Fred deaton Photography



Cleveland School monument to fire victims
Charlotte Thompson Community
Camden, South Carolina
September, 2006
This is a mass burial site in the cemetery of Beaulah Methodist just outside of Camden, South Carolina. On May 17, 1923 there was a graduation play at the Cleveland School which was located outside of Camden. At approximately 9 pm an oil lamp fell and the the flames spread quickly. There were somewhere around 300 people in attendance that night, but 77 were killed in the fire. 10 victims were identified and buried by their families, but 67 were not identifiable and they were buried in this mass grave behind Beaulah Methodist church. Also buried here are my stepfather and little brother, Donnie, who died shortly after birth.