Fort Motte — Fort Motte, South Carolina
SC Picture Project | Calhoun County | Fort Motte
This farm land is mostly what is left of Fort Motte in Calhoun County. Now extinct, the town is part of present-day St. Matthews. There are a few abandoned buildings along the railroad tracks, including the former jail.
The abandoned post office below once made up the heart of the town. The origins of Fort Motte go back to a military outpost during the Revolutionary War. A skirmish known as the Battle of Fort Motte took place near this forgotten community, lending the town its name.
A village was established here in the mid eighteenth century, and the town was officially incorporated in 1875. Fort Motte continued to thrive into the twentieth century. However, the arrival of the interstate replaced the town’s railroads, leading to the ultimate demise of Fort Motte. Little remains of the former town, but remnants of Fort Motte’s days as a thriving village can be seen in its vacant buildings.
Fort Motte Info
Address: Town Square Street, St. Matthews, SC 29135
GPS Coordinates: 33.739255,-80.691713
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7 Comments about Fort Motte
February 24th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
I as born in Fort Motte in 1949, still have family there.
September 5th, 2018 at 10:39 am
My great-great grandfather once had a tavern there.
June 24th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
I am a Christie. My Great-Grandfather was Joseph Christie. I don't believe there are any Christies left in Fort Motte, but I would love to make connections to see our old family home and meet people who may have knon my family, although we have been gone a long time. My great-Aunt, Myrtle Christie Caliman Moore, I believe, was the last born there. We brought her to visit about a year before she died. She also collected Julia Peterkin books.
June 13th, 2015 at 8:29 am
Check out the 2015 The Fort Motte Community Festival Reunion
March 17th, 2015 at 6:16 pm
My mother was born in Fort Motte. Her father worked for Southern Railway at the depot there.
January 11th, 2015 at 2:09 am
I was raised a few miles out of the town of Fort Motte but spent a lot of time there. My best friends mother was Post Mistress there. The town still had one general store as well as the Post Office at that time ( In the early 50s) Sorry that these little towns have to fade away to nothing. Lots of memories there.
June 6th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
The Ft. Motte Post Office was once located in a portion of this brick building.