In July of 1991, a tragic accident rocked the Grand Strand when a 12-year-old girl was thrown from her seat on the Ferris wheel at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion. The young girl found herself clinging to a cable more than 30 feet above the ground. The accident reportedly occurred when a teenager began rocking his…
The History of Echo Valley Western Theme Park in Northern Greenville County, South Carolina
Echo Valley Theme Park operated in Cleveland, South Carolina, in northern Greenville County, from 1964 to 1968. In late 1963, Harry Stewart, one of the founders of Ghost Town in the Sky in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, approached local businessmen about opening a western theme park similar to Ghost Town. According to travelersresthere, the park…
Remembering The Halloween Hurricane
In 1899, people along the eastern side of North and South Carolina received a scare when the Halloween Hurricane made landfall near Garden City, South Carolina, on October 31. The storm was classified as a Category Two hurricane, and to date, it remains the only one to have made landfall in South Carolina after October…
The Tragic 1988 Greenwood School Shooting
On September 26, 1988, 19-year-old Jaime William Wilson walked into Oakland Elementary in Greenwood and opened fire. Wilson is responsible for one of the first deadly school shootings in the country. He was armed with a 22-caliber pistol when he started in the cafeteria and moved into a classroom. In the end, Wilson shot 11…
The 1985 S.C. Bold Prison Break: Get to the Choppa
Like something from a movie, in 1985, Joyce Bailey Mattox, of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, devised a plan to rescue her love interest, Jesse Glenn Smith. There was only one problem: Smith was an inmate, serving a lengthy prison sentence at the time. No one knows how Mattox became acquainted with the prisoner. It has…
The Historic Old Stone Church
Old Stone Church, which now resides in Clemson, was constructed in 1802 in the Pendleton District. Many are laid to rest in the cemetery, including Andrew Pickens, Robert Anderson, patriots, pioneers of industry and education, and 45 Confederate soldiers. Written By: John G. Clark Jr Image By John G. Clark Jr.
The 1934 Chiquola Mill Massacre
The Chiquola Mill Massacre, also known as Bloody Thursday, occurred on September 6, 1934, in Honea Path, South Carolina. During a textile workers’ strike, seven striking workers were killed and at least 30 others were injured when Dan Beacham, the mayor and magistrate in the small town, ordered armed townsmen, deputized by him, to fire…
The 1987 Carowinds Wave Pool Shooting
On June 7, 1987, a horrible tragedy unfolded at the popular Carowinds amusement park on the North and South Carolina state border when two girls were struck by stray bullets while playing in the wave pool in the Ocean Island section. A 16-year-old from Rock Hill was killed in the incident, while a 6-year-old from…
Is Chester County sitting on the Lost Confederate Gold from the Civil War
In April 1865, the Civil War came to a close for most Americans. The war and its various aspects continue to capture the interest and imagination of many Americans who are fascinated by the battles, leaders, and strategies displayed during that conflict. Mysteries endure, too, including the ultimate disposition of the Confederate Treasury. One of…
The Story of Snap! Crackle! and Pop! Rock Hill, SC
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…