National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

History  

Miss Edith DeLorme

Sumter's Home Chapter was chartered 17 April 1900 growing from the 12 charter members to  the present membership of over 130 members.  With Miss Edith DeLorme as Regent, our Chapter was one of the earliest in the state.  During the first 25 years, the Chapter met all its obligations to State and National Projects.  In May of 1939, a conservationist and Chapter Daughter, Julia Lester Dillon, planted a Memorial Acre of 1100 pines in the name of the Chapter at Water Works Park in memory of Major William Harrison Saunders, a young pilot who lost his life in training at Shaw Field.  In 1948, Chapter members petitioned the State Executive Board to preserve Fort Watson and with the help of Senator Nash, this caused Fort Watson on the Santee to be preserved and dedicated.   The Chapter requested Sumter County to form an historical commission and in March 1949, the Sumter County Historical Commission, with five members, came into being.  Sumter's Home contributed to the purchase of the Rembrandt-Peale portrait of General Thomas Sumter which hangs in the Williams Brice Museum.   In 1975, with 57 members, Sumter's Home celebrated its 75th Birthday by becoming an official Bicentennial Chapter.

From the beginning to the present, service to Tamassee DAR School has been demonstrated by gifts, thrift, bequests, honorariums, a memorial acre in the name of Kate Moses, support of the Tamassee Club, and contributions to the dining hall and Carillon.  In the year 2000, the Chapter celebrated its Centennial Year with participation in the Iris Parade, a Centennial Tea, the marking of the grave of the Organizing Regent, Edith DeLorme, a celebration in the Thomas Sumter Historical Park, and burial of a time capsule at the Sumter County Court House, to name a few of the activities.  The Chapter continues to be one of the most viable chapters in the state.  For the first time in its history, a Chapter member, Sheila Hey Davis, served  as the South Carolina State Regent (2003-2006) and is now a Vice President General.  Sumter's Home Daughters are very proud of her achievement.