Buck's Ghosts and Hauntings: Still On the Job

For a number of years I had the opportunity to volunteer at Ninety Six National Historic Site in South Carolina. While there I was a Living History Interpreter and also coordinated many of the living history events at the site.

I also had a few interesting experiences at the park along with many staff members, volunteers, and visitors.

Ninety Six received its unusual name in the 18th Century when it began as a trading post at the confluence of the Charleston Road and the Cherokee Path. It was the last outpost before the Indian territories and was located about 96 miles from the Cherokee town of Keowee in what is now Greenville County, SC.

Robert Goudey opened his trading post in the early 1700's supplying necessities to settlers and trading with the Cherokee. By the French and Indian War a small village had sprung up and during the conflict, known locally as "The Cherokee War" the settlement was twice attacked. Goudey fortified his post during this time making the first "Fort Ninety Six". This served as a base of operations for British and Colonial attacks against the Cherokee during the war.

By the time of the American Revolution Ninety Six had become a very prosperous town. In the years just before the war, beginning in 1772, the town boasted one of the first sitting courts. Judges would ride out from Charleston on a "circuit" and hear cases. Interestingly, this system is still employed for superior courts in South Carolina and county courts are staffed by "Circuit Judges" who travel within a set geographic area to hear cases. The town was also the site of the first brick jail in the "back country" which was a formidable three story structure.

At the outbreak of the Revolution Ninety Six was a center for Loyalist and Rebel activity. Early on, Loyalists who had been caught up in the "Powder Plot" were brought to trial in the town and several were hanged. Among those tried was one of my ancestors, although he escaped the hangman's noose.

One of the earliest battles of the Revolution was fought at the fortified town in 1775 and the grave of the first southern casualty is on park property near the site of the fortified barns and outbuildings.

By the time the focus of the war moved south in 1779, Ninety Six had become a Loyalist stronghold. The town was further fortified and a large star shaped redoubt or earthen fort was constructed to protect the town and the Charleston Road. The British sent troops into the area under the command of Lt. Col. Kruger to hold the town. In June of 1781, General Natanael Greene and his mixed corps of militia and Continentals laid siege to the fort and town. This marked the longest siege of the American Revolution. Although the British prevailed when word reached Greene that reinforcements were approaching, the British and Loyalists burned the town and abandoned it, returning to the safety of Charleston.

After the Revolution another town sprang up just a few hundred yards from the old one. This town was known as Cambridge and even had a small college. Unfortunately, an epidemic wiped out most of the townspeople in the early 19th century and Cambridge was also abandoned.

It would not be until the Civil War that Ninety Six would again rebuild. This time the town was located near new train tracks about a mile from the original settlement. This is the town of Ninety Six today while the original town and the "Star Fort" are part of a National Historic Site.

The history of this small patch of land - less than one mile square certainly lends itself to ghosts. The park is littered with graves and stories of suffering and trouble. With a court sitting in the town there were numerous hangings and other punishments meted out in a time when capital punishment and corporal punishment were the preferred methods of correction.

But, is Ninety Six haunted? Certainly, there are plenty of stories to suggest it is. Many visitors to the park report unusual occurrences. Some report feeling like they are being watched from the hill above the creek and old trading post site. A few have reported actually seeing someone dressed as a Native American through the trees. This might be explained by living history events, although none were going on when the reports were made.

Other people have noted the laughter of children near the town site when no children were on the property. A few, claiming psychic abilities have reported seeing a woman and child in the area.

The park has a cabin that dates form the mid-1700's on the site and this is the focus of many of the living history events. Many living history interpreters have stayed in the structure in the past and have reported unusual sounds, knocking and even footsteps.

However, the most active area of the site seems to be newest - the Visitor Center. Most of my personal experiences have taken place in this structure.

The Visitor Center houses a small gift shop, an office, a small museum, and an auditorium where lectures and orientation films are presented. The park rangers and volunteers often report unusual events in this area.

One of the most common has been the sound of whistling which seems to come from thin air about 6 feet off the ground. Often while sitting at the desk volunteers and rangers will hear someone whistle a short somewhat tuneless melody. I've actually experienced it a few times and on at least one occassion run outside to be sure no one was walking near the building. No one was present.

Another frequent event in the visitor center is the sound of the back door closing loudly. This happens even though this door is locked form the inside and when no one else is in the building and exiting. When checked the door is found to be securely shut and locked.

Undoubtedly, whatever entity is present enjoys watching the orientation film. Often the VCR has turned on by itself and begun playing the film. Sometimes when no visitors are present the VCR will be heard to click and upon checking the VCR tape will have been ejected, although it had, at that time, no timer and had already been rewound.

Without doubt, one of the oddest encounters in the Visitor Center happened when I was manning the desk during a meeting of the Park Administration and representatives from NPS and the Department of the Interior. The meeting was to discuss the fate of the cabin on the property. The cabin is not original to the site and was moved there in the mid-1970's when it was rescued from destruction. The DOI and NPS people were of the opinion that the cabin should be removed since it was not original and because of the cost of upkeep.

I had no idea what the discussion was about, just that it was an important meeting. While they were meeting in the auditorium I was startled when an entire row of books fell from the shelf in the gift shop. I walked over and looked at the shelf to see if it was loose but it was securely fastened to the wall. I picked up the books and replaced them.

Just as I returned to my seat I glanced over and saw the books fly from the shelf again. This time they landed in the center of the room some 6 feet or so from the actual shelf. It was almost like someone took their arm and shoved all the books off and as far as they could!

Needless to say, I was a little startled but knowing the odd happenings I simply raised my voice a little and called out, "That's enough, Bob. I'm not picking them up again." After that they stayed put.

You may wonder why I addressed the entity as "Bob". Many people speculate that the ghost in the Visitor Center may be the first superintendent of the site whose first name was Bob. He was extraordinarily dedicated to Ninety Six NHS and worked tirelessly to take the park from a tiny and insignificant site to a showcase for interpretive events and programs. Unfortunately, Bob passed away before he saw the full fruits of his labor and had the chance to retire and pass along the legacy to someone else.

Ninety Six, remains for me, a very special place. Perhaps, Bob, and the other ghosts simply don't want to leave such a beautiful, historic and quiet oasis.

Photo Notes:

Photo 1: A skeleton unearthed during an archeology dig at Ninety Six NHS. It is thought to be James Birmingham, the first casualty in the south of the American Revolution.

Photo 2: Living History Interpreters at an event. Actually, the folks in the background are my military unit, His Majesty's 33rd Regiment of Foot, Light Infantry Company.

Photo 3: That's me in my civilian duds at a special event honoring the new Superintendent for Ninety Six NHS and Cowpens National Battlefield.