Palmer's History of Greer

Title

Palmer's History of Greer

Accession Number

2023.71.1

Accession Date

11 April 2023

Accession Creator

David Lovegrove

Depositor

Found in Collection

Description

Palmer's History of Greer written for Greer Centennial 1976

Date

Written for Greer's centennial in 1976

Format

typewritten document

Storage Location

General Archive Box #1 Folder #15

Text

[handwritten]
Palmer: History of Greer

[typewritten]
[page 1]
What was farming land is now a thriving city: Greer, teaming with over 9000 people who fill its industries, mills, businesses, churches, banks, schools, civic, social, and business clubs, hospital, nursing center, and residences. Greer, a town that grew from mere farmland into the promise of the future; haven't you seen the new airport? Pretend that you rode out to the airport on Sunday afternoon and that you stumbled upon a time machine. Wonderingly, you stepped into the machine; you found yourself spinning, hurling through space, going back beyond the white man's memory.
Blam! One medium-sized jolt and you were standing in target for a Cherokee hunter's arrow. Being an expert in linguistics, you quickly persuaded the hunter to save his arrow for one of the many wild animals that live on the vines up and down the Enoree River. After gaining the confidence of the Indian, (you had read Peale's How to Wind Friends and Influence People), you asked him about the land which you know was to become Greer.
THE INDIAN'S TALE: We mountain people. this called "Domain of the Cherokees'. Red man like rich soil for crops, plenty rain for to make grow fast; we like abundant water from Tyger and Enoree Rivers. This good land for hunting -- so good that our deerskins and pelts form one of main exports for Charleston. We had many warriors, 6000, in 1737; but Cherokee War id 1760 hurt village bad -- we only have 2300 now, in 1765. We did not want to give up this land but we make treaty with Governor Glen and give white man out land in 1761. We lost valuable land. You call edge of land "Old Indian Boundary Line" which runs through settlement there.
After hearing the Indian's tale, you realized that you had better get back into your time machine and hope to get to 1965 safely. But the machine wasn't ready to take you back yet; instead, you felt a whirring motion lifting you up into the clouds, high above the Indian hunter, far out over the horizon... Crack! You stumped your toe on a newly-laid railroad track but your toe didn't hurt very much--you were too amazed at the change in the looks of the rich land you recognized as Greer.
As you stood open-mouthed, gaping at the change, an old man shuffled up to you and stopped. He leaned heavily on a cane, and several minutes elapsed before he said:

[2]
MANNING GREER'S TALE: Howdy, feller. Have you heard about the new flag station I let the railroad put on my land? Remember the year, son, 1873, because someday your young'uns will read about it in school. Mark my words, boy, someday this town will have a school along with this new railroad. Why this town of Greers Depot will keep on growing; I feel it in my bones. Feller, did you know that not too long ago, back in 1868 it was, I sold 200 acres to W. T. Shumate for 3900? Made a fortune, I did; don't you think so, son? Never mind though, you wouldn't know the value of money. But like I was saying, Mr. Shumate bought that land from me, and do you know what he did with it? He cut it up into tracts and sold it to folks; you know why? He wants a town to grow up here! Imagine wasting perfectly good farmland for a bunch of buildings! Tell you one thing, Bon: a town won't grow here. They'd have to name it for me if it wore to grow up here, and since I know that nobody'd ever name a place for me, why a town just won't grow here. Mr. Shumate thinks that just because a Masonic Lodge was organized at "Bailey's Cross Roads" in 1869, and just because Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church was organized out at "Bailey's Cross Roads" in 1841, that people will want to form a town. He even thinks that because the Rev. Thomas Hutchings built the Cedar Hill Factory on the South Tyger River, about two miles from right here where you're standing, that a factory will start an industrial boom. I'll believe it when they build a town and call it Greer in honor of me, since I own all this land. This depot here is the only place that will bear my name, son, remember that!
When old Mr. Greer had ended his lecture, you decided that you'd had enough of this time machine business. But as you climbed into the machine, praying to be taken to 1965, you sensed a familiar motion and abandoned yourself to it. When the machine landed again in the center of a small village, you shook your head in bewilderment. Could this be Greer?
W. C. BAILEY'S TALE: You haven't been drinking, have you, boy? No, you don't look like you're under the influence. Why you're bewildered, aren't you? Been away? Don't you recognize this place? You're in the newly chartered town of Greer Depot. Enow what, this year of 1876 is going to be the best year for Greer because I'm mayor and W. A. Hill, David Cannon, A. J. Morgan, and Dr. H. V.

