Linda W. Brown – Page 9 – Building a better South

February 9, 2014February 8, 2014

Chimneys, Morrisville, S.C.

“These chimneys are all that remain of a once-stately home in the Old Morrisville section of Williamsburg County, S.C.,” writes retired editor and photographer Linda W. Brown of Kingstree. “All too many of these old home have been allowed to decay and are very often replaced by manufactured housing.”

Williamsburg County, which is about 75 miles north of Charleston, S.C., has a population of just under 34,000 people. Population peaked in 1950 at 43,807, but has dropped slowly since then.

About two-thirds of county residents are black, with almost all of those remaining being white. Only 2 percent of those in the county are of Hispanic descent. Some 32.8 percent of residents live in poverty, according to the Census. Of the county’s 1,921 firms, 36.5 percent are black-owned — a percentage that is three times South Carolina’s average.

Williamsburg County on Wikipedia.

QuickFacts from the U.S. Census.

February 5, 2014February 5, 2014

Old garage, Blakely, S.C.

Foxworth's, Blakely, S.C. — Foxworth’s, Blakely, S.C.

Foxworth’s Garage once operated in the Blakely community in Williamsburg County, writes Kingstree, S.C. photographer Linda W. Brown. The business is still in operation, but in Kingstree, not in this old building.

Kingstree is the county seat for Williamsburg County, which is about 75 miles north of Charleston, S.C. Just under 34,000 people live in the county. Population peaked in 1950 at 43,807, but has dropped slowly since then.

Williamsburg County on Wikipedia.

QuickFacts from the U.S. Census.

February 3, 2014November 16, 2014

Stately old home, Kingstree, S.C.

Thorntree House, nestled in recent snow that blanketed much of South Carolina in a rare super-cold snap, is believed to be the oldest home in “Williamsburgh District,” retired editor and photographer Linda W. Brown writes.

“Built in 1749 on Thorntree Swamp near present-day Salters, it was the home of James Witherspoon, one of the early settlers. It was moved to Kingstree in the early 1970s and restored as a ‘house museum.'” These days, Thorntree is owned and operated by the Williamsburgh Historical Society.

“Small rural historical societies work hard to preserve the history of their communities, but it is becoming more of a struggle with each passing year,” Brown writes. “Grant funding for this kind of historical preservation has become scarce and funding, in general, is becoming harder to secure. Historical societies depend largely on volunteers, donations and membership dues to continue their preservation work.”

Williamsburg County on Wikipedia.

QuickFacts from the U.S. Census.

January 2, 2014January 2, 2014

Library, Greeleyville, S.C.

The McCollum-Murray House in Greeleyville, S.C., has been restored and is now used as a branch of the Williamsburg County Library, writes retired editor Linda W. Brown of Kingstree. The building, once the home of Dr. C.E. Murray, is on the National Register.

“This is an innovative use of resources for a small town,” writes Brown.

The house was built at the turn of the 20th century for a successful African-American couple. To learn more about the building, its renovation and transformation into a public library, click here for an interesting Power Point presentation.

Greeleyville, pictured here, is a town of 438 people that once thrived in southwestern Williamsburg County. Just under 34,000 people now live in the county, which is about the number who lived there in 1900, according to Census figures. Population peaked in 1950 at 43,807, but has dropped slowly since then.

December 30, 2013November 16, 2014

Farmhouse, Lane, S.C.

Lane, S.C., was once a busy railroad hub that boasted two hotels, several successful businesses and a number of large houses, writes retired editor and photographer Linda W. Brown.

“While some of the houses are still well-maintained, this one is fading fast,” she says.

These days, Lane, which is in Williamsburg County, has about 600 people.

Just under 34,000 people live in Williamsburg County, which is about the number who lived there in 1900, according to Census figures. Population peaked in 1950 at 43,807, but has dropped slowly since then.

December 28, 2013

Roadside store, Trio, S.C.

This old store in Trio, S.C., is across the street from the former Bank of Trio. Retired editor and photographer Linda W. Brown of nearby Kingstree says it’s “just another example of how once thriving country stores have fallen victim to our greater mobility.”

Trio (pronounced Try-o) was once a thriving community in southern Williamsburg County founded by the three Bryan brothers, writes Brown. The area’s main industries were lumber, turpentine and agriculture.

“The Bank of Trio is long gone, but the building still remains as a reminder of more prosperous days,” she says.

December 22, 2013December 22, 2013

Another view, Trio, S.C.

Here’s a close-up of the old Bank of Trio (pronounced Try-o) in the once thriving rural community of Trio in southern Williamsburg County. (Click to see another view.)

“The Bank of Trio is long gone, but the building still remains as a reminder of more prosperous days,” says retired editor Linda W. Brown of Kingstree. In the building’s later years, it housed a general store (Rowell’s) and a post office.

Today, the building is abandoned and the 29595 zip code no longer is active. The community’s “post office” is a group of mailboxes by the side of the road. Trio was founded by the three Bryan brothers when the area’s main industries were lumber, turpentine and agriculture.

December 20, 2013December 20, 2013

Old bank, Trio, S.C.

Trio (pronounced Try-o) was once a thriving community in southern Williamsburg County founded by the three Bryan brothers, writes retired editor Linda W. Brown of Kingstree. The area’s main industries were lumber, turpentine and agriculture.

“The Bank of Trio is long gone, but the building still remains as a reminder of more prosperous days,” she says. In the building’s later years, it housed a general store (Rowell’s) and a post office. These days the “post office” is a group of mailboxes by the side of the road.

December 16, 2013December 16, 2013

Old grocery store, Poplar Hill, S.C.

Old grocery store, Williamsburg County, S.C.

This old 76 gas station was known as Britton’s Grocery many years ago, writes retired editor Linda W. Brown of Kingstree. It’s located in the Poplar Hill area of Williamsburg County.

December 14, 2013December 14, 2013

Leaning shed, Clarendon County, S.C.

Retired editor Linda W. Brown of Kingstree, S.C., spied this leaning shed and rusty equipment in the countryside of Clarendon County near Davis Station. Both, she said, “speak to the condition of small farms in rural communities in 2013.” See another picture from the area.

Clarendon County, split in half by Interstate 95, had almost 21 percent of residents living in poverty, according to the 2010 Census.

Quick facts about Clarendon County from the U.S. Census