GREER & DUNCAN, SOUTH CAROLINA (Mark)

The Greer Heritage Museum - "We Make History Awesome" - is on Main Street, right next door to the police department.

As I have found in this part of the country, even the little town or county museums tend to be fascinating.  This is one of the museum volunteers holding up a metal stencil used by companies to mark burlap sacks.  The small volunteer group at the museum was very pleasant and helpful.  The museum is able to operate through donations, and the efforts of the hardworking volunteers.

I really enjoy looking at the old railroad schedule advertisements:

Notice it is not a “trip” to Atlanta; it is an” excursion.”

I am so happy I never had to work in this factory!

This is an interesting tax stamp:

I did a little research about these but could not find much about how they were issued, or how a person was vetted to have them.  If you know a good source, or you happen to know about these tax stamps, please comment below.

To survive working at the Victor Textile Mill, which began operations in 1895, required a significant amount of time spent working, and very little leisure time.  The railroad’s arrival was a boon for the textile industry (and for the local peach farmers).

And after all your labor you were paid in company money, to be spent at the company store.

Another sad fact about the textile mills; in 1900 about 25% of the workforce consisted of children.

This is part of a Titan universal warp tying machine:

It made weaving continuous, without interruption by tying the end of one roll of thread to the next roll.  This was one the most dangerous jobs that children had generally been used for before this machine was invented and put into use.

The cotton was grown in the Greer area and initial milling was done.  It was then generally transported by train to the larger cities.  After it had been made into clothing and used it needed to be washed.  This high tech piece of equipment was what was used:

Inside the museum is a reproduction marquee from the 500 seat Grand Theatre, which was located on Hill Street.  It opened in 1922 and continued operation until about 1957.  The building was demolished in 2000.

Memorabilia from the Theatre, some saved from the building before demolition, some donated from locals:

R.C. Alverson, MD came to Greer in 1932 and set up his medical practice.  He practiced until 1984.  He and the other local doctors would often diagnose and treat patients in the pharmacy, and with home visits, rather than at his office on Trade Street.  He was often paid with eggs and vegetables. 

His son, W.E. Alverson, MD, practiced with his father after he completed medical school in 1960, and fully retired in 2005.

We actually set up the trailer, with our two cats, outside the town of Duncan, a little railroad town near Greer.  The historic post office opened in 1811 when the town was known as “New Hope.”

Plans were developed to bring rail lines through Duncan starting in 1850; the Civil War disrupted the plans and it was not until 1873 that they actually arrived.  In 1881 Leroy Duncan promised the citizens a large portion of his land to build out the town, if they would rename it.

I love reflections in windows.  We were also reflecting on just how fortunate we are to be able to wander and explore.

We have much to be thankful for!