SC Picture Project » Aiken County Photos

Willcox Inn

SCIWAY — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:54:34 +0000

From the early 1900s to the 1950s, the Willcox Inn in Aiken played host to a variety of famous dignitaries from the Vanderbilts to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Neglected for almost 30 years, the Willcox Inn has now been restored to its former glory and welcomes guests in its elegant surroundings.

Larry Gleason © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

SCIWAY thanks Aiken’s own Larry Gleason for these photographs. You can click here to learn more about the history of the Willcox, and you can also book a room at the Willcox Inn by visiting our guide to Aiken Bed & Breakfasts.

Larry Gleason © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

North Augusta

SCIWAY — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:55:42 +0000

James U. Jackson believed the bluff area along the Savannah River would be an ideal setting for a town. He developed plans for a 600 acre town in 1902 and North Augusta was born.

This image is copyrighted. You may not use it without written consent.

At that time, there was only one route across the river to the new town. Wanting to ease travel to the new town, Jackson obtained financing and built a new bridge to North Augusta. Today, the Thirteenth Street bridge still leads to the heart of North Augusta.

SCIWAY thanks Andy Hunter of Denmark for sharing this 2011 picture of his hometown.

Lookaway Hall

SCIWAY — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:04:49 +0000

Lookaway Hall has always been a focal point of the Aiken County town of North Augusta. The grand house was constructed from 1895-1898, which was just before the town’s founding.

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Legend has it that Walter Jackson, brother of the town’s founder James Jackson, won the right to build on the best spot in the new town by cutting a deck of cards with his brother. James built his house Rosemary Hall across the street from Lookaway Hall.

Many locals call the town’s centerpiece “The Mealing House,” because Dr. and Mrs. Henry Mealing lived there from 1936 through the late 1980s.

Today, the historic landmark is listed on the National Register and serves as the Lookaway Inn Bed & Breakfast.

SCIWAY thanks Andy Hunter of Denmark for contributing this picture, taken in 2011 and the accompanying information.

Rosemary Hall

SCIWAY — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:29:22 +0000

Rosemary Hall, as it was called when constructed in 1902, has been part of the North Augusta landscape since the town was founded.

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Built by James U. Jackson, North Augusta’s founder, Rosemary Hall was home to his daughter Edith and her family until the 1980s.

Today, the historic landmark is listed on the National Register and serves as the Rosemary Inn Bed & Breakfast.

SCIWAY thanks Andy Hunter of Denmark for contributing this picture, taken in 2010. Andy also shares, “This old house holds a special place in my heart as I went to kindergarten in the back of the mansion from 1962-1963.”

Boyd Pond Park

SCIWAY — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 19:10:31 +0000

Boyd Pond Park is a 210 acre county park in Aiken that used to be the employee recreation facility for the Savannah River Site. The park has miles of hiking and walking trails, mountain bike trails, a 30-acre fishing pond, picnic areas, playgrounds, and much more.

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SCIWAY thanks Shirley Radabaugh of Aiken for this picture taken in December 2012.

Aiken Post Office

SCIWAY — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:21:51 +0000

The old Aiken Post Office, built in 1912, is located on the corner of Laurens Street and Park Avenue in downtown Aiken. The building is a beautiful example of Classical Revival architecture, and the exterior remains nearly unaltered today. It is now home to the Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.

This image is copyrighted. You may not use it without written consent.

SCIWAY thanks Michael Enloe of Aiken for this information and picture taken in May 2012.

Learn more about the Savannah River Site.

Kathwood Plantation

SCIWAY — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:22:17 +0000

North Augusta Greenway

SCIWAY — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:27:40 +0000

The North Augusta Greenway has a seven-mile paved trail perfect for walking, running, and biking. This beautiful greenway is the centerpiece of popular Riverview Park.

St. Mary Help of Christians Church

SCIWAY — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:51:50 +0000

The historic St. Mary Help of Christians Church is located on the corner of Park Avenue and York Street in downtown Aiken. The church was constructed in 1905 to serve the growing Catholic population in Aiken. Also located on the grounds is St. Claire’s Chapel, which dates back to 1879. The entire church complex was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. For additional information and service times, please visit the church’s website.

SCIWAY thanks Steven Faucette of Williamston for these pictures he took in 2012.

Aiken Training Track

SCIWAY — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:51:44 +0000

Aiken means horses. Not only does the city stand at the center of South Carolina’s “Thoroughbred Country,” it also serves as one of the polo capitals of the world. Aiken has been a renowned equestrian destination since the early 1900s, and the famed Aiken Training Track has become a key part of the area’s rich history.

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The Aiken Training Track was built by horseman Fred H. Post in the 1940s. Its level ground, sandy soil, and close proximity to Hitchcock Woods (one of the largest urban forests in America) make it an exceptional training center for its size. The track is used for flat racing, and it surrounds what is said to be the oldest known polo field in the country.

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The popular Aiken Steeplechase is held each spring.

SCIWAY thanks frequent contributor Larry Gleason for these beautiful pictures he took in March 2012.

To learn more about the Aiken Training Track, be sure to visit its website.