What kinds of weapons enabled American Indians to take home wild game? What tools helped them cultivate and harvest crops? What was life like for European settlers on the lonely—and dangerous—South Carolina frontier during colonial times? What Revolutionary War dramas took place in the region?
When did the first railroad come through Cherokee County, South Carolina? What was the importance of limestone and iron ore mining? What launched the century of the cotton mill industry? When did farmers turn begin turning their labors to orchard crops, in a county now famous for its peach production?
And what is the area’s artistic legacy?
A Rich Resource of Cherokee County History & Culture
Those questions and countless more are answered in depth, with engrossing illustrations, at the Cherokee County History and Arts Museum in Gaffney, South Carolina.
Director Billy Pennington, a Gaffney native and former history teacher, took on the museum project in 2007 to help develop an encompassing educational resource for both students and adults. The museum has become a popular field trip for school children, who eagerly test the hands-on exhibits and learn fascinating factoids at the “Did You Know?” and “Legend Has It” postings throughout the 5,000-square-foot facility. Pennington’s objective has been to make the museum “a place where visitors can be involved with what they’re learning.”
Older visitors get involved, too. Some are lifelong local residents who remember the town’s “Motorcycle Hospital” (bicycle repair shop) of the early 1900s, commemorated in an exhibit that features a period tandem bike. They don’t personally recall the county’s 19th-Century horse racing heritage, but a few still remember the moonshine operations that proliferated here and in rural areas nationwide into the 1960s; both topics also are explored at the museum.
A History Destination at an Historic Site
Genealogists arrive from distant points to study their ancestry in historic Gaffney, named for an Irish immigrant, Michael Gaffney, who became a leading merchant, tavern keeper and militia commander in the early 1800s. The museum site was a mustering ground in the War of 1812. Inside an orientation theater, visitors view a documentary on the town’s founding. Several research rooms are available for historians.
Only a few miles away, the battles of Kings Mountain and Cowpens helped swing the American Revolution in the patriots’ favor. A major component of the museum’s tribute in that regard is a 90-foot mural by painter Bill Briggs depicting the Cowpens engagement.
Long before the Revolution and later wars, the area was a plentiful hunting ground for Cherokee, Creek, Catawba and other native peoples.
Farms, Mines, Textiles, Sports & Everyday Life in Old Gaffney
One exhibit recreates an ore car in a rail shaft from the iron mining era. Textile mills—which flourished until only a few decades ago—return to life. More light-hearted projects pay respect to the town’s sports prowess, especially high school football and Limestone College lacrosse. A notable curio is a meteorite—about suitcase size—unearthed by a county farmer.
Cherokee always has been a rural county of hard workers. The museum shows glimpses of a small-town doctor’s office, a meager kitchen at the time of the Great Depression and a rustic, intimate church sanctuary. Century-old farm implements tell of wearisome, sweaty days in the fields.
But the county also has produced excellent, dedicated artists and crafters. The museum highlights works of area artisans in different media.
The Cherokee County Museum Looks to Expand
Unlike many museums, this one has astonishing room for expansion. It occupies a former school complex on more than three acres. Only a fraction of the interior space currently is used. A variety of shows and exhibitions are held on the exterior grounds. Board members hope to take advantage of their available space to broaden the scope of what already is an impressive collection, and to present additional artifacts and memorabilia donated steadily by area residents.
Displays have been designed by preservation professionals, but Pennington observes that the museum always will have a “grandma’s attic” ambience. It's a place for older visitors to remember, for youngsters to draw closer to the lifestyles of their forebears.
The Cherokee County History and Arts Museum is part of the Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society (CHAPS). It is at 301 College Drive, near the Limestone College campus. The museum is open 10-4, Wednesday-Friday; 2-5, Saturday; and by appointment. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children under 12. For details, visit the Web site or call (864) 489-3988.
Sources
- Cherokee County History and Arts Museum.
- Interview with Billy Pennington, director, October 2008.
Daniel Harmon - Author of more than 70 books, mainly grade-level educational works for the library market. Topics include histories, biographies, ...
