Berkeley County · Marker 08-37
L. Mendel Rivers House
Mendel Rivers Ave. and Brick Church Cir., St. Stephen
Front inscription
Lucius Mendel Rivers (1905-1970), lawyer, state representative 1933-36 and U.S. Representative 1940-70, was born in nearby Gumville and grew up on the family farm on Bonneau Road (now Mendel Rivers Avenue). Rivers attended the College of Charleston and the University of S.C. School of Law, practicing law in Charleston before winning a special election to the S.C. legislature in 1933.
Reverse inscription
Rivers served as a lawyer for the U.S. Justice Dept. 1936-40 before being elected to Congress. A firm supporter of the military, Rivers was re-elected for fifteen terms. He was instrumental in expanding the Charleston Navy Base after World War II and served as chair of the House Armed Services Committee 1965-70, during the Vietnam War. He is buried at St. Stephen Episcopal Church.