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Govan

SC PICTURE PROJECT 7 Comments

SC Picture Project / Bamberg County / Govan

The hamlet of Govan, located in Bamberg County, was once home to a thriving agricultural community. The town, with a population of just 65 during the 2010 census, is named in honor of Govan Kennedy, the youngest son of one of Govan’s founding families.

Govan

Ann Helms of Spartanburg, 2009 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Private H. Govan Kennedy died in the Civil War at the Battle of Second Manassas (Bull Run). He was 17 years old. His body is buried in a Confederate mass grave in Warrenton, Virginia. The community of Govan was originally called Verden, but when railroad officials decided to change the name of the local station, Kennedy’s brother, Lawton, suggested Govan in his brother’s honor.

Agricultural Building, Govan

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Govan was incorporated on December 23, 1885. Other founding family names include Browning, Cook, Gunnells, Hartzog, Hay, Hutto, Lancaster, Odom, and Ray.

Agricultural Building, Govan

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Reminders of the town’s past are evident in the scattering of seemingly abandoned barns, sheds, homes, and stores such as Lancaster’s Store (shown below) along Carolina Highway.

Lancaster's Store - Govan

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Mountain Home Plantation, shown below, is located along Georges Creek Road and gets its name from the surrounding hilly terrain. The home was built in 1859 for owner Samuel J. Hartzog. Enslaved people harvested cotton here, which was the primary crop.

Mountain Home Plantation

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Frank Pickens Williams, Sr., grandson of Samuel Shannon Williams, a previous owner of Mountain Home, shares the following:

There is an inscription written in pencil on the side of a mantel in an upstairs bedroom that states, “This house was moved into on May 14, 1859, total cost of this house was $2,993.08.” This inscription has never been painted over and is very legible.

Cow on Farm, Govan

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Updated Pictures of Govan


The following images were submitted to us by Sandy Laney, she shared: “Sadly the three old buildings are no more. Discovered that the building depicted in the third photo has been knocked down and will likely be cleared from the land just as the others have been. I was fortunate to have photographed it a mere three weeks ago.”

Govan Farm Building

Sandy Laney of Irmo, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Govan Farm Building, Side View

Sandy Laney of Irmo, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Govan Farm Building, Torn Down

Sandy Laney of Irmo, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Govan Farm Building, Torn Down

Sandy Laney of Irmo, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip: Govan

Where is Govan located?
Address: Carolina Highway, Govan, SC 29843
GPS Coordinates: 33.222847,-81.175042
What else should I see?
Lancaster's Store 0.1 mile
Olar 4.7 miles
Salem Methodist Church 5.2 miles
Hilda 8.7 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Barns & Farms
  • See other South Carolina Bygone Landmarks
    Govan Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cecelia Govan says

      May 26, 2021 at 10:00 PM

      I must be a relative of someone there. I am a Govan; my father was born in South Carolina in 34/36. His name was William and he had two brothers, my uncles “Junie” and Robert, and a sister, Cecilia. Can anyone help me find my history?

      Reply
    2. Rosalyn Owens Finnegan says

      April 21, 2021 at 4:47 PM

      Memories of Mr. John Frank’s store are sweet. Cookies from the big glass jar placed in a little brown paper bag. I grew up down the road a bit on the Little Salkehatchie. Later my parents, Lowell and Dorothy (Zorn) Owens, lived in Govan. Daddy was the mayor for around 25 years and started Govan’s first volunteer fire dept. The town pump house was on his property and the tiny pump house served as the town’s voting place. Country living and sweet memories. Rosalyn Owens Finnegan

      Reply
    3. Sarah Deloach says

      December 2, 2020 at 2:32 PM

      That’s so said that such a beautiful place was knocked down.

      Reply
    4. Jewel Lee Tant Dorney says

      June 30, 2020 at 4:41 PM

      I am curious if any of Jim Harrison’s rural drawings depict buildings from Govan. SC?

      Reply
    5. Sandy Laney says

      June 1, 2019 at 6:18 PM

      Sadly the three old buildings are no more. Discovered that the building depicted in the third photo has been knocked down and will likely be cleared from the land just as the others have been. I was fortunate to have photographed it a mere three weeks ago.

      Reply
      • SC Picture Project says

        June 1, 2019 at 10:35 PM

        Oh no! Thank you so much for updating us, we hate to hear they are no longer standing.

        Reply
    6. Glenn Lancaster says

      January 17, 2019 at 8:05 PM

      I appreciate the history of Govan, South Carolina. I grew up in the town of Govan, South Carolina. Thank for the history of the
      Community, I often wondered how Govan got its name. Glenn Lancaster

      Reply

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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