Volume 7, Issue 4- Winter Edition | 2023 | |
Explore & Experience our new Gallery Updates | |
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We have been wanting to update our galleries for a while and it is now happening. In January 2023 a plan was developed to begin the work and in April, Dr. Ginger Williams (FMHM Board Member) began working on updating the Samuel Elliott White Gallery at the museum. Assisting Dr Williams is a 2023 graduated M.A. student from Winthrop University, Jason Heckert. They have worked for months on researching and updating and it is coming together. We are grateful to have such a strong partnership with Winthrop University, to provide support and resources that can assist to tell Fort Mill’s story. Please see Dr. Williams' explanation of the updates below so that a better understanding of Fort Mill can be heard.
The White Gallery, originally organized to tell Fort Mill’s history chronologically, contained good material. Using as many existing materials as we could, we have reorganized some of the exhibits while adding more. The goal was to make the room tell a more cohesive story of Fort Mill, from the pre-Colombian indigenous people who began populating the area over 10,000 years ago through the mid-20th century. Highlights of these “new” exhibits include the arrowhead collection of Mr. Youngblood, a donation in the summer of 2022 (read more here) that was organized by Wayne Archie, and an explanation of the Catawba people by Dr. Brooke Bauer, a Catawba native. Also, an original map of all the colonial trading paths that came through the Carolinas, and photos of early 20th century Fort Mill residents working in the mills, driving horseless carriages (automobiles), and developing Fort Mill into a modern town. We made these changes with few costs, spending less than $700 on supplies.
The White Gallery will be completed in the next few weeks. We will update our audio tour for visitors to accompany these changes, but the room should now tell its own story. After the New Year, we plan to begin working on updating more exhibits in other parts of the museum. It will include updating the education exhibit and telling the histories of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, including the men and women from Fort Mill who served during those wars. We look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors, hearing feedback regarding the changes, and recruiting new volunteers to help in continuing to tell Fort Mill’s story.
Ginger Williams
Professor of History, Winthrop University
FMHM Board Member
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FM History 101 Tour
Saturday, November 25th
10:00-11:00 AM
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FMHM Yard Day
Fridays, December 1st & 8th
10:00 AM -12:00 PM
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AME, Inc Inaugural Memory Mill
of Fort Mill
Friday, December 1st
7:00 P.M.
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Fort Mill Christmas Parade Volunteers
Saturday, December 2nd
9:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M.
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Lunch and Learn
Tuesday, December 5th
12:00-1:00 PM
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Old Fashioned Christmas
Saturday, December 9th
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
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What a Celebration! Happy 150 Fort Mill!
Let’s end the year strong as we continue celebrating Fort Mill’s 150 Birthday. This has been a memorable year with all the fun events and activities across the community. Be sure to stay connected with the museum’s social media and websites as we march into birthday #151!
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Looking to help out the museum? Check out our Amazon wish list of items that are needed! | |
York County SC 250 Committee | |
The York County SC 250 committee has been established to celebrate the tremendous contribution the county provided during the American Revolution. Check out the Facebook Page here for updates and here all about it on WRHI's Straight Talk here. | |
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We want to thank everyone that supported the museum this year for our 7th annual Lanterns and Legends tours. The turnout was amazing! We hosted over 600 visitors, had record sales, a record number of private tours, and perfect weather for the whole month. Our guides, assistants, and support volunteers were so kind and devoted as they spent their month of October entertaining and educating our guests. We thank all of those that have made this event a continued success and an annual Fort Mill favorite. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!
Photo Credit: Ann Culver of Fort Mill Now
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Support the museum you love!
Thanks to the support of our members, volunteers, and those that donate, we have been able to serve our community this year through events, exhibit updates and community outreach! If you love history, supporting the preservation of history, or love coming to our events, consider supporting us on this #GivingTuesday, November 28th.
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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. | |
CATAWBA INDIAN FORT LOCATED IN FORT MILL | |
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The Catawba Fort was located approximately three-fourths of a mile southwest of the town of Fort Mill on the west side of Brickyard Road south of the old Spratt’s Family Cemetery. Although the fort was never completed, it has much historical and political significance as the structure/place in which Fort Mill derives the “Fort” part of its name.
