Conway is believed to be the first black person in Camden to buy his own freedom.

AABC House Moving LLC, was preparing the 200-year-old home Feb. 19 for the estimated two-block, 10- to 15-minute trip from the corner of Mill and York to the corner of Broad and York streets. AABC's Billy Ward and Haney Hancock met with Camden Police Chief Joseph M. Floyd, CPD Capt. D.A. Trapp and CPD Lt. Mike Stone to discuss plans to shut down York Street around 1 p.m. Saturday and divert traffic. Also on hand were Pastor Brian Weinecke of Bethel Worship Center, where Ward is a member, and Bishop Joseph Miller of Life in the Word Outreach Ministry.

Until last October, Life in the Word owned the house.

"The church was founded in 1987 and we acquired the house in 1998, initially as a multipurpose (facility)," said Miller. "For the last couple of years, we've used as emergency housing for some of our members."

Miller said the church did not realize the home's historical significance at the time but is glad it will be used to further an understanding of African-American history in Camden.

"It's an inspiration to the city and the county," Miller said.

The city of Camden bought the home in October, using part of a $100,000 state grant to purchase it from Miller and the church. The grant was obtained by the Friends of the Price House, of which State Rep. Laurie Slade Funderburk is a member. Ward said he read about the grant, the purchase and the city's desire to move the building to the Price House grounds in order to begin converting it to public use.

"I contacted Rep. Funderburk and told her I'd be interested in moving it -- and then I realized February was Black History Month," said Ward.

He said Weinecke moved from Tennessee about a year ago and had expressed his feeling that the black and white communities in Camden were too separated.

"He said he wanted to bring people together and I told him I thought this might be a good idea. It just mushroomed from there," Ward said.

Ward said he met with the city about the project. When asked him how much it would cost, he said nothing.

"Haney and I decided to donate the move to help the city and because the house is so historical," said Ward.

Weinecke said celebration began at noon Saturday -- one hour before the move -- at Bethel Worship at the corner of Fair and York streets.

"We (had) four choirs: Abundant Life Prayer, Praise & Worship Center; Lakeshore Drive Church of God; and, of course, Life in the Word and Bethel," said Weinecke. "We just (opened) the doors to our facility. I had driven by the house for a year and never knew the historical significance."

Following the mass choir program, the choirs and those in attendance walked from Bethel Worship to the house at the corner of Mill and York streets. From there, participants followed the home as it was moved to a lot owned by the city adjacent to the Price House. There, the public was invited into the Price House to view this year's Black History Month exhibit, which included posters made by middle- and high-school students based on this year's theme: "From Slavery to Freedom." The exhibit also included items provided by the Camden Archives and Museum and Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site.

Price House Commission Chair Polly Lampshire said the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce, which used to be housed in the Price House, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the house leaves its old home.

"Most everything (went) on before the house is moved." said Lampshire.

Margaret Lloyd who, along with her husband, Richard, once owned the Price House, and Elsie Goins of the Kershaw County Historical Society were on hand as well.

Miller said that, at one point, the Camden Historic Landmarks Commission had looked at the home as Life in the Word thought about renovating it. But that was before the grant came through for the city to buy it and move it to the Price House. Still, he was grateful for the help in determining the historical significance and what could and couldn't have been done.

"We believe the part of the house that includes the front porch is the original structure; we think the rest of the house, to the right, was added around 1906," said Miller.

The house was already off its foundation around lunch time Feb. 19, said Ward.

"There are already four steel cross beams underneath it. We need get two more under it this afternoon and then we take it up higher for the main runners," said Ward. "Then, we'll be able to jack the whole thing up and roll the wheels under it."

Each jack, he said, is able to raise 25,000 pounds. The house was left that way until Saturday.

"We wanted to do it this way so we wouldn't have any problems. I just want to be able to back up the truck and go," said Ward.

Once the move is completed, Miller said, he and his congregation will look forward to another chapter in their church's history.

"We're planning on building a fellowship hall here for the church and the community," said Miller. "We're starting a fund-raising campaign now and hope to hold groundbreaking ceremonies in early fall."

The CPD's Stone said plans were to treat Saturday's event just like a parade.

"We will shut down traffic on York Street between Mill and Broad streets just long enough to safely get people to and from where they're going, with minimum delays," said Stone.

He said truck traffic coming in to downtown on Broad Street from I-20 was to be rerouted on to Bull Street to Fair Street, and then allowed to turn on to King Street to Mill Street where they could turn again to get up to DeKalb Street.