Inscription
(Front) Mather Academy was founded in 1887 by the New England Southern Conference of the Women's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Church. It succeeded a freedmen's school opened during Reconstruction by Sarah Babcock, who returned to Massachusetts, married Rev. James Mather, and became the corresponding secretary of the Southern Conference when it organized in 1883.
The Methodists opened a "Model Home and Industrial School" on this site in 1887. (Reverse) Mather Academy educated girls, and later boys, in grades 1-11 until grade 12 was added in 1928. The Southern Assn. of Secondary Schools and Colleges gave it an "A" rating in 1937. A new main building, library, chapel, dormitories, and gym were all built between 1900 and 1964.
In 1959 Mather merged with the Boylan-Haven School of Jacksonville, Fla., to become Boylan-Haven-Mather Academy. It closed here in 1983; the last building was demolished in 1995. Erected by the Boylan-Haven-Mather Academy National Alumni Association, 2000
Location
Sources
More markers in Kershaw
Battle of Camden/British Troops Engaged – American Troops Engaged
BATTLE OF CAMDEN (Front) Near here on August 16, 1780, an American army under General Gates was defeated by British forces commanded by...
Battle of Hobkirk Hill
Camden, SC
Battle of Hobkirk Hill in the Revolutionary War took place on this ridge April 25, 1781.
General Greene’s Headquarters
Camden, SC
150 yards to the east is where Gen. Nathanael Greene had the headquarters of the American Army during the Battle of Hobkirk Hill April...
Camden
Camden, SC
This area, first held by Wateree and Catawba Indians, was laid out as Fredericksburg Township in 1733.
Gaol
Camden, SC
On this corner stood the gaol, built in 1771 and burned in 1812.
