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The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

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Barnwell Police Station

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SC Picture Project / Barnwell County / Barnwell Police Station

This building’s cheery charm belies a bellicose past. Now located in downtown Barnwell, the octagonal structure originally served as a guard house for a nearby prisoner of war camp. The prisoners were German soldiers captured during World War II. The guardhouse was constructed in 1944 by Charles Cheek, who was assisted by the prisoners themselves.

Barnwell Old Police Guard House
Melissa Roberts of Barnwell, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Following the war, the camp was torn down. The guard house was moved to the town circle – the center of Barnwell – and used as a police station. According to the plaque on the building, South Carolina legislators Edgar Brown and Soloman Blatt regularly engaged in spirited debates here. Both of these men now have state government buildings in Columbia named after them.

Barnwell Police Station

Bill Segars of Hartsville, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Today the former police station belongs to the Barnwell County Museum. Twenty-one German prisoner camps were established in South Carolina during World War II. A chimney from a former German POW camp in Charleston is still in tact, though the property owner is searching for a new home for the artifact.

Police Station Plaque

Bill Segars of Hartsville, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Barnwell Guardhouse

Charles Payne of Rock Hill, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

In 2015 the Barnwell County Museum began a fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $5,000 to restore the former guard house. The above photo was taken in July of 2016.

Plan Your Trip: Barnwell Police Station

Where is Barnwell Police Station located?
Address: Burr Street, Barnwell, SC 29812
GPS Coordinates: 33.243306,-81.364523
What else should I see?
Barnwell City Hall 0.1 mile
Barnwell Sundial 0.1 mile
Barnwell County Courthouse 0.1 mile
Barnwell Confederate Memorial 0.1 mile
Show me more like this!
  • Barnwell Historic Sites
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    Barnwell Police Station Map

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    Related posts:

    Barnwell SC Confederate MonumentBarnwell Confederate Memorial Banksia Hall in Barnwell, SCBanksia Hall Ryan HouseRyan House Christie House in Barnwell, SCChristie House Barnwell Fire LookoutBarnwell Fire Lookout

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