Category: History and Genealogy

Journey to Nazareth

Posted on By Tom 1 Comment on Journey to Nazareth
History and Genealogy, Local, Photography, Religion

I worked in Spartanburg county for fifteen years. During all of that time I never got around to visiting Nazareth Presbyterian Church. I knew it was one of the first churches in the area, having been established around 1765, but for some reason I thought that the building had been updated and no longer retained its historic character. I was wrong. When I had driven by it I had seen the new Family Life Center (a.k.a “gym”) and had thought that IT was the church, somehow missing the older building right next to it. While out doing some research on another project about church architecture Alan Russell and I finally paid Nazareth a visit.

Finding Camp Meeting

Posted on By Tom 3 Comments on Finding Camp Meeting
History and Genealogy, Religion

Wilmore Camp Meeting circa 1960, Wilmore, Kentucky My Background Growing up in a Pentecostal preacher’s household, one of my earliest memories is attending camp meeting each summer at Beech Springs Campground near Pelzer, South Carolina. Those earliest memories were of an open wooden tabernacle with sawdust on the floors. The activities lasted all week with … Read More “Finding Camp Meeting” »

Cypress Adventures – Part 2, Ebenezer Creek

Posted on By Tom 2 Comments on Cypress Adventures – Part 2, Ebenezer Creek
Geocaching and Maps, History and Genealogy, Paddling, Photography

Thursday was Sparkleberry Swamp with the Tri-County Blueway Paddlers. Since this was a Second Saturday, it also meant that it was time for a trek with Lowcountry Unfiltered. We would be doing a trip through yet another cypress swamp, this time along Ebenezer Creek in Georgia. I drove down Friday night so that I wouldn’t … Read More “Cypress Adventures – Part 2, Ebenezer Creek” »

Remembering the Walke

Posted on By Tom 1 Comment on Remembering the Walke
Family, History and Genealogy

Both my late father and Laura’s father served in the US Navy in WWII. Dad talked a little about doing MP patrols in Paris and being stationed in Guam, but really didn’t talk about the war. Mr. Wright was also reticent to talk about the way. I guess some experiences are just too hard to discuss. Now they are both gone, and those stories with them. However, there is one story from Mr. Wright that was told to Laura, not about WWII, but his later service in the Korean War. It was the story about how his ship, the USS Walke, was torpedoed in the Sea of Japan.

Cypress Adventures – Part 1, Sparkleberry

Posted on By Tom No Comments on Cypress Adventures – Part 1, Sparkleberry
Geocaching and Maps, History and Genealogy, Paddling, Photography

The past several days have been a marathon of kayaking trips. I’ve done three paddles in five days for a total of 21 miles. Each of these trips had some similarities, but there were some significant differences. The first trip was on Thursday of last week to Sparkleberry Swamp with the Tri-County Blueway Paddlers.

Lost Communities – Sessions 4, 5 &6

Posted on By Tom No Comments on Lost Communities – Sessions 4, 5 &6
Geocaching and Maps, History and Genealogy, Photography, Rambling

We only have two more sessions left in our Lost Communities course, and I have been remiss in posting the information for the last several sessions. In these past sessions we’ve traveled along the Broad River, looked at what’s under the state’s lakes, examined some railroad towns, and explored some Native American sites. Session 4 … Read More “Lost Communities – Sessions 4, 5 &6” »

Exploring the Broad River with Scott Withrow

Posted on By Tom No Comments on Exploring the Broad River with Scott Withrow
History and Genealogy, Local, Photography, Rambling

During our Lost Communities course for OLLI someone said that they wanted to got with Scott Withrow, my co-teacher, and me on one of our adventures. We confessed that we had never actually gone on an adventure together, but independently had been exploring many of the same areas. We decided that it was time for that to change. We had both wanted to explore the Broad River area for the following class, so we decided to do that together.

Paddling to Pompion Hill

Posted on By Tom No Comments on Paddling to Pompion Hill
History and Genealogy, Paddling, Photography

I have missed our Second Saturday trips with Lowcountry Unfiltered. For one reason or another we’ve had conflicts with trips, or the weather wasn’t right, or the plans just fell through. It was great to get back together with the guys. This time we ventured into the Land of Unpronounceable Names in the heart of Berkeley County with a kayak trek from Huger Creek to Cooper River, a stop at the historic Pompion Hill Chapel, then back along the Cooper to Quinby Creek.

Lost Communities – Sessions Two and Three

Posted on By Tom No Comments on Lost Communities – Sessions Two and Three
Geocaching and Maps, History and Genealogy

I’ve been remiss in my blogging lately. I’ve had a series of technical glitches (to be elaborated upon in a future post) and I’ve gotten completely wrapped up in my new endeavors. That means I’ve also missed one of our Lost Communities classes, so we’re up to Session Three. I’ve promised to post links to the class materials on this website, so here we go…