Organizations hope to erect marker for historic Mulberry Chapel Methodist Church

The Cherokee County African-American Heritage Committee and the Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society Inc. are continuing to identify historically significant sites in Cherokee County. The two organizations recently placed a historic marker on South Granard Street honoring the Granard Graded and High School and its students.

The committee and CHAPS are now focusing on erecting a historic marker for Mulberry Chapel Methodist Church, the first African-American church in Cherokee County. The church, built circa 1880-1890, served the Whig Hill, Asbury and Thicketty communities which are now in Cherokee County.

Jack Littlejohn donated the land for the church and cemetery. Much history surrounds this little chapel in the woods. The one-room school, which was nearby, has been destroyed. Carl Littlejohn and others founded the Littlejohn family reunion at this site in 1953 and celebrated the family's history there for years. Some restoration needs to be done on the church and in the cemetery.

"We hope the community will come together and make financial donations to cover the restoration expenses," a spokesman for the heritage committee said. Donations are tax deductible and may be mailed to Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society, P.O. Box 8113, Gaffney, S.C. 29340; designate funds to the Mulberry Chapel Restoration Project.

The African-American Heritage Committee hopes to dedicate the marker and celebrate the Littlejohn reunion on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, on the grounds of the church. Anyone who would like to help in any way is asked to contact Larry Littlejohn at The Gaffney Ledger, 864-489- 1131, or CHAPS at 864-489-3988.