By VICKI BROWN
Most everyone loves a good ghost story, and it seems that Colleton County has more than its share of scary lore.
One of the best stories involves the Legare family’s crypt located at the Edisto Presbyterian Church cemetery.
According to the legend, in the 1800s, Julia Legare, daughter of a wealthy planter, became ill with diphtheria. She eventually died, and being that it was summer time and decomposition had already begun, her family quickly buried her in the family crypt, then closed the heavy door to the mausoleum.
The Civil War began several years later, and Julia’s brother, John Beaujot Legare, went to fight for the Confederacy. Unfortunately, Legare was killed in the Battle of Second Manassas, so his body was returned to Edisto for burial in the family crypt.
But upon opening the crypt door, mourners found Julia’s bones out of her coffin and scattered near the doorway. Scratch marks were also apparent on the back of the door. It was surmised that Julia had not died, but had been in a coma and had awakened to find herself in the crypt. Sadly, she had tried to escape from the crypt but was unable to open the heavy door.
Horrified, John’s mourners reburied Julia’s bones and placed John inside the mausoleum as well, next to his sister. The door was shut once again.
One day, a visitor to the crypt found the door opened, so the Legare family was notified. They shut it again, and this time, tightly secured the door. But soon after, the door was found opened again. No matter what was used to seal the door, it would always be found opened. Finally, the door was discovered missing its hinges and laying on the ground nearby.
The Legare family gave up trying to seal the door and reburied Julia and John in the floor of the crypt. The door was never replaced.
Some people tell the tale of the ghost of a young girl whose cries can be heard late at night as she begs to be let out of the tomb. Others say it is just the wind whistling through the open door of the crypt.
The Jacksonboro Light is scary, and just down Parker’s Ferry Road. The road is dark and frightening but the story is worse. Here’s the story of the Jacksonboro Light.
Many years ago, a local preacher’s daughter went missing at night along Parkers Ferry Road. Her father searched for her using a lantern for light. Legend has it that he was struck by a car and killed. Others believe he was hit by a train. But local residents say that to this day, the ghostly preacher can be seen wandering along the spooky road with his lantern looking for his daughter. Locals say that if you park on Parker’s Ferry Road and flash your headlights five times, you will hear the sound of a train and see the preacher’s lantern in the darkness.
Cottageville community cemetery is said to be one of the most haunted places in the state. The cemetery was built on donated land, and in the 1880s, bodies that had formerly been buried on private farms and lands were moved to the new cemetery. Other people were buried there as time went by.
The oldest tombstone that was moved to the cemetery belongs to infant Daisy Eleanor Ackerman. She was butted to death by a goat. According to legend, anyone who drives around the cemetery three times, then parks in the middle and flashes car lights three times, will awaken the dead and witness ghosts crawling from their burial sites and wandering around the cemetery.
Now, you may believe these tales, and you may not. But…perhaps you need to find out for yourself.
