The Story Behind This Seemingly Normal Place In South Carolina Will Give You Nightmares

Edgefield, South Carolina is a town known by many as the Home of Ten Governors. It was also the birth and death place of Senator Strom Thurmond, the only member of the U.S. Senate to turn 100 while still in office. When it comes to notoriety, this small town of roughly 4,800 people in Edgefield County, South Carolina has much to be proud of.

But did you know there's a dark history surrounding the site of the town square? It can be likened to that opening scene in Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" where Quasimodo's poor mother died on the steps at the entrance to Notre Dame. More on that after some background...

Edgefield's original town square is the focal point in this charming town. It includes a large granite obelisk dedicated to Confederate soldiers.

The charming southern town is also a fun place with a sense of humor. All around town you'll find several turkey statues - because Edgefield is home to the National Wild Turkey Federation headquarters. Also in the town square there's a state of former Senator Strom Thurmond.

But did you know that Edgefield's beautiful town square was the site of a horrific murder in the early 19th century?It all centered around a local plantation owner's wife who was charged with murdering her husband. But that's not the gruesome crime that took place in the middle of town.

She had apparently grown so tired of his rants, that she snuck up behind him and killed him with an ax in their home.

She then enlisted her brother to help dispose of the body. At one point it was at the bottom of Slade Lake in Edgefield.

The law wasn't far behind her and put her on trial for the murder. But because she was so innocently beautiful, they let her go.As time went on, her brother became more and more enraged that she didn't own up to the murder.

Until finally one day in 1807 when she was sitting on the steps of the Edgefield courthouse, he rode up on his horse, hopped off, grabbed a big rock and bludgeoned her to death right there on the steps of the courthouse.

According to records, in 1807 the courthouse was located in the center of the present town square.

Did you know about this haunting and gruesome crime that took place in Edgefield in 1807? Will you ever look at the center square in town without thinking about the shocking crime that happened in broad daylight on this spot?

Want more shocking South Carolina history? This Lake In South Carolina Has A Dark And Evil History That Will Never Be Forgotten.