Episode Description

As Lake Murray filled, entire communities vanished beneath the rising waters—homes, churches, and hundreds of graves now rest below the surface. In this episode, archivist and storyteller Lolita Rowe explores the remnants of those submerged memories. Featuring reflections from J.R. Fennell of the Lexington County Museum, along with archival voices from Ralph and Herman Wessinger, this story highlights the deep roots, loss, and remembrance preserved beneath the waters of Lake Murray.

Featured Voices

• J.R. Fennell, Lexington County Museum
• Ralph and Herman Wessinger – Interview on the Lake (May 18, 1979), Lexington County Museum

Credits

Created, produced, and hosted by Lolita Rowe

Original music by Sister Sai

Archival audio courtesy of the Lexington County Museum

Special thanks to J.R. Fennell and the Lexington County Museum.

Website maintained by Tiffany Messer Bass.

Special Thanks to my Mom, Brenda Rowe. Thanks for listening to all my iterations of this and my many podcast scripts.

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Website: Made in Carolina Podcast

Sound Credits

• Old Piano – Somber Chords.wav by DeVern — CC 0
• marching_snare_with_reverb.wav by waldschrat1510 — CC 0
• B-25s Taking Off by Fight2FlyPhoto — CC BY 3.0
• Gentle Waves – Sand Point Beach At Sunrise 6-20-24 by Ambient-X — CC BY 4.0
• Cello created by Lolita Rowe in GarageBand.
• Music by Sister Sai

Resources & Further Reading

• Cemeteries Beneath Lake Murray Holding Lexington History Honored on Land with Memorials – Catharine Barone, Lexington Chronicle, July 29, 2025

• History of Lake Murray
• Remembering the Columbia Army Air Base – Margaret D., Richland Library Blog, November 9, 2022

• Southern Museum of Flight