In 1928, Kellogg’s released Rice Krispies on store shelves in America. It was an instant hit with consumers. In 1932, the words Snap! Crackle! Pop! first appeared on a box of the popular cereal. However, it wasn’t until 1933 that the brand introduced its iconic characters, which would forever transform the breakfast game. Artist Vernon…
The Belton Standpipe
The Belton Standpipe, historically known as the Belton Waterworks Tower, is a 155-foot-tall concrete water tower located near downtown Belton, South Carolina. Construction began in 1908 and was completed in 1909. It is the tallest of three standpipe water towers in South Carolina. The tower was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on…
Did a UFO visit Chester County in 1997
Did a UFO visit Chester in the summer of 1997? Some believers say yes. The rare anomaly occurred twenty-six years ago, over a field near the J.A. Cochran Bypass. The large craft hovered as onlookers sat in their stopped vehicles. One person said, “I was in a vehicle with some friends leaving a pool party….
The Lockhart Canal
Lockhart, South Carolina, is full of history. Not only was Pinckneyville located nearby on the Broad River, which many considered the “Charleston” of the upcountry during the late 1700s and early 1800s, but Lockhart is home to a famous waterway. The Lockhart Canal, designed by Robert Mills, was completed in 1823. It was part of…
The Strange Disappearance of Wesley McNinch in Chester
It’s been 12 years since the disappearance of Wesley McNinch of Chester County, SC. He was last heard from on March 8, 2013. He was walking in the woods to a relative’s house while speaking on the phone with his mother, Lori McNinch. He then talked to his cousin and told him he was lost…
Todd Kolhepp and the 2003 Superbike Murders
On November 6, 2003, the unthinkable occurred in Chesnee, South Carolina, when four people were killed at Superbike Motorsports. The case remained as cold as ice for 13 years, until a local serial killer confessed to the horrific slayings. The killings provoked much fear, not only in Spartanburg County, but also in neighboring counties in…
The Good Dentist Snaps
If walls could talk, many could write a novel, especially the walls inside older buildings around the state. Spartanburg, South Carolina, is no stranger to haunted history, with a dark past marked by unthinkable atrocities. At The Lantern, we have highlighted many of these paranormal hotspots and the city’s history in the past. One story…
The Unsolved Case of Max Headroom Signal Hijacking
Many may remember the character Max Headroom, but do you remember the Max Headroom signal hijacking incident? While this may seem like a stretch for me to cover, it’s not, since I write about the unsolved. On November 22, 1987, two unauthorized intrusions into broadcast signals occurred in Chicago. During these incidents, a person dressed…
The 1896 “Wreck Tech” Incident
In 1896, Auburn University students were hyped up for a big game against rival Georgia Tech. The night before, Auburn students decided to grease the railroad tracks with layers of pig grease and soap. The greased tracks caused the Georgia Tech train to slide for 5 miles past its intended stop. Georgia Tech players were…
The Legend of Old Green Eyes
If you love Civil War history mixed with ghostly stories, this next tale is for you. The “Legend of Old Green Eyes” is believed to be the ghost of a Confederate soldier, who met his demise in the bloody battle that occurred at Chickamauga, just outside of Chattanooga on September 19-20, 1863, which resulted in…