Photograph explanation

Title

Photograph explanation

Accession Number

2026.31.43.2

Accession Date

18 August 2026

Accession Creator

Sophie Pendergraft

Depositor

Kala Kennemore

Description

Photograph explanation of Bessie Hendrix Mosteller Photograph (Accession #: 2026.31.43.1)

Storage Location

Box 78, Folder 1

Text

"The lady is my Aunt Bessie Hendrix Monsteller who married Stonewall Mosteller. They had two sons. I believe that is Edward Mosteller who was known as Brother on the left and Hendrix Mosteller on the right across the hedge row. This house was located just above the famous Lakeview Steak House above Greer on Hwy 14 on the left like you are heading towards Washington Baptist Church. HERE IS WHERE THE EXCITING STORY BEGINS! the house is not there today. The reason the house is not there begins with a BANG. In the middle of a Dark night probably over 50 years ago as this family lay sleeping peacefully to rest up so they would be ready for another day of hard work in the fields the next morning. Electricity had become available in the sparsely settled country side and a lot of homes had installed electric water heaters which was a blessing. Like a lot of other new appliances they didn't have all the bugs worked out. Apparently there was no pressure release valve working properly. The water heater tank was located in the kitchen and the steam pressure in the tank begin to build higher and higher until it HAPPENED. THE TANK BLEW UP WITH A THUNDERING NOIDE AND WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT WENT THROUGH THE CEILING AND ON THROUGH THE ROOF LIKE A MISSLE LANDING ABOUT 100 YARDS AWAY IN THEIR PEACH ORCAHRD. THERE WAS SUCH FORCE THAT TIMBERS WERE DISLODGED ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE WITH SOME BOARDS FALLING ON THE BED WHERE AUNT BESSIE WAS SLEEPING. IT WAS A MIRACLE NO ONE WAS INJURED BADLY. IF IT HAD HAPPENED DURING THE DAY WHEN SOMONE HAD BEEN IN THE KITCHEN A LIFE MAY HAVE BEEN LOST. THIS SCARED ALL THE PEOPLE IN GREER AREA SO BAD THAT EVERYONE HAD TO HAVE THEIR WATER HEATERS CHECKED AND A BETTER PRESSURE STEAM RELEASE VALVE INSTALLED. THEY HAD TO BUILD ANOTHER HOUSE WHICH WAS A BRICK HOUSE. IT MAY NOT BE THERE ANYMORE WITH ALL THE BUILDING GOING ON. THIS IS THE WAY I REMEMBER IT. BESSIE HENDRIX MOSTELLER GRANDAUGHTER MARY ALICE MOSTELLER WADDELL STILL LIVES IN GREER."