Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-12-03
Georgian Visits Oconee.

Last week tho writer spent most hap
PLY in the County of Oconee, South Car
olina. We were the guest during our
stay Of the families of Hon. M. b. Dendy,
Richland, Mr.. d. A. Perritt, Seneca, and
Mr.. Jasyer Doyle, Bounty Land, whose
hospitality was lavishly bestowed and
heartily enjoyed.
Through the kindness of Mr.. Doyle we
visited Walhalla and Fort Hill. 1t bad
been 81 years since we were in Walhalla,
and of course we were prepared to sec
many changes. Walhalla is beautiful
town with every evidence of thrift and
prosperity. OF course we visited the
old Keowee Courier Office. The Courier
is not only one of the oldest newspapers
in South Carolina, but ranks among tho
very best. 1t has a "big FOUR in the
persons of Messrs. Smith, Jaynes, Shclor
and Steck. The Courier office is a large
two story brick building-the most con
in our knowledge and the best equipped.
No paper anywhere is more neatly
printed nor more tasteful in it's make up.
They do a large amount Of job work
Mr.. Smith, the Senior member of the
firm, worked on the first newspaper
ever published in Hartwell-The Mes.
senger-and listened very patiently and
attentively to us as we descanted upon
the growth and beauty of Hartwell
under the genial rays of latter-day
"Sun" shine.
Fort Hill was revelation to us. Here
it is that Clemson College is located, and
here the old homo of South Cardinals
greatest statesman now stands, just as it
was when John G. Calhoun daily crossed
its threshold. 1t was n grand home in
that day, but presents an insignificant
appearance beside the splendid brick
college, four-story dormit' y, numerous
halls, and modern residences. Our stay
was short and we have only time to
barely mention some of the many inter
esting things here that attracted our at
tention. This is an agricultural, techno-
logical and military as we'll as literary
school, and is well equipped and we
think one of the most beautiful and
picturesque spots that could we'll be
imagined. We were kindly allowed to
visit the dining room and kitchen by the
chief cook, Mr.. Schalatter, at the dor
mitory, and the savory odor Of the huge
vessels of steaming food was very tantal-
izing as we'll as appetizing. Just as a
pointer we will state that the coffee pot
has. capacity of Is gallons! Visited
tho steam laundry, where they wash and
''do up' the clothing of over 500 stu
dents. They have huge dairy, a cheese
factOry,l all kinds of manufacturing, a
other industries that we did not have
time to inspect. A fine farm, orchards,
vegetables and flower gardens and green
house which we found to be very at
tractive and well worth visiting. But
when you go you should stay couple of
days if you wish to take in everything.
Mr.. Burns Gillison, who is we'll known
in Hartwcll, has charge of the horticul-
tural department, and to him we are in
debted for courtesies.
On the return to Seneca we took in the
"Old Stone Church." truly historical
sanctuary, which was erected by Presby-
terians in the year 1907. 1t appears to
have lapsed into disuse, but is in fairly
good state of preservation, and would
answer the purposes for which it was
built, with some necessary repairs. The
cemetery at this place, around which
has been recently built a substantial
granite wall, is perhaps the largest we
have seen in the country. 1t is three
miles from Old Pendleton, a glimpse of
which we caught across the valleys en-
route 1t was there we spent our last
school days and twas there that Cousin
jim was born-two of the many notable
events for which historic Old Pendleton
Is remarkable
Many prominent people in the history
of South Carolina arc buried at Old Stone
Church, among them General Andrew
Pickens, whose grave is marked by a
plain marble slab. For him Pickens
oouh1J "ao hdilcu. ohW JuG tombstone
OF e. b. Benson, who was tho grand
father of our esteemed citizen, i. b.
Benson. There are some beautiful mon
uments in this home of the dead and
many very old and delap;dated. 1t was
here that Bynum was buried, who was
killed in n duel by the late Hon. Ben. f.
Perry more than sixty years ago on the
island at Hatton's Ford on the Tugaloo
river, ten miles from Hartwnll. The leg
end goes that tho two gro Il pine poles
used in carrying the coffin were driven
In tho ground at the head and foot of
the grave, and that they took root and
grew up to be large trees. The place be.
tween two pine stumps was pointed out
TO us as the resting place Of the ill-fated
duelist. Mr.. John B. Pickett, an ex-
ceedingly entertaining and courteous
gentleman, with whom we rode from
the Old Stone Church to Seneca, gave il
to us as the opinion of some ono that
there wore two small pine bushes grow
ing in that vicinity when Bynum was
consigned to his grave.
Seneca is quito business town and is
growing right along Among it's promi-
nent business men is Mr. Jas. III. Adams.
whom all of our people know. He has
recently moved into lovely home.
Hickory Crest" located upon con,
spicuous eminence that commands a fine
view in every direction, including the
busy little city and the towering Blue
Ridge mountains. To him and our old
school-fellow, John Anderson, we are in.
de6ted for many courteses.
Everybody appreciates the abrupt end
Ing OF dry sermon and dull newspa.
per article. Selah!