The Property - Mather Memorial Site
The Property
Boylan-Haven-Mather Academy NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The BHMA Memorial Site, located on .2-acre of the original land facing Campbell Street, features a reproduction of the semi-circular sign above the pillars that once led to the school building. A walkway leads to informational display boards in a shaded park-like setting with shrubbery and benches that encircle several of the large trees. The then-owner of part of the former Mather property gave permission for the site to be established.
Summer 2016 UPDATE -- A developer began building affordable apartments on part of the former BHMA property, and pledged to preserve the Memorial Site in a "pocket park like setting" on the property. See details in box at right.
The initiative is part of an effort by the Kershaw County Clean Community Commission's (KCCCC) "Historic Campbell Street Project" to restore and beautify from Meeting Street to DeKalb Street --- a segment where a pre-Revolutionary War fortification once stood, and many African-American professional, civic and business leaders later lived.
The memorial is one of three focal points highlighted on the street. The other two sites are Cedars Cemetery (an African American cemetery in the block next to the former Mather property) and Beth El, a Jewish cemetery (located near Meeting Street).
A local businessman, Clifton W. Anderson, KCCCC chairman, was instrumental in securing the site permission. He presented the street's project plan to the Kershaw County Council.
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The site will be shifted to make room for a road to apartments under construction.