Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I l f v a* '".v' Vt' PiM f •» THE AVALON CLUB Pictured above are members of the Avalon Club (around 1910-12), a boarding house ar rangement operated by a group of young Clinton bachelors. The Avalon Club was locat ed in a large two-story house (since demolished) at the cor ner of Musgrove and Fergu son Streets. This is the same location of a popular boarding house, which inherited the name Avalon, operated for more than 25 years by two sisters, Misses Mattie and Tensie Blakely, both experts in the culinary art. In the photo are: Front Row: Albert Galloway, Eugene Forshe, Hugh Simpson, Tom Spratt and Robert C. McLees; Back Row: Neal Turner, Hugh Leaman, Jolin Spratt, Carl Barksdale and Blakely Sloan. Two members of the Avalon Club, Simpson and Sloan were later to serve as mayor of Clinton. Three-Acre Site For $30 Friendship AME Founded 1880 The church that is now known as Friendship A. M. E., had its beginning with the Bethel A.M. E. Church, located in the rural south-east section of Clinton, S. C. The first improvised shelter of this religious organization was a brush arbor, where these members would meet twice each month for religious ser vices. This arrangement went on for several years’ finally, the members of the northern sec tion, which is now Gideon Hill, and the members of the Bell Place, which is now Bell Street wanted to end this situation, for they had many hindrances that kept them from attending services as regularly as they should. The main hindrance was the distance they had to walk. At their best, after traveling the distance of at least four or more miles, they were dusty, sweaty and tired. In 1880, a three-acre tract of land was bought. Here are the words from the original deed and title: Known all men by these pre sent, Thavre, Mary McKelvy, W. A. McKelvy, Eusiben Mc Kelvy, Lucy Sloan, Mary A. McKelvy, Pittis McKelvy and Margaret Foster, heirs at law of Hugh McKelvy, deceased. Sum of $30 paid by N. C. Chiles, G. L. Leak, J. D. Wil liams, Anderson Hitch, J. M. Dillard and Robert Todd, trus tees of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in the state afore said as Friendship. Have granted bargained, sold and released and by these pre sent do grant, bargain sell and release unto the said N. C. Chiles, that piece of land or lot of land bounaed by lands of estate of Hugh McKelvy, de ceased, containing three acres more or less as described on the platt of survey made on the 9th day of February, 1880 by E. P. Jones, surveyor. M. E. Babb, Register Mesne Conveyance. 3rd day of August A. D. 1880. Book A-page 178, No. W.-page 67. The physical plant as a church building did not ma- teralize at first. The people still resorted to a brush arbor. Then out of the group of men which Included Gideon Leak, Tom Harris and others, they began to fell oak trees and haul the same to the area west side of the Clinton Cotton Mill. All who were interested came to help. Some scaled bark from the logs, while others made pegs to put the logs to gether. They even made thick shingles for the roof of the church. The women cooked and served meals on the grounds. Some of the leading women at that time were Mrs. Rebecca Leak, Mrs. Harriet Bendy and others. Friendship was the name given, since it was friends who undertook this project Then as a church, they felt it should be a place for friendship as well as fellowship. The first minist er, I was told, was the Rev. Chiles. Friendship AME Church Others who followed, which are not in order as they came were: Rev. Chiles Rev. Burgess Rev. T. F. Harper Rev. McCoy Rev. Fate Bendy Rev. J. E. Beard Rev. R. B. Curry Rev. L. F. Vance Rev. Nelson Rev. J. B. Smith Rev. A. C. East Rev. L. A. Logan Rev. T. H. Addison Rev. G. K. Lyles Rev. P. M. Gary Rev. Mitchell Rev. H. W. Walker Rev. G. T. Shelton Rev. D. Bedenbaugli Rev. Elect Vance Rev. K. L. Moore Rev. D. Ziegler Rev. Billups Rev. L. C. Butler Rev. W. E. Crumlin In 1937, a