Volume 6, Issue 3- Fall Edition | 2022 | |
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MUSEUM RECEIVES NATIVE AMERICAN
ARTIFACT COLLECTION
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M. Wayne Archie displaying the 22 cases of Native American Artifacts found in Fort Mill | |
On May 31, 2021 the Fort Mill History Museum (FMHM) received a large Native American Artifact Collection donated by David Youngblood, a longtime resident of Fort Mill. David and his wife, Gail lived in Fort Mill for over 41 years and now reside in Summerville, SC. While living in Fort Mill, Mr. Youngblood surface collected artifacts from the many plowed fields which existed at that time in Fort Mill. Most of these sites no longer exists due to the rapid growth of the many housing and commercial developments in and around the Fort Mill area. | |
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Case 01 0f 22 displays artifacts that indicate the Catawba Indian ancestry dates back thousands of years in the
Fort Mill area
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The Youngblood collection consists of hundreds of pottery sherds, stone bowl sherds, clay pipe fragments, glass trade beads, gun flints, 18th century glassware, projectile points, chipped and ground stone tools including: atlatl weights, nutting stones, mortars, scrapers, abraders, drills and perforators. The artifacts span a timeframe of thousands of years and include Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Woodland and Colonial Periods. This collection covering a vast historical timeline and comprised of such diversity, provides a wealth of archaeological information. The pottery sherds consist of many shapes, styles, temper, interesting designs and rim shapes. This assemblage of ancient Catawba Indian pottery may very well be one of the largest in existence and will provide a wealth of information to future archaeologists and pottery experts who are interested in learning more about the ancient pottery making of the Native Catawba Indians.
Over the past year the artifacts have been carefully reviewed and researched by M. Wayne Archie an Avocational Archaeologist who volunteers at the FMHM. The artifacts were cleaned/washed and separated by time period and type. They have been categorized, labeled and placed into twenty-two shadow box type cases. The larger artifacts have been labeled and placed into a storage container. All of the cases and the large artifacts have been photographed, assigned an identifying number and appropriately logged into the FMHM database system. In the future, most of these cases and large artifacts will be exhibited at the museum. Appropriate artifact cases will be included in the archaeological material which is taken to local schools for educating students on our past Native American history.
Special thanks to David Youngblood for donating this extensive local Native American artifact collection. The Fort Mill History Museum’s goal is to exhibit these Native American artifact displays, so they can be viewed by the public and be accessible to both students and professionals for future studies of our past Native American history.
M. Wayne Archie
Avocational Archaeologist
Fort Mill History Museum Research Team
Photos provided by M. Wayne Archie
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Saturday, September 3
8:30 AM -12:30 PM
FMHM volunteers Joe & Flora Doraski will be at the FM Farmer's Market to host Pioneer Crafts.
This event is FREE!
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Saturday, September 17
3:45-9:15 PM
Oktoberfest Beer Sales
Volunteer Opportunity
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George Fish School Celebration & Historical Marker Dedication
October 9-10, 2022
Fort Mill School District
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Lanterns & Legends
Historic Homes Tours
Coming This Fall!
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Sutton Rock Played a Part in Cold War History
No one in the area knew why a group of government scientists were so interested in a large rock on S. H. Sutton’s farm about two miles out of Fort Mill. It was 1949, five years after World War II and rumors were flying. There was talk of gold or even uranium and the word around town was that Mr. Sutton was about to be a rich man.
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After the first use of an atomic bomb in World War II, the U. S. government knew that the Soviet Union would work unceasingly to develop its own atomic bomb. When the Soviets did test the first bomb, it would mean that both superpowers had the ability to cause unheard-of destruction and an era of brinksmanship called the Cold War would begin.
The U. S. had a plan for an early warning system to detect the impending first explosion. No one guessed that the rock on the Sutton property would play a part in the system. Sutton Rock, as it was later called, was not only big, it was incredibly deep; seven miles deep in fact. It is one of the deepest rock formations in the U.S.
The scientists and archeologists, working for the freshly minted Atomic Energy Commission, determined that if they attached a seismograph, like the ones used to detect earthquakes, to Sutton Rock, it would register a nuclear explosion anywhere in the world. They poured a slab of concrete on the rock, set up the seismograph and began round-the-clock monitoring.
