As discussed in ‘Want to Dig Deeper,’ the town of Williamston was initially known as “Mineral Springs” due to a miraculous spring with supposed healing powers located in the city. This spring is preserved to this day in a park complete with picnic shelters and a playground known as Miracle Spring Park. This park is also home to annual holiday events, including Boo In the Park at Halloween and a lights extravaganza throughout the park at Christmastime.
SC Picture Project. “Williamston Mineral Spring Park.” SC Picture Project, October 13, 2016. https://www.scpictureproject.org/anderson-county/williamston-mineral-spring-park.html.
How many students did teachers usually have in class? What was the ratio of girls:boys? Were classes mixed gender?
Did any noteworthy figures or celebrities stay at the Mammoth Hotel?
What was the cost to rent a room at the Mammoth Hotel?
The following object description information includes basic elements from the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI). An additional notes field is included to list dates from the actual letter, envelope postmark locations, and any other identifying details.
The above images show a number of young girls working in a mill in Lancaster, South Carolina in the year 1908. These images highlight the prevalence of child labor during this era and in South Carolina. Young girls worked at large looming and spinning machines for many hours a day in the poorest working conditions possible. As seen in one of the pictures, young girls might find themselves working alongside male adults twice their size on the same machines.
“A Typical Spinner Lancaster Cotton Mills, S.C ... - Library of Congress.” Library of Congress. Accessed November 13, 2023. https://www.loc.gov/resource/nclc.01438/.
“Spinner in Lancaster Cotton Mills, S.C. Location: Lancaster, South Carolina.” The Library of Congress. Accessed November 13, 2023. https://www.loc.gov/item/2018674876/.
“Spinner in Lancaster Cotton Mills, S.C.. Many More as Small as She. Location: Lancaster, South Carolina.” The Library of Congress. Accessed November 13, 2023. https://www.loc.gov/item/2018674878/.
In this letter, the author and supposed older adult friend of Blanche’s, Eunice Wardlaw, discusses taking a “crowd” (possibly her group of students) to Williamston at the end of the school year for a picnic. Williamston is a town in Anderson County, South Carolina that was founded in 1842. Williamston was initially known as “Mineral Springs” because of a spring located in the city that was believed to have special healing powers. This attracted a number of new residents to town and earned “Mineral Springs” the nickname of “Saratoga of the South.” A hotel was soon established for the influx of residents to town called the Mammoth Hotel. This hotel proved to be the biggest hotel in the state at the time, boasting over 100 rooms plus a bowling alley and ballroom. A fire destroyed the hotel in 1860, unfortunately.
“Mineral Springs” became Williamston in 1852, naming itself after West Allen Williams who discovered the aforementioned healing spring.
“History.” Town of Williamston, August 29, 2020. https://williamstonsc.us/history/.