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Oakland Methodist Church
 
Left/Front of the Church
 
Front of the Church
 
Right of the Church
Location:
Oakland community, Hamer, Dillon County, South Carolina
The History:
This church is very old. It was originally used as a school in the community in the 1800's or early 1900's... I'm presently unsure of which. Anywho, it was changed into a church most likely because another church in the area closed. The first grave out there is from 1935 so one would assume that it has been used as a church for at least that long and possibly longer seeing as how it has always been a small community with AT LEAST 5 cemeteries in the surrounded few miles.
This church is very near my house and I used to attend it occasionally as a child. My paternal grandmother has been a member here for quite a while and my father was 'sprinkled' here as a child and he was born in '47 so... yeah. It's old. lol.
My Thoughts/Feelings/Findings/Opinions:
I have been seeing this church at least once a day almost every day of my life. It has only been in the past few years that I've actually taken note of it, though. I mean, it has always creeped me out... even when I used to go there. But only recently have I looked at it seriously as a potentially haunted site and began actually going up there alone to get pictures and things instead of casually seeing it and going in the other direction (as we normally do because it's to the left at some crossroads and I rarely go that way as it leads to nothing but back country roads or South of the Border if you know how to get there lol.).
Way back in 2003, I was sick and out of school and I decided to go for a walk with my digital camera past the church. As I passed, it caught my eye as being particularly creepy on this day as it had been storming earlier. I felt as I was being watched so I went to the cemetery and side of the church to take a few pictures of the building.
As I'm standing there and taking pictures in the dark arch-way on the side of the building, I hear an occassional chime of something that sounded like someone just randomly pounding on an organ. Startled, I moved away and took more from a distance. Still I would hear the organ chime every 30-40 seconds. I was getting frightened and decided to run up to the side and get one good picture on the inside of the church for good measure before leaving. As I got there to snap the picture I heard a terrible boom as though lightning had struck within 100 yards of me. It hadn't but upon hearing this monster of a sound, I left right away.
I got home eager to upload and review my pictures I had just taken. They had been deleted-- my camera's memory bare.
That was just my FIRST experience with this place but it would not be the last.
Approximately a year or so later, Darrell and I went to this location late one night because he'd always thought it creepy and even more so after hearing my story. On a daily basis I had been seeing a soft glowing light in the cemetery for a few weeks and had no time to investigate. Always adventurous when together, we decided to pull around the back of the church and park downhill and facing the road, positioned between the church and the cemetery.
Right away it was obvious that it was just a cross-shaped, solar-powered light similar to the ones that light suburban walk-ways. Since most of the people buried there are my family or neighbors, I realized I'd never seen this grave before and it was clearly new. There was a picture of the deceased lady on the grave but I did not know her by her face or her name.
As I went to pick up the cross to see if it was truly solar-powered or battery powered, I placed my hand upon it and the driver's side door or Darrell's car slammed shut! -Now I want to be clear that this was something that took force. The nose of the car was downhill. Both doors were fully opened and locked outwards as it was to be a quick stop. There was zero wind. The closing door fought gravity and the mechanics of the door in order to shut. The most interesting part may be that the door that slammed shut was within 10 feet of the previously mentioned arch-way from my other experience.
We brought a supposed sensitive to the church and she was also drawn to the arch-way as an unwelcoming place.
Some of the most solid paranormal experiences of my life too place here. I believe it very likely haunted.
Directions:
Get off at the South of the Border Exit (exit 1) at the NC/SC state line and head South on US Highway 301/501 which will take you through the heart of the amazing tourist trap that is 'South of the Border'. After leaving SOB, you'll see a hotel, some lingerie shops, oriental spas, etc. After all of that crap, on the right, is State Line Road. It is beside an old abandoned Dairy Queen. Take a right onto that road and you will go over some train tracks and come to a stop sign. Hang right there and you'll have a sharp left turn just ahead. Just keep on all of the turns and things for about five minutes or so and you'll
Map:
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Copyright © 2003 - 2008 The Prynce and S.P.I.R.I.T.. All rights reserved.
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