When the first Soviet nuclear weapon was tested on August 29, 1949, the seismograph on Sutton Rock reacted to the shock waves and the Arms Race between the United States and the Soviet Union began.
Despite the importance of Sutton Rock, Mr. Sutton did not get rich. The seismograph was removed shortly after the first test and not used again.
In an article in The Fort Mill Times of September 22, 1949, Mr. Sutton informed the reporter that he leased the land to the government for one dollar and further told the reporter, “And I haven’t even got the dollar yet.”
Mike and Cheryl Hill
Fort Mill History Museum Research Team
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Giving to your local museum ensures that your dollars stay in your community along with supporting programs for you, our children and our neighbors. Please consider giving to help us enjoy more programs and activities and improve our quality of life. | |
We have paid off $30,000 of our mortgage so far! Thank you to all of those who have donated to this. Paying off the mortgage will be a huge benefit to the Museum and, in return, to our volunteers, members, and community. | |
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If you see Charlotte Adkins loading a trunk into her car, you might think she is going on vacation. But, if you looked in that trunk, you might be surprised to find ears of corn, bags of seeds, a stone hoe, an antler rake, beads, arrow heads, maps, and even more.
Charlotte is a member of the Fort Mill History Museum Education Team. She and her trunks go to area schools to show and tell the children about Fort Mill’s interesting history. She tells them stories of the Catawba Indians and how they used the three sisters’ way of raising food and used beads for bartering.
“Charlotte is so lively and animated and makes eye contact with each child,” said Jennifer Morton, who is also on the team and goes with Charlotte. “She always asks the right questions and when the children answer, Charlotte always exaggerates how incredibly smart they are.”
A graduate of Fort Mill High School, class of 1961, Charlotte was a majorette, played basketball, was in an extensive list of activities and clubs and crowned Homecoming Queen her senior year. As an honor graduate, she received these Senior Superlatives: “Best All Around” and “Friendliest.” Bachelor’s and master’s degrees followed from Winthrop College, where she majored in education.
Charlotte’s teaching career began at Rock Hill High School, but she spent most of her career at Fort Mill Junior High School where she taught seventh grade social studies. She retired after forty-six years of teaching with more than thirty-six of those in her beloved hometown of Fort Mill.
Holly Wichmann, Charlotte’s daughter, said that her mom’s students remember her “I Am Me” slam books that taught students about their uniqueness, how she taught geography using the Beach Boys song, “Kokomo,” and her willingness to ride every roller coaster with students on class trips.
Charlotte married her high school sweetheart, Pete Adkins. They have three children and five grandchildren. She has served on the Board of the Fort Mill History Museum, has mentored Winthrop University interns, was inducted into the Fort Mill School District Hall of Fame, and always looks forward to sharing history with the children of Fort Mill.
Pat Crigler
Volunteer Coordination Team
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Do you have any unique items significant to Fort Mill’s History you would like to donate to the museum? If so, please send an email to Carson Cope– Collections Manager at carson@fmhm.org with a description of the item(s) and picture if possible. Thanks for
helping to preserve Fort Mill’s past.
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Wilson Farm Cotton Gin and Grist Mill History | |
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A new addition to the grounds of the Fort Mill History Museum is a millstone from a local grist mill. This millstone is from the Wilson Farm which was on Pleasant Road in the Gold Hill community just northwest of Fort Mill. The millstone was donated by the Murray B. White, Jr. family in his memory. Murray White, Jr. is a Wilson Family descendent who invested substantially in the Fort Mill community his entire life.
Sometime during the middle of the 19th century, Lewis R. Wilson and his wife, Mary Ann, settled on land located north of the current site of Pleasant Knoll Middle School. Lewis and Mary Ann had eight children and eventually built a two-story farmhouse close to their original log cabin. Seven generations of the Wilson family have lived and farmed on this land.
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In the late 1860’s, Lewis Wilson and his sons built a combination cotton gin and grist mill which was powered by mules. In the 1890’s the power for the combination gin/mill was converted to a hit ‘n’ miss combustion engine. The family operated this mill to gin their cotton and make cornmeal; as well serve other farmers in the community.
