Dear Friends:
The Edgefield County Historical Society is devoted to the study, teaching and preservation of the history of the Old Edgefield
District which includes all of Edgefield and Saluda Counties and large portions of Aiken, Greenwood and McCormick Counties.
On March 12, 1785 the South Carolina General Assembly passed the statute dividing the Old Ninety Six District into a number
of counties, including Edgefield County.
We would like to invite you to participate in our exciting work by becoming a member of the Society. If you have not
been a member but would like to join, or if you have been a member but have not yet paid your dues, please remit the appropriate
amount as set forth below. In joining the Society you will receive a complimentary copy of one of many Edgefield historical
books. Our annual dues are as follows:
Individual
$ 35.00 Corporate
$ 100.00
Family
50.00 Life
500.00
Patron
100.00 Benefactor
1,000.00
During the past year the Society has accomplished some notable achievements and continues to work on new projects, including
the following:
1)
Magnolia Dale: As a result of the generous bequest of nearly $85,000 from long-time member Broadus M. Turner,
we have been able to complete a substantial restoration of Magnolia Dale. For some time, our headquarters had needed
painting, roof work, and substantial repair of our porches. During the summer of 2009 the front porch was completely
redone so that it should not need any further repair for decades to come. The main back steps were replaced with brick
and the porch with a new polypropylene product. The porch and steps for the kitchen were also replaced. The hallway
between the dining room and kitchen was substantially improved. In the kitchen, a new tankless water heater was installed.
Thus, our headquarters building which we have owned for fifty years is now in great shape.
2) Horn's Creek Church Museum: One of our old projects which we have yet to complete
is the restoration of Horn's Creek Church. This property, now owned by the Society, was the site of one of the first
Baptist churches in the backcountry, having been established by the evangelist, Daniel Marshall, in 1768. The overseer's
house has been completed. In the meantime, Society Vice President Clarice Wise has been generously donating her efforts and
money to maintain and restore the cemetery.
4)
The Edgefield History Class: The Edgefield History Class continues to meet every Sunday afternoon. Now
that The Story Edgefield has been completed, the Class has decided to write a new book, tentatively entitled The
American Revolution in Edgefield - from Ninety Six to Augusta. It is hoped that this book will be available as
early as the coming fall. All interested parties are invited to join the Class which meets at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoons
in the Tompkins Library.
5)
Arthur Simkins Statue: In honor of the 225th anniversary of the birth of our county, the Society
is considering an undertaking to erect a statue in the Edgefield History Park of the man who has often been referred to as
"the Father of Edgefield County," Arthur Simkins (1742-1826). In addition to being involved in almost every
facet of the development of Edgefield County and its Courthouse Village, Simkins gave the two and a quarter acres for the
"Publick Lot" where the Courthouse and Town Square are now located.
The cost of this project is estimated to be in the range of $70,000 to $80,000. We anticipate that funding
could come from contributions from private individuals, including the many descendants of Arthur Simkins ($30,000), from the
South Carolina National Heritage Corridor ($20,000) and from the Town and County ($15,000 each). We will be further
exploring the feasibility of this project in the coming weeks so that by the anniversary date of March 12, 2010, we may be
able to announce that we are definitely undertaking this project. Our sister organization, the Old Edgefield District
Genealogical Society, may co-sponsor this project with us.
We hope that you will decide to join us by becoming a member. For your convenience,
you may fill out the form below and submit it to us. With best wishes, I am
Sincerely,
Jane Gunnell & Clarice Wise
Membership Directors
