SCIWAY thanks photographer Michael Lollis of Belton for this picture taken in June 2011.

Originally known as “Public Square” this business district dates all the way back to 1787. It was renamed Morgan Square in 1887 when Congress gave money to the city to commemorate the Battle of Cowpens – which Spartanburg did by erecting the Daniel Morgan statue.

Much of this area is listed in the National Historic Register since many of the buildings were built before 1925. Spartanburg went through a period of prosperity from 1880-1920 thanks to a booming textile and railroad business, and many of the buildings reflect the designs of that era. Even though many of the buildings have undergone extensive renovations, Morgan Square still maintains its historic integrity and character.

The other clock is located on the corner of Main and Washington Streets. If you happen to have a picture of it, please send it to us!

Many thanks to Frederick Austin of Gilbert for submitting these pictures he took in 2011.

Frederick says that he’s actually seen the clocks opened and manually wound! “It was neat to see all the gears and the old fashioned equipment inside of a clock that size” he says.

It is believed that the Palmetto Golf Club is the oldest, continually operating eighteen hole golf course in the Southeast that is still in its original location. Palmetto Golf Club could also be the second oldest golf club in the United States as well.

Many professional golfers and famous people have played at the Palmetto Gold Club over the years, such as Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Ben Crenshaw, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, and Presidents Eisenhower and Taft to just name a few!

SCIWAY thanks Larry Gleason of Aiken for submitting this picture in April 2011.

Get more information about the Palmetto Golf Club.

The Charleston and Savannah Railroad was completed in the mid 1800s, and a train depot was established in the Ridgeland area. The town was originally called Gopher Hill because of abundance of the gopher tortoises in the area. However, many people felt that Gopher Hill was not an appropriate name for such a popular train depot. The town was renamed Ridgeland, because the depot was built on the highest ridge between Charleston and Savannah.

SCIWAY thanks Michael Stroud of Bluffton for submitting this picture he took in June 2008.

“Turbeville – A Small Town with a Big Heart”

The town of Turbeville is located in Clarendon County at the intersection of Highways 301 and 378 [see map]. The town has a long and interesting history that can be traced back to 1840, when Michael Turbeville purchased 125 acres of land a mile north of present day town limits.

Michael Turbeville’s sons William and Clem eventually purchased approximately 200 acres near Michael’s land and built the first house in what is now known as the Town of Turbeville.

The land the Turbeville brothers purchased was covered with large pine trees. Using this to their advantage, they built a successful turpentine still and business that lasted over 20 years. The community was known “Puddin’ Swamp” during this time.

After the pine trees were tapped out and the business was no longer making a profit, the brothers began operating a saw mill and cut and sold the timber. A railroad was built through the community, which further enhanced the Turbeville brothers’ profits.

When the Federal Government established a post office here in 1898, the community became known as Turbeville.

The Town of Turbeville today sees itself as “a progressive and energetic town” that strives to provide a family-oriented environment for its citizens. The mayor and town council have many future goals to further improve services and quality of life in this quaint small town.

Mike Stroud of Bluffton (and frequent SCIWAY contributor!) took this picture in October 2009. He tells us that “while photographing the clock, I was greeted by the Honorable Mayor Genie Turbeville, who noted that the clock was fairly new. Mayor Turbeville also pointed out to me several historical locations along Main Street. A very charming, delightful, and historic town in Clarendon County, I personally will have follow-up trips here. Thanks Mayor Turbeville.”

Gene writes: “Town Clock Remembered is an acrylic on canvas painting finished in April of 2007. Having called Winnsboro home for most of my 60 years, I remember that this town clock was the focal point. I’ve heard all of my life that this is the oldest continuously running town clock in the US. I don’t know if it’s true, but true or not, outside of my family, it is one of the strongest memories of growing up in Winnsboro.”

Learn more about the Winnsboro town clock and its fascinating history.

The South Carolina state legislature authorized its construction but limited its width to 30 feet, giving the building a distinct resemblance to Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

The works for the clock were ordered by the town from Alsace, France, in 1837. The French craftsmanship has withstood the test of time and the clock has run continuously for 100 years. This makes it the longest continuously running clock in the United States.

The tower bell was also made in France and in days of old was rung to let everyone know that fresh meat had arrived. The bell was repaired in Philadelphia shortly after cracking in 1895.

SCIWAY thanks frequent contributor Mark Clark, an Abbeville native currently residing in Winnsboro, for providing this great historical information.