[3]
Westmoreland are on the town council. Business is picking up here, too, cause Mr. D. D. Davenport established a mercantile place; Mr. Hughes and Mr. Bomar also put up a x mercantile establishment. Yessir, I tell you right now, son, this town is going to--stop shaking your head around so--going to become one of the finest cities this side of the Mississippi.
Unnerved at the rapid growth of Greer Depot, you suddenly ran toward the time machine and jumped into it, not minding the dizzy feeling that engulfed you. No sooner had the dizziness hit you until you found yourself jolted out of the machine and you reeled toward the ground. As you gathered yourself up out of the dirt, you say a man with a little black bag running toward you.
DR. H.V. WESTMORELAND'S TALE: You all in one piece, boy? I'm a doctor, one of the three in town and the first one here. Dr. Bew came here in 1883 and Dr. W. E. Walker came in 1889; I just wanted to see if you were all right. Well, like I was saying, we've got a new doctor here; and that's not the only progress this town has made since 1873. Look at the school! I remember back in 1877 when Horace King taught school here, then N. K. Vance and Charles Key. Even Ks before 1877, though, in 1875 it was, Miss Sallie Cannon taught school in a log cabin of W. A. Hill's. An now we have a schoolhouse here! And have you seen the Baptist Church? It was built in 19 1880; the Methodist Church was organized here in 1883. Listen to me, son, don't shake so much because it isn't healthy. Just lean yourself up against this tree and rest a few minutes; while you rest, I'll tell you about what's been going on here. You ever heard of the Cedar Hill Factory? Now it's called the Arlington Cotton Mills and is the first of the industries to be located around these parts. And I predict that one day there will be no end to the factories and mills around Greer Depot. Hear me, boy? No end. And I further predict that there will be at least fifteen businesses here at Greer Depot by 1896. Boy? Where are you going? Wait, son, you don't look so well.
After Dr. Westmoreland's accurate predictions, you didn't feel so well at all. In fact, you felt sick. Inside the time machine again, you clasped your hands together and feverently prayed that you would be returned to 1965. But you were to make one more trip back into the past; your head won swimming an the time machine

[4]
soared up into the atmosphere, then gently lowered you to the center of a bustling town. You held your breath and waited for somebody to approach you. No one did. Finally, tired of waiting, you accosted a man coming down the street.
THE STRANGER'S TALE: What's that you say, boy? What's new? Come on over to a drugstore and I'll tell you! Now, how do you like this establishment? Good, I'm glad you like it fine. Let's see, what shall I begin with, son? When did this town get its name? Before 1901 it was called Greer Depot: in 1901 the name was changed to Greer, in honor of Manning Greer, who used to own all of this land around here. Do you feel faint, boy? Sit up and listen. Yes, this town has really grown up since Mr. Greer's time. In 1895 the Victor Cotton Mill was chartered and had as its first president Mr. W. W. Burgiss. By 1937 the mill had a capital stock of $200,000! How progressive is that? In 1900 Mr. L. W. Parker and some other men organized the Bank of Greer, which is now part of the Peoples State Bunk chain. There had to be some place to put money, right, boy? Next came the Peoples bank which got a national charter and became the First National Bank.
Let me tell you of a few more developments. Got time, feller? Did I say that the Greer Mill was organized in 1908 by J. A. Robinson, Sr.? Well, it was. And before this slips my mind, the Cotton Seed Oil Mill was opened and cost $14.000. Since 1936 Greer has gotten many new places such as the Allen Bennett Memorial Hospital in 1952, and the Roger Huntington Nursing Center this year--1963. That's about the latest new thing Greer has, I guess, except for the Jet Airport. Guess you've seen the airport?
You'd seen the airport, all right, and decided to make the time machine take you back out there. Leaving the stranger, you made your way out of the crowded drugstore and walked up to the time machine. You got in once more. This time when you began to spin, you didn't bother to hope that you'd get to 1965. But when the time machine landed in the middle of a city, you knew that you were back in your own age again: Greer looked just a you had left it a short time ago. Suddenly you saw a parade coming down the street toward you so you stood a your ground and waited. A float moved up to you and stopped.

