Horry County Patriot Tree Dedication is held

The Horry County Archives Center at Coastal Carolina University was involved in hosting the first dedication for the Horry County Patriot Tree Project on Feb. 28 at Upper Mill Plantation in Bucksville.

The Horry County Patriot Tree Project pairs live oak trees with soldiers from Horry County who served during the Civil War. Each of the trees will have a QR code marker which will direct smart phone users to a website listing the soldier’s name, birth date, birth place, death date, burial place and other available details of the soldier’s service.

Co-hosting the dedication were the Horry County Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation, the Camellia Garden Club of Conway and the Horry County Historical Society.

Twelve live oak trees were paired with Civil War veterans of Horry County, including Capt. Henry L. Buck, who was the owner of Upper Mill Plantation during the war. Also recognized was Henry McCall, an African American who accompanied the soldiers from Horry County to the War and surrendered with the troops at Appomattox.

Ben Burroughs is director of the Horry County Archives Center in Kimbel Library.