The Wilson family continued to operate the facility until the 1950’s with the old engine and other remains still existing on the site until the early 1970’s. Two millstones were relocated to the home of Murray B. White, Sr. and Irene Wilson White, then later to the home of Murray B. White, Jr.
On June 30, 2022, Murray’s son, Patrick White, worked with the Town of Fort Mill to have both millstones relocated; one to the Fort Mill History Museum and the other to the Town of Fort Mill. It is the family’s hope that the millstones will be preserved and displayed in a manner that benefits the public’s respect for the area’s history and honors the Wilson family’s past.
David Ward, Jr.
FMHM Research Team
Information and gin/mill photograph courtesy of Patrick White.
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Did you know? The Fort Mill High Football Team wins first game ever! After several years of effort, the Fort Mill football eleven won its first game Saturday afternoon (12/18/1909)—in a contest with Prof. J. Harvey Witherspoon’s Yorkville team on the local gridiron. The score was 16 to 0 in favor of the Fort Mill boys. – Fort Mill Times December 23, 1909 | |
Elizabeth Ford Dedication & 2022 Ornament Unveiling | |
If you missed the Dedication and Ornament Unveiling, you can watch it right here! | |
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Hello members and friends of the Fort Mill History Museum! My name is Jan Martin, and I am proud to serve on the museum’s board of directors. While I am not a native of Fort Mill, I have lived here a long time since moving from Rome, Georgia, as a 14-year-old girl. I have always loved history and how the past teaches us about the present as well as shaping our future.
Over the years I have witnessed the rapid growth of our small town which makes the mission of preserving and promoting the history of Fort Mill more important than ever. There is an enormous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to bring our history to life. The various projects and events the museum hosts and produces transports us back in time and helps us to interpret the events and causes that contributed to our current town.
Currently, I am working on a planned giving project that will build on and strengthen the sustainability of the museum through designated gifts. Your gifts enable us to continue to preserve and educate individuals about the historical significance and rich heritage of this community. On behalf of the board, I would encourage you to continue to support and spread the word about the museum. Please participate in the events and invite family and friends to join you. Together, we can build an amazing resource for generations to come.
Jan Martin
Fort Mill History Board Member
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- David & Gail Youngblood for their amazing donation of Native American artifacts
- Wayne Archie for his hard work on the museum's new collection
- Patrick White and his family for choosing FMHM to locate their family millstone and share it's history and connection to their family
- The Town of Fort Mill for transporting the millstone to FMHM
- Carol Dixon for all of her hard work on the 2022 Christmas ornament, it is beautiful!
- Bayles Mack on sharing his history of his train car, working with FMHM and speaking at the ornament unveiling
- Joe & Flora Doraski for wearing their thick pioneer outfits and doing crafts with the kids on these hot summer days
- Education team and all the work they have been doing on the video project
- Our continued partnership with Amor Artis & Hobos, we are so grateful for our relationship
- Coltharp for the wood, dirt, & gravel
- The Town of Fort Mill for the partnership of the Strawberry Festival events & all of the other town events
- Jacona Hester for working with FMHM on a very long list of events and projects
- Amber Smith & and all of our dedicated volunteers that have been working the downtown and park events this summer
- Tony McMehan for filming our ornament reveal.
- Carol Dixon, Tommy Merritt, and Rudy Sanders for the Elizabeth Ford Dedication and the donation of the rocking chairs.
- And all of the volunteers that spend so many hours handling all of the misc. tasks that help keep the museum operating daily. It would be impossible to name them all.
- A special thanks to Elizabeth Ford for having the idea of a Fort Mill History Museum many years ago. She planted a seed and we continue to fertilize the growth from it. She will be forever in our hearts.
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107 Clebourne Street, Fort Mill, SC 29715 | phone: 803-802-3646
Located in the Fort Mill Historic District
FMHM.ORG
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The Fort Mill History Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Support for this project is provided by the SCPRT TAG,
Town of Fort Mill & York County Accommodations Tax, FMHM members and donors.
For visitors information including lodging, contact Visit York County at 803-329-5200.
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