new larger church was completed at the south end of Bell Street. The first Sun day in October, 1937 was the first Sunday of worship in the new church. Mrs. Ruth P. Stackhouse Alexander was pianist. Mrs. A. J. Gary and Mrs. Bertha E. Ferguson served as assistants. Later a church model- Hammond organ was pur chased. The first chairs for the choir were given by the police de partment of Clinton, S. C. White yard-good material was given by one of the M. S. Bailey Stores for the communion rail. The second set of chairs, now in use, was donated by various members of the congregation and choir. Mrs. B.E. Ferguson served as chairlade for this effort. This church is now consider ed one of the first ranking churches of the Piedmont Con ference. It has stood the test down through the years, and now stands as a living monu ment to those w'ho worked so diligently. Bethany Dates Back To 1833 In the year 1833, a number of Christian workers viewing the possibilities of the future decided it their duty to or ganize a Presbyterian Church in what was then possibly known as the Musgrove section of Laurens County. A committee was formed, headed by Rev. Samuel B. Lewers with de finite determinations. Mr. Walter Stewart donated ten acres of land lying on the South side of Enoree River, bondering on the main road leading from Musgrove Mill to Laurens Court House, as a definite site for the location of this Church. About two hundred yards north east from where now stands the present build ing was the original place of worship, and a few steps away is a spring, which today is sending forth its cooling water for the refreshment of man kind. The original elders of the church were James Temple ton, Samuel Mills, Maj. George Byrd. Serving as deacon was James Martindill. Records are incomplete but other known to have served as elders are Joshua Saxon, Col. David Templeton, W. C. Stewart, Samuel J. Craig, Dr. John T. Dorrah, Dr. C. A. Saxon, W. C. Templeton, Dr. W. A. Shands, T. P. Byrd, L. M. Linson, D. H. Glenn and J. P. Saxon, G. C. Byrd, A. E. Cleveland. Some of the deacons to serve included Dr. W. A. Shands, G. C. Byrd, J. Warren Bla kely, Capt. R. L. Cleveland, J. S. Craig, L. S. Machray and D. A. Glenn. As has already been stated the Rev. Samuel B. Lewers was the founder and first pas tor of this church. To get ttie dates and names of the pas tors and their successive ser vice for a period of thirty to forty years is impossible to the writer. Though the Church was ably supplied during this period by the Rev. John Le- land Kennedy, David Wells, J. B. Hillhouse, Clark Stewart, E. F. Hyde, J. L. Holmes, Dr. W. P. Jacobs and possibly others whose names I have not been able to secure. In 1882, the church called the Rev. David Todd who served the church for several years. Others who served dur ing the next 18 years were the Rev. A. M, Hassell, Rev. Tren- holm, Will Owens, B. R. And erson, Rev. J. H. Gray, Rev. Lewis Boston. REV. JACOBS CALLED In July, 1901, the Church secured the services of Rev. J. F. Jacobs as Stated Supply until the Spring Meeting of Presbytery, 1902. Then Bethany was grouped with other church es, and called to their Pas torate, Rev. T. F. Farr who served them for twelve months. Accepting other work, Rev. Farr was compelled to with draw from Bethany after the First Sunday in May 1903. On the . First Sunday in Church Of Christ Started In 1964 By REV. MILTON S. PARKER The Church of Christ in Clinton, South Carolina met for the first time Jan. 5,1964, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Ham, with seven members present They continued to meet in this home for about two months. Then they purchased property at the present location, remodeled a frame building which served as a place of Worship until January of 1969. The Church now has a nice brick building on this site with an auditorium that will seat 160, four class rooms, nursery and preacher’s study. The Church has enjoyed a steady growth through these years