Kiosk Unveiling in Cross Hill to Honor the Legend of Liberty Springs
March 26, 2025
The Laurens County 250 Committee, in partnership with the Cross Hill Town Council, will host a special unveiling ceremony on Saturday, March 29 at 1:00 p.m. at Cross Hill City Hall to reveal a new informational kiosk celebrating the town’s rich Revolutionary War-era history and the enduring Legend of Liberty Springs.
The unveiling is part of Laurens County’s ongoing efforts to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The new kiosk pays tribute to Cross Hill’s place in this important chapter of history, focusing on a remarkable story of peace amid war.
The Legend of Liberty Springs
Set at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the Legend of Liberty Springs recalls a rare and poignant moment of unity in South Carolina’s Backcountry. During this period, Laurens County was part of the Ninety Six District, a region torn apart by civil war as neighbors chose opposing sides—Patriots and Loyalists—creating deep and deadly divisions.
In November 1775, both sides were on the march toward the First Siege of Ninety Six when a powerful adversary struck both armies: smallpox. At a time when disease claimed more lives than battle, the opposing forces found themselves united by desperation and need. The infected soldiers, both Patriot and Loyalist, sought out the healing waters of a spring located on the grounds of what is now Liberty Springs Presbyterian Church.
Despite their differences and the growing conflict, a temporary truce was reached. The men agreed to lay down their arms to access the spring’s waters and tend to the sick. The peace was short-lived, as the war would rage on for another eight years, but the story of Liberty Springs endures as a symbol of compassion and shared humanity even in times of strife.
The kiosk will serve as a permanent reminder of this extraordinary moment in Laurens County’s Revolutionary War history—an instance when the bonds of community briefly overpowered the divisions of war.
The public is invited to attend the unveiling and learn more about Cross Hill’s unique heritage and the inspiring legacy of Liberty Springs.
