The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-11-14
Especial Correspondence The Man
ming Times.)

In many instances the people, their
environment and the various move
ments made for progress from the in
ception of a place towards it's pres
ent development become most inter-
esting features in it's history. Espec-
tally is this true of the enterprising
city of Summerton, South Carolina.
About the year 1910 a number of
wealthy planters in the fertile San
tee river bottoms selected the pres
ent size of Summerton as sort of
summer resort where they could
divert their minds from the business
exactions of the plantations to pleas
ant recreation during the heated
months in this ideal location. =
These pioneers of what in later
years was to become one of the most
promising business sections in this
part of the state comprised men and
women representing the flower of
manhood and womanhood whose sterl-
ing character, probity and worth were
unimpeachable, occupying conspic-
uous place in the communities of
those primitive days. Included in the
personnel of those who frequented
the summer resort were the Col
cloughs, Briggs, Aliens, Thomas, Nc
Knights, Ragin s,Owens, Dukes, Pei
sers and Davis families. Summer
homes had been built by the planters
and about the year 1849 the place
began to assume the proportions of
a business community when the first
store building was erected by j. H.
Mcknight. - .',,sAss..'.. .,.
Summerton's First Merchant.
The place assumed the name of
Summerton about this time. Mr..
Mcknight conducted the, first mer-
camille business of the town until the
close of the war when it was operat-
ed in succession by Messrs. Benbow,
Levi and Stelgers. In 1866 dispen-
sation was granted for the institution
of Masonic Lodge, which was in
stalled according to the rites of the
order and occupied the second floor
of the Mcknight building until this
structure was burned about five years
ago. The fire was Of inccndiary or-
gin being caused by a 12-year-old
negro boy who had mania for de-
stroying property in this manner
having applied the torch to other
buildings in this locality. He was
sent to the reformatory at Lexington
by Judge A. j. Richbourg, where he
is now confined. All the paraphcr-
MALTA and other property of the Ma
sonic lodge was consumed in the con-
flagration. Today Summerton has a
large and flourishing Masonic lodge.
Only one of the original structures
built in the days of the summer re-
sort remain and that building is own
ed by the Davises. 1t is in a very
dilapidated condition a portion of the
roof having fallen in. The old build
ing, which occupies lot next the
Baptist church, is Of peculiar con-
struction and is we'll worth an in
spection trip. All the other former
buildings of the old summer resort
have been either razed, remodellcd
or rebuilt on modern lines Of arch-
lecture and are attractive residence
structures and occupied by some of
the descendants of pioneers.
Early Interest in Education.
Such was the high mental calibre
of the pioneers that one of the prime
movements was naturally made in
the direction Of education. About
1910 small school house was built
and Robert K. Rutledge, man pos
scssed of high educational talent,
was engaged to teach the first school
opened in this locality. This school
building was later replaced by n more
modern structure and a Mr.. Thomas
secured as principal. Keeping pace
with the interest in educational mat
ters this house was remodefed/ into
a more expensive one, which preceded
the present fine structure.
Interest in Spiritual Affairs.
The high moral attitude of the
pioneers Of Summerton was further
accentuated by the interest displayed
by these people in spiritual affairs in
their early efforts to provide places
of worship in their community.
Among the first denominations to be