Little River in Horry County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Rev. George Whitefield
Photographed By Dave W, May 30, 2023
1. Rev. George Whitefield Marker, Side One
On Jan. 1, 1740 George Whitefield (1714-1770), Anglican evangelist, stopped at a tavern nearby on his way to Savannah. Whitefield, the most famous revivalist of the Great Awakening in colonial America, wrote in his diary that since it was New Year’s Day and the crowd at the tavern was “dancing country dances,” he believed they “wished I had not come to be their guest.”
Whitefield, who believed dancing was a sin, tried to convince a woman dancing a jig “how well-pleased the devil was with every step she took.” Although she kept dancing and the fiddler kept fiddling, they soon stopped and allowed Whitefield to preach and baptize a child. Once he retired for the night, however, the New Year’s spirit prevailed, and the music and dancing resumed.
Erected 2009 by Horry County Historic Preservation Commission. (Marker Number 26-2.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Churches & Religion • Entertainment • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is January 1, 1740.
Location. 33° 52.62′ N, 78° 36.786′ W. Marker is in Little River, South Carolina, in Horry County. Marker is on U.S. 17 east of Mineola Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Rebecca Randall Bryan (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Boundary House (approx. 1½ miles away); South Carolina / North Carolina (approx. 1.7 miles away in North Carolina); First Post Road (approx. 1.8 miles away in North Carolina); a different marker also named Boundary House (approx. 2½ miles away in North Carolina); Fort Randall (approx. 3.3 miles away); Sonny’s Pavilion (approx. 3.8 miles away); Chestnut Consolidated School (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Little River.
Photographed By Dave W, May 30, 2023
2. Rev. George Whitefield Marker, Side Two
Photographed By Dave W, May 30, 2023
3. Rev. George Whitefield Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 139 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 31, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. 3. submitted on June 4, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
