Founded in