Charleston reader Kristina Wheeler sends along the Mystery Photo above to tantalize other readers. Clue: There might be an object in the photo that suggests where this is. Send your guesses to editor@charlestoncurrents.com — and make sure to include the town you live in for identification purposes.
Last week’s mystery may by contributing photographer Michael Kaynard have looked like a recent photo, a chapel of ease on St. Helena’s Island in Beaufort County, but it was another similar abandoned structure called Pon Pon Chapel of Ease in Colleton County near Jacksonboro. On the National Register of Historic Places, Pon Pon was established in 1725, one of two chapels in what was then called St. Bartholomew’s Parish. It was along a busy stagecoach route between Savannah and Charleston. A brick chapel built in 1754 burned in 1801 and was rebuilt about 20 years later. But that was ruined in 1832. According to this history site, “the chapel’s historical significance is due in part to Rev. John Wesley preaching two sermons here on April 24, 1737 and for its burial ground that contains the remains of Congressmen Aedanus Burke and O’Brien Smith, in addition to numerous local leaders.”
Hats off to readers who correctly identified Pon Pon: Susan Highfield of James Island; Kristina Wheeler of West Ashley; Marnie Huger of Richmond, Va.; and Chris Brooks of Mount Pleasant.
Now if you can just tell us how the chapel got its name!
- If you have a picture with which you’d like to stump our readers, send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
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