and now has a mem bership of about 50. Evangelist U. A. Hall served the Church as local minister from the beginning until July of 1968 when he gave up his work with this congregation because of ill health. Evangelist Milton S. Parker moved here at that time, and is still working with the Church as local minister. The Church of Christ is un denominational, and its plea is for a complete return to New Testament Christianity. V : £- ■ ~.f . *_v-! -A Bethany Presbyterian Church August, following, the Church called the Rev. J. F. Jacobs as Stated Supply, who served faithfully until April, 1912. From 1902 until >920, the Church was without a regular minister, but was served by the Rev. J. Ferdinand Jacobs as Stated Supply. Although Dr. Jacob’s work was fruitful, it seems that the Church con tinued to decline from 1882 until its status as an organized church was dissolved in 1932. Prior to 1932 when the Church was dissolved, the Church call ed several ministers, the first being in Spetember 1923, when the Rev. F. Dudley Jones was called to the pastorate. Rev. Jones served the Church until 1930. From 1932 until 1939, Be thany Church was inactive. The doors were closed in 1932, but in 1939, under tlie able lead ership of Rev. C. A. Culcote, minister of the Aveleigh Pres byterian Church, Newberry, S. C., the doors were once again opened. From 1939 until 1953, however, only Sabbath School services were held, with Wor ship Service every once in a while at first and then once or twice a month. In 1939, The First Presbyterian Church in Laurens, S. C. was asked to help in this mission and under the Guidance of such people as Dr. Calcote, Mrs. Essie Hun ter Workman, and Mr. Ben Stroupe, the Sabbath School flourished. It was not until the First Presbyterian Church, Clinton, S.' C. had called the Rev. Dr. J. K. Roberts that any interest from the quarter was noted. Due to the war years and the necessity of rationing gasoline, the First Church Clinton was asked to take over the Bethany Mission. The Church did so by sending Mr. W. C. Baldwin to assist Mrs. Workman in 1943. Sometime in 1944, Mr. Baldwin was asked to become ttie Ses sion Representative to Bethany with the purpose in mind of t>nce again making Bethany an organized Church. Under the guidance of student supplies, along with the help and dedication of such men as W. C. Baldwin, Session Re presentative, Mr. John Har mon, Clerk of Council, Mr. Roy Osborne, Councilman, Mr. George Pressley, Councilman, Mr. Newel Brewington, Coun cilman, Mr. Roy Benjamin, Councilman, Mr. Maxie Fow ler, Councilman, Bethany lias nourished greatly and the work of the Lord is once again being carried on as it was m the beginning and with the same spirit as that of 1833. From I960 to 1970 tlie church has teen served by these men Rev. Hugh Pollard, William (Bill) Littlefield, Col. W. F. Holderman, John Boyer, David McDonald, Johnny McCallum, Dan Rolerts, Tom Stearns, Ro bert Vincent, Paul Fallaw and presently the church has three students serving as student ministers, (Hub G ttington, Skip Lawrence, Bill Dotger.) John Harm >n Elder, Newell Brewington, Deacon, Paul Fal law, Deac<>n,J 1m Harrmn, Jr., Henry Fallaw, Luther W illard, Grady Fallaw as Councilmen, David [licks n, Sunday School Superintendent, W. C. Baldwin, Treasury. Happy 300th Birthday To All South Carolinians 0AKLANE SHOP 127 South Broad Street L-R, Front Row: Beulah Metis, Cook; Gertrude Lindsay, Dishwasher; Sarah Craine, Cleaning; Nellie Robertson, Wait-ess; Janie Freeman, Partner; Mamie Abrecrombie, Waitress; Sarah Lawson, Waitress; Jean ette Lyda, Waitress; Murry Gilliam, Chef. Back row: D. O. Freeman, Owner and Manager; James Wham, Utility. The Personnel Of Clinton Cafe Is Proud To Be A Part Of South Carolina's 300th Birthday! We Pledge To The People Of Clinton And Laurens County Continued Good Service And Excellent Home Cooked Food HAPPY BIRTHDAY. S. C! CLINTON CAFE Clinton Church Of Christ 102 Musgrove Street M3-2378 .v.v.V.v.v.w