed at the College of Charleston to tutor students in math. When the South Carolina Military Academy was founded (now called the Citadel), Capers was recruited as the Professor of Mathematics as one of the original staff. 

In 1847, he resigned from his job at the Military Academy and began working as a professor or in ancient languages at Transylvania University in Kentucky. Six years later in 1853, he made his way back to the Military Academy where was made superintendent and received the major rank. 

After six years of being superintendent of the Military Academy, Capers resigned and accepted the command of the Georgia Military Institute in Marietta where he became superintendent. He remained at the Military Institute up until the beginning of the Civil War. 

Capers Hall at the Citadel (named after Francis and his brother)

Capers war experience began as captain of the Kennesaw Dragoons, however, his administrative abilities and experience in drill were needed in the training of the incoming troops. With these abilities, he served at many Georgia instruction camps by teaching tactics and skills. 

In 1861, Capers was chosen as a brigadier general to command a brigade of Georgia state troops guarding the coast by Governor Brown. After about a years service as a brigadier general, Capers returned to the Georgia Military Institute as, once again, superintendent. 

From that point one, Capers continued his military service throughout the war. Capers conducted classes in artillery instruction for state army officers, guarded railroad bridges, and fought the Union continuously through Sherman's March.

Ellison Capers

Francis Capers was not the only one in his family with military achievements. Ellison Capers, Francis's brother, graduated from the South Carolina Military Academy in 1857. Just like his brother, Ellison Capers was a professor of mathematics at the Military Academy. He also served in the Civil War, however, Ellison spent most of his time here in South Carolina. He was present during the bombardment of Fort Sumter.





Once the war was over, Francis Capers returned to the College of Charleston where he remained until his retirement. During his time at the college, he taught mathematics and civil engineering and served as president of the college. General Capers died in Charleston in January of 1892.

I decided to do Francis Capers for my Old Charlestonian project for many reasons. The first being I wanted to do my project on someone who had connections to the College of Charleston. I also found his in-depth academic background very intriguing. I thought it was very interesting that Capers spent the majority of his time during the war was in Georgia and not in South Carolina.

Bethel Cemetery 

General Capers in buried in the Bethel Cemetery here in Charleson. When I first saw and took a picture of his grave during our class grave visit, I did not think much of the simplicity of the cite. Now that I have done more research on him, I feel like he deserves a greater headstone.

The Magical Magnolia Cemetery

An old oak tree in the cemetery 

The Magnolia Cemetery is a beautiful Victorian cemetery located in none other than the beautiful Charleston, South Carolina. The cemetery opened in 1850 and spans across 150 acres of land filled with old oak trees and vibrant azaleas. There are 35,000 people buried in this non-denominational cemetery.

This cemetery reminded me of the Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. The Bonaventure Cemetery was established only four years earlier than Magnolia in 1846! Both cemeteries have many striking similarities with the rows of flowers and looming oak trees.

One of my favorite parts of the cemetery was the beautiful large pond that sits in the middle of the cemetery. To me, the pond made the cemetery seem more like a park or a garden where someone can go relax and enjoy a day to themselves. I somewhat wish that there were more benches around the cemetery so I could enjoy the scenery.

Magnolia Cemetery pond

I enjoyed how the cemetery was not just straight lines of plots and gravesites. I loved the twists and turns and the uniqueness of every memorial I passed. I do not believe there was one memorial in there that was the same as another. Although the sun was setting, the cemetery seemed to be well shaded which would make these hot summer days much more bearable while enjoying a stroll through the cemetery. 

View through the oak trees

Hughes monument and plot

One of my favorite memorials was the memorial of Edward Thomas Hughes, his wife, and their daughter. Edward Hughes was born here in Charleston in 1832. His wife, Anna, was born in Charleston as well in 1834. Their first child was a daughter who was named after her mother, Anna. She was born in 1860 but died in 1862 a few months before her second birthday. 

I love this monument because it was one of the first ones I saw as soon as I entered the cemetery. It stands grandly in the middle of a family plot waiting for your attention. 

Bird monument

My second favorite memorial is the one of William and Hattie Bird. William was born in Charleston in 1837 and married Hattie who was from Connecticut. Throughout his life, he was very interested in the Charleston Museum and sold and advertised whale oil. 

I love this memorial because the women that sits atop the pedestal is a life-size statue of Hattie. I think the memorial is absolutely gorgeous. The drapery could symbolize mourning or sorrow. The drapery could symbolize his feelings of sorrow because his wife passed almost 40 years before him. 

 

Sundial in Canneau-Calder plot

My third favorite memorial is not necessarily a specific grave, however, it is something inside a family plot. The Canneau-Calder plot contains a few graves that I am assuming belong to a family, for I, unfortunately, did not take any pictures of the specific graves. I did take a picture of what was placed in the middle of the plot which was a small, yet intriguing, sundial. 

On the sundial, there was an hourglass with wings sprouted from behind it. The hourglass symbolizes the inevitable passing of time. Under the hourglass are the simple beautiful words "light follows darkness". 

The Magnolia Cemetery was a wonderful conclusion to the many cemetery adventures I have had throughout this semester. After this cemetery visit, I have a newfound admiration for these lovely Victorian cemeteries I have visited, including the Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah. I hope to one day come back to Magnolia Cemetery so I can enjoy all the beauty it has to offer again. 

My FYE class in Magnolia Cemetery 

The Curious and Compelling Coming Street Cemetery

Anita Moise Rosenberg and Randi Serrens

As an interesting way to end my April Fool's day, I traveled with my FYE class to Jewish cemetery on Coming St. There, we were led by Randi Serrens and Anita Moise Rosenberg. When we first walked into the cemetery, we stood and talked about the history of the cemetery.

Rosenberg said, "the cemetery was originally made of three cemeteries" and she held up a map of the entire cemetery. Now, the cemetery has been combined with those three sections to create the beautiful cemetery that it is today.




The cemetery was established in 1762 and is the oldest Jewish burial ground in the South. Most of the graves date back to the late 18 and early 19 centuries, however, there are a few revolutionary soldiers buried in the cemetery.


Based on looks, the Jewish cemetery looks very similar to the other cemeteries we have visited throughout this semester. The gravestones were gracefully carved and had many of the same symbols as a lot of the graves in the other cemeteries.

Pebbles placed on a headstone 

One of the more peculiar differences was the way they placed pebbles on top of the gravestones. One reason for the stones could be to keep the soul of the person buried in place. In thought, the pebbles weigh the soul down. Another reason could be because the stones are everlasting. Unlike flowers, stones never die.







An interesting story Serrens told us about was the story of the two little boys who are buried together in the cemetery. The two little boys have their own fenced-in plot and a conjoined headstone. Serrens said, "the two boys died within a few months of each other." The boys had apparently died of yellow fever.

The plot of the two little boys