This charming prayer garden in the Orangeburg County community of Norway once served as an ice house, according to a wall plaque that reads: “Bizzell’s Ice House, Circa 1900.” The brick garden is now protected with an iron gate and invites visitors to sit in contemplation on one of its two benches. Religious statuary adorns the sacred space.
The garden is an interesting diversion on a street where many of the buildings are now shuttered. To the left of the former ice house is the old Daniel’s Pharmacy Building. In December of 2015 the vacant pharmacy became Cupp’s Corner General Store; sadly, the store’s proprietor, Ralph “Ben” Cupp, died in June of 2016. Subsequently, the short-lived store also closed.
Today the prayer garden sits tucked away amid empty buildings in a shadow of a downtown. Yet those strolling the area might take notice of this small brick chamber, peer inside, and see a sign of hope.
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