he fact that he’s originally from New Jersey doesn’t keep Peter Stevenson from giving a walking tour of Beaufort, South Carolina, even a native could appreciate. His knack for oratory honed in the classroom where he taught English for 15 years helps. So does his rich singing voice.

“Oh the yellow peril of Beaufort,” he sings, pointing to a large yellow building and matching his words to the tune of “Yellow Rose of Texas.” He’s referring to the Beaufort Arsenal, which now houses the Beaufort Museum. “It was built in 1795 and rebuilt in 1852 in the Gothic Medieval style,” Peter says. “The bright mustard yellow is its historic color.”

Another bit of trivia concerns one Dr. Perry, whose grave you’ll find in the cemetery that surrounds St. Helena’s Episcopal Church. “It’s said that Dr. Perry insisted he be buried with a loaf of bread, a jug of water, and a pick ax,” Peter relates. “This was before the days of embalming. He’d heard of someone who’d been accidentally buried alive and wanted survival

tools in case he suffered the same fate.”

Standing beside the grave of William Henry Cory, Peter quotes “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” Born in England in 1831, Cory was a survivor of the famous Light Brigade at Balaklava on October 25, 1854. He also served in the Confederate army.

Inside St. Helena’s Church, Peter sings a verse of “God Save the South.” The reason, he explains, is that this song was sung in the church during the Civil War, before the town was taken over by the Union army.

By the end of the tour, you not only know a lot more about Beaufort, but you’re likely humming a few songs as well. Karen Ling

Guides Peter Stevenson and Evelene Grace stand beside headstones of the Hamilton family in the cemetery at St. Helena’s Episcopal Church.

Tours: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; Full tours, which include both east and west sides of town, cost $15. A tour of just one side of town costs $10. Reservations are not necessary but are appreciated.

This month: St. Helena’s 42^nd Annual Spring Tour happens March 27-28. Among the sites included are St. Helena’s Episcopal Church, Grace Chapel A.M.E. Church, the Thomas Rhett House Inn, John A. Cuthbert House, and the Tabby Manse Gardens. Tickets for the Candlelight Walking Tour on March 27 are $25. Tickets for the Low Country Tour on March 28 are $30. For reservations call (803) 524-0363.

            For more information: Contact the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 910, Beaufort, SC 29901; (803) 524-3163