[5]
THE BEAUTY QUEEN'S TALE: Hello, there, boy! Welcome to the Peach Festival of 1965! Why you look like you don't even know what's going on here. Got a minute? I have; this parade will wait. The South Carolina Peach Festival Association was organized by the Greer Chamber of Commerce, the representatives of the peach industry, and the city leaders Greer has a week holiday during which we have parades, like this one I'm holding up, and dances, banquets, sports events, and beauty queens. Also there's coronation of the Peach Queen too. Why don't you stay a while, boy, and watch the festivities? Meanwhile, let me tell you a little about Greer. I doubt if you know very much, do you? You do? Yeah, that's what they all say to keep me quiet. But I don't pay any attention. Now you listen to me! There are nine main industries located here around Greer. Want to know their names? There is the C. E. Runion Manufacturing Company, the Celanese Plastic Corporation, the General Battery and Ceramics Corporation, the Greer Manufacturing Company, the Greer Shirt Corporation, the Homelite Company, which is a division of the Textron Corporation; also ther is J. P. Stevens and Company, Incorporated, the Piedmont Tool Company, and finally, the Southern Machine Company. Are you going to listen to me? Stop nodding your head. Now there are some smaller firms here which make concrete products, canned goods, wood products, feed and fertilizer products, textile engravings, and printed materials. I thought you'd be impressed!
But you haven't heard anything, yet. You think this town is a tiny, baby one, don't you? I can see that big city sneer in your eyes. Well, it isn't a small town at all, it's a growing city of 9000. Outside the city within a three mile radius there is s total of 20,000 people. Not bad, huh? Know anything about the people of this town, like how they're taken care of, for instance? Greer has a mayor and six councilmen who are selected every two years, modern police force, fire department, sanitation department, and a rescue squad to boot. And to take care of utilities there is the Commission of Public Works as will as a branch of Duke Power Company. What are utilities, you say? How slow are you, anyway?

[6]
Utilities are lights, water, power, sewage, and natural gas services. Now what is it you're asking me? About the Civic Clubs? Take your choice, we've got all of these clubs: the Civitan, the Exchange, the Jaycees, the Kiwanis, the Lions, the Optimist, and the Rotary. And for ladies we have the Greer Garden Club, the Business and Professional Women's Club, the Insurance Woman's Club, the Greer Woman's Club, a Music Club, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
In case you want to go to another town, though I can't for the life of me see why you would, Greer is on the main line of the Southern Railway. Or you can take the Piedmont and Northern Railway if you'd prefer. Like trucks? There are five trucking terminals located here, if you do. You've seen the airport, I gather; did you know that you can get a Greyhound or Trailways bus if airplanes scare you? And if you can drive, there are two Interstate Highways available to you--85 and 29. But don't go yet, let me talk some more (Wish those other floats wouldn't pass me). Do you know much about the educational system here in Greer? Greer's system is part of the Greenville County School District. There is one junior high school, two high schools which are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and nine elementary schools. And 45 per cent of Greer Senior High School graduates go on to higher education! (I hate to be passed by a band). While I'm on the subject of education, let me tell you about the educational and informative media located here: there are two radio stations, WEAB and WOKI: also there is the Greer Citizen, our weekly paper. The Davenport Memorial Library is another cultural asset to Greer. One more subject to cover, boy, hang on now. Churches--there are 22 churches here and three of them have kindergartens. Denominations include Assembly of God, Baptist, Church of God, Church of God of the Prophecy, Episcopalian, Methodist, Pentecostal Holiness, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan Methodist. There now, have I given you enough information about Greer? One more thing, though, Greer is just beginning to grow. You can see that, can't you? Why nothing stays still in this for long... Well, my gosh, the whole parade in over and here I sit talking to you! My biggest moment all ruined!

[7]
As tears rolled down the cheeks of the beauty queen, you realized that she was right: nothing does stay still in Greer. You looked around for the time machine but it had disappeared. And now that your pretended voyage is over, and you are back at home once more, you can see for yourself that Greer in a progressive town, the promise of the future.