South Carolina Genealogy

A Revolutionary War tour of the the Beaufort District will be held December 11th, 2010:

Details below from their flyer:

December 11, 2010 Saturday – 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sponsored by American Revolution Association (ARA) & Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution (SCAR)

Did you know Beaufort is written into the Declaration of
Independence? Meet Tory Andrew Deveaux, Jr. and Royal Lt.
Gov. William Bull, Jr. arguing one side against Patriot John
Mark Verdier and John Millner. Walk the battlefields for
Independence at Port Royal, Coosawhatchie, Fort Balfour on
the Pocotaligo, Fort Lyttleton, and Tar Bluff on the Combahee
at Chehaw Neck with dynamic guides, Charles B. Baxley and
David Paul Reuwer.

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Wow it looks like the folks in Spartanburg are going to be busy! There are quite a few happenings coming up related to the History Hub and the historical society. Wow – kudos to them for having so many interesting and engaging events ongoing!

First up is Thursday the 18th…

The next meeting of the Spartanburg History Hub is scheduled for Thursday, November 18, 7:00 pm in the East Wing Conference Room of the Chapman Cultural Center. (That’s the wing which houses Ballet Spartanburg, The Music Foundation, and the Science Center. Go upstairs to the Science Center and turn right just before the Center’s doors. We’ll have signs.)

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Received the following today and passing it along for the folks at Walnut Grove in Spartanburg:

As the holidays approach, you’re probably getting decorations out of the attic. After the holidays pass, you likely dread putting so much back in the attic. Well, we can help with the candles! If you find candles melted and misshapen, set them aside for us. All those stubs of candles from holiday meals, candlelight services, and advent wreaths are perfect for our needs. We’ll recycle them into new candles. This is your chance to support the Historical Association and save the world, one candle at a time! 🙂

As many of you know, our most popular living history activity for school groups on field trips at Walnut Grove is candle-making. The wax these students use to make their candles comes from old candles that we melt down and we’re running low. We need more candles!! If you have some you can give, please drop them by Walnut Grove in Roebuck or the History Museum in the Chapman Cultural Center downtown. We accept candles year-round, so keep us in mind!

Let me know if you have any questions or if you need pick up service – we can work it out.

Thanks,
Becky

Becky Slayton, Executive Director
Spartanburg County Historical Association, 864-278-9664

Passing along the following from the Spartanburg History Hub-

The next meeting of the Spartanburg History Hub is scheduled for Thursday, September 23, 7:00 pm in the Barrett Room of the Spartanburg Library Headquarters.

There is no charge for attending meetings of the Spartanburg History Hub and we’ll wrap up promptly at 8:00 pm. There will be the opportunity for introductions and brief announcements. Feel free to bring fliers or brochures so you can give a short announcement and interested parties can pick up the detailed information afterward. Debra Hutchins, Local History Librarian in the library’s Kennedy Room will be leading the presentation and discussion. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to pick her brain about local history and the Kennedy Room!

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Relive the American Revolution at Walnut Grove Plantation’s Annual FestiFall Reenactment Held the First Weekend in October

Roebuck, SC, September 13, 2010 — Hear the muskets fire! Feel the cannon roar! See the American Revolution come to life during FestiFall at Walnut Grove Plantation! Late in the War for Independence, William “Bloody Bill” Cunningham, a Loyalist militia captain and deserter of the American cause, attacked Walnut Grove Plantation, killed three Patriot soldiers, and sparked a skirmish with local militia. At FestiFall, experience a re-enactment of this raid on Walnut Grove by Captain Cunningham and his desperate band of Tories. Witness the brave heroine, Kate Barry, warning her husband Andrew and his Patriot troops of the attack. Although her valiant actions can’t save Captain Steadman and his friends, they do save the Moore family home from being burned by its attackers. Relive the saga of our struggle for independence and be transported back to colonial days!

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The Spartanburg Regional History Museum presents
Mr. Ross E. Beard on
“David ‘Carbine’ Williams and His Weapons Innovations”

September 24, 2010
12:30– 1:30

The Spartanburg Regional History Museum welcomes Mr. Ross E. Beard, Jr., to our September Lunch & Learn Spartanburg. Mr. Beard is an author, firearms expert, collector and biographer of David Marshall “Carbine” Williams, the inventor of the famous World War II carbine rifle and many other important weapons innovations. Mr. Beard will have copies of his book available.

Bring your lunch
Limited seating
$5.00

Contact us to reserve seating

864-596-3501; njefferies@spartanburghistory.org
spartanburghistory.org

Chapman Cultural Center
Moseley Building 1st Floor Meeting Room
200 East St. John Street
Spartanburg, S.C. 29306

Saturday at The Seay House
September 18, 2010
10:00-4:00

Join us this Saturday at The Seay House, Spartanburg’s oldest home. Located at 106 Darby Road just off Crescent Avenue, this home showcases the dwelling of a local farmstead managed and maintained by three maiden Seay sisters in the late 1800s. Come relax for an hour or two on this historic property! Visit www.spartanburghistory.org, email seayhouse@spartanburghistory.org, or call 864-596-3501 for more information.

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Another upcoming event passed along from Dr. Paul Grady via the Spartanburg History Hub:

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to share the exciting news that Dr. Walter Edgar, one of the most prominent historians in South Carolina and a National Public Radio personality, has agreed to speak at USC Upstate this year in commemoration of Constitution Day. Constitution Day, and corresponding activities during that week, is a national effort to increase the public and our students’ knowledge and understanding of the United States Constitution. Dr. Edgar will be giving a presentation entitled “South Carolina and the Constitution” that will discuss the importance of South Carolina in the process that gave shape to our modern nation and society. His talk will be held from 7:00-8:00pm in the Campus Life Center Ballroom on Tuesday, September 14th and will be open to the public. A selection of his most popular books on South Carolina history will be available at the event for purchase through the courtesy of the Hub City Bookstore and Dr. Edgar will be available for book-signing after his speech.

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Join us Sunday, September 12, 2:00-5:00 pm

The Spartanburg County Historical Association has put together a wonderful tour of 5 homes designed by architect J. Frank Collins. This is the first Tour of Homes that has taken place in the Converse Heights neighborhood in years. This will be an enjoyable and informative tour. You will be able to visit 5 homes – including ones built for James F. Byrnes and Dr. Sam Orr Black – and learn about others. The homes on the tour are 520 Glendalyn Avenue, 576 Otis Boulevard, 615 Palmetto Street, 509 Sherwood Circle, and 516 Sherwood Circle. Main Street Trolley will run the tour route continuously between 2:00 and 5:00.

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Season’s Final Friday Campfire at Walnut Grove Plantation Focuses on Archeology and Native Americans

Roebuck, SC, September 7, 2010 — For one final time this summer, bring the family, gather ‘round the fire, toast marshmallows, and hear exciting stories of the Upstate’s past! The Spartanburg County Historical Association’s summer Friday Campfires Series wraps up this Friday, September 10 at Walnut Grove Plantation. Join Lamar Nelson and others from the Foothills Chapter of the Archeological Society of South Carolina as they share stories and artifacts of our region’s Native Americans from prehistoric days to European contact. Walnut Grove Plantation is located at 1200 Otts Shoals Road in Roebuck. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. for self-guided tours of the site and the campfire program begins at 8:30 p.m. Admission is adults $5.00; ages 6-17 $3.00; ages 5 & under free. Bring lawn chairs and/or blankets. Bug spray encouraged. The event is rain or shine! Although this will be the final Friday Campfire of the season, the series has been a big success and will continue next year!

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