Graniteville Unveils Historic Exhibit Celebrating a Legacy Woven in Community
Welcome to Graniteville, a charming town with a rich history that’s now inviting everyone to explore its past through an exciting new exhibit at the Gregg-Graniteville Library. This isn’t just any exhibit; it’s a journey back in time honoring the Graniteville Company, a vital part of the community since 1845!
A Transformative Space
The first floor of the library has recently received a stunning makeover, transforming it into a vibrant museum space dedicated to showcasing the historic community of Graniteville and its significant textile industry. The inaugural exhibit, titled “The Graniteville Company Legacy: A Community Woven Together,” dives deep into how this manufacturing giant shaped both business and daily life in the area until its closure in 1996.
Curated with Care
This fantastic exhibit is the brainchild of Deborah Tritt Harmon, an associate professor and education/reference librarian at USC Aiken. In a brilliant collaboration with four talented students, Harmon has put together a collection that is both educational and engaging. The four student curators—Addisen Alvanos, Margaret Brown, Spencer Weaver, and Caroline Wright—each hailing from textile communities in South Carolina, bring fresh perspectives to the display.
Exploring the Exhibit
As visitors make their way through the curated space from left to right, they will encounter various themed units that focus on essential aspects of life in Graniteville. Topics include education, town life, work life, community hubs, Black life, the “Graniteville Bulletin,” and a significant event—the train derailment.
While there’s a lot to soak in, a few highlights certainly stand out. In the education section, you can see two remarkable letters that breathe life into the past. One letter, addressed to Hamilton Hickman, the president of the Graniteville Company in the late 1800s, details school enrollment in 1899. Another, penned by Yvonne Myrick in 1972, expresses her gratitude for the scholarship funding her degree—an initiative still supported by the Graniteville Foundation today!
Connecting History to Today
Perhaps one of the most poignant elements of the display is its ability to connect visitors to tangible pieces of history. For instance, you’ll find the service pins adorned with the image of company founder William Gregg—tokens of appreciation given to loyal employees—and the fascinating rail fragment from the original railroad that helped grow the Graniteville Company and its surrounding community.
A Community’s Resilience
But the exhibit also doesn’t shy away from the less joyous moments. The tragic train derailment in 2005 rocked the community, claiming nine lives and leading to the closure of Avondale Mills, which had acquired the company nearly a decade earlier. This somber chapter is captured in a display featuring a map of wreckage distribution and an article written by students regarding the USCA campus, which hosted those affected immediately after the disaster.
Uncovering Rich Stories
The exhibit is filled with reproductions of classic photos and covers from the Graniteville Bulletin, the company’s newsletter that ran from 1942 to 1986. These documents chronicle significant moments in the lives of local residents—from daily chores to students’ achievements.
Visit and Experience the Legacy
The Graniteville Company’s rich legacy endures through the indomitable spirit of the community it helped to shape. “The Graniteville Company Legacy: A Community Woven Together” is open for public exploration during regular library hours from 10 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. For additional visiting times, you can reach out to Deborah Tritt Harmon at deboraht@usca.edu.
Don’t miss the chance to walk through history; Graniteville’s unique journey awaits you!