During the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the Catawba Nation became allies with the British Colonial Government. At this time the Catawba Nation was neither in North Carolina or South Carolina as the boundary line between North and South Carolina had only been surveyed from the Atlantic Ocean as far as Crooked Creek, a tributary of the Pee Dee River in modern Marlboro County, SC. The territory west of that point was still disputed between North and South Carolina. The Catawba lands fell within the disputed territory, and thus the Catawbas were courted by the governments of both colonies as allies against the Cherokees and French. Although the Catawbas had always looked primarily to the South Carolina government in Charleston for trade and protection, they also maintained friendly relations with both Virginia and North Carolina. In May 1756, King Hagler (Chief of the Catawbas) and a group of his warriors journeyed to Salisbury, North Carolina and petitioned the North Carolina government for ammunition and “a fort for securing our old men, women and children when we turn out to fight the Enemy.” The North Carolina Assembly approved the shipment of 100 pounds of gunpowder and 400 pounds of lead to the Catawba Nation, and appropriated £4000 for the construction of a fort to protect the Catawbas. North Carolina Governor Arthur Dobbs assigned two companies of provincial soldiers to garrison the Catawba fort.
To read the rest of the article, click here.
M. Wayne Archie
Fort Mill History Museum Research Team
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She is dressed all in black, from her wide hoop skirt to her large bonnet tied under her chin. She holds a lighted lantern. Is she one of the many ghosts that inhabit Fort Mill? Nope! She is Amber Smith, a very much alive Museum volunteer and ready to lead her crowd of 25 people on a Lanterns and Legends tour during the month of October.
Amber will tell them about some of the ghosts (yes, there is definitely one in the Founder’s House) and some interesting history along the way. She usually begins with our own History Museum house – when it is built (1869), how it used to be on Trade (now Main) Street and a little about a ghost inhabiting it. From the Museum down the hill, she’ll go with her hoop skirt and lantern swinging, people following closely behind to Confederate Park. Her part of the tour lasts about a half-hour.
“I really love putting on my black outfit and leading the tours to show people our town. I like true history, so I have researched old newspapers, urban legends and Springs family stories. When I find something interesting, I expand it a bit and add it to the tour,” Amber said. She also finds that some Fortmillians have interesting stories to tell her on the tour. As well as her storytelling duties in October, Amber has another job with a title that makes her laugh. She is called the “Head Beer Wench,” but she does not drink beer. Amber does coordinate Museum beer events by making sure the beer gets delivered, rally’s the volunteer staff to serve and check ID’s. She believes it is a fabulous fundraiser for the Museum.
Amber was raised in Charlotte, but lives in Fort Mill, has a daughter in middle school and has been married since 2009. Her career started with teaching in three elementary schools. She is now in school administration for Fort Mill. When she finds a little spare time, you will find her crocheting. “I enjoy the museum and all the interesting people there. No matter what you like to do, there is an interesting museum volunteer position for you,” said Amber. “Amber is one of these people that everyone wants to be around. Her loyalty, humor, quick wit, charm, and smile are just a few qualities that shine as she gives her time to the museum. We are so grateful to have her as one of our devoted volunteers,” said Christia Humburg, Executive Director.
Pat Crigler
FMHM Creative Writer
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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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Did you know? When the Buster Boyd bridge was dedicated on August 17, 1923, Capt. Elliott W. Springs flew under the bridge and was immediately followed by another plane piloted by a young Columbia man named Redfern. Some months after the flight under the Buster Boyd bridge, Redfern undertook to fly alone from Brunswick, Ga. to South America and was never heard of again. – Fort Mill Times December 18, 1930 | |
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Hi, I am Juanita Nash Sanders. As a native of Fort Mill, having grown up in the Paradise community, having graduated from George Fish School and having worked as a history educator in the Fort Mill School District, I have witnessed the transformation of our town over the years. My roots run deep, and Fort Mill’s history is an integral part of who I am.
Even though I now reside in Charlotte, NC with my husband, John, Fort Mill is still home. This new journey as a member of the Fort Mill History Museum’s Board of Directors has given me an incredible opportunity to help weave the vibrant tapestry of Fort Mill’s heritage. This diverse and passionate Board is committed to overseeing the implementation of FMHM’s vision, mission and principles. Simply stated, this would be to preserve FM’s heritage for the benefit of all generations and safeguard our town’s rich history.
I am also a member of the FMHM’s Education Team. This group of current and retired educators create educational initiatives that ignite a curiosity about our local history among our youth.
The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Come and visit to learn about FM’s rich history. You will be amazed by the treasure trove of artifacts and other historical relics on display. The FMHM also sponsors events such as the FM History 101 Tour and the Lanterns & Legends Walking Tour.
Join us on the exciting path that lies ahead by becoming a member or a volunteer.
Juanitia Sanders
FMHM Board Member
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Back Window Podcast with Mike Hill
We have a new addition to our Newsletter.
Friend of the Museum and Fort Mill native Mike Hill has a series of podcasts about growing up in Fort Mill in the 1950’s, ‘60s and 70’s when it was still a small town. You can listen to all the podcasts here or search Back Window on the Spotify App.
The podcast is of Mike Hill’s impressions of Fort Mill at the time and are not meant to be historically accurate.
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The museum is hiring a Museum Services Coordinator.
Please click here for more details and how to apply.
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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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