Emmala Reed Miller Chapter Trip to Historic Abbeville, SC

Emmala Reed Miller No. 2694 and Belton UDC Chapters visited historic Abbeville, SC. We made our way around Abbeville and visited Secession Hill, the Livery Stables, Trinity Episcopal Church and Cemetery, Abbeville Opera House, Abbeville Confederate Monument, and Burt-Stark Mansion One of South Carolina’s earliest organized mass meeting for secession was held on November 22, 1860. Abbeville is knowns as “The birthplace of the Confederacy," as the meeting on Secession Hill ultimately led to its formation.

Trinity Episcopal Church is an example of Gothic Revival architecture in South Carolina that remains as originally constructed and contains handmade interior woodwork. The organ, made by John Baker of Charleston, was installed soon after the church was built in 1860 and is one of two such known organs in South Carolina. A magnificent stained glass altar window from England ran the Union blockades in the 1860s and was then carted to the upcountry. 

 Abbeville Livery Stable is located on Trinity Street in historic downtown Abbeville. The original Livery Stable was built in the 1840’s and was used to board horses until 1872, when it was destroyed by a devastating fire but was rebuilt in the late 1870’s. 

  Abbeville Confederate Monument was erected in 1906 by Daughters of the Confederacy of Abbeville County. The monument was damaged in 1991 by fire, but was replaced in 1996.

The Burt-Stark Mansion, also known as Armistead Burt House, was the site of the last Council of War of cabinet members of the Confederate government. On May 2, 1865, Jefferson Davis, hoping to continue the struggle, met unanimous opposition, and realized the Confederate independence cause was lost.

While we were at The Burt-Stark Mansion, Emmala Reed Miller UDC Chapter bestowed the Robert E. Lee Award to Mrs. Janice Waters. She has unselfishly given of her time, talent and finances from the beginning days of the Lee Reed Miller Chapter, Children of the Confederacy. Mrs. Waters has given service to the CofC “above and beyond the required duties of membership, office, or advisorship.” We thank her for all of her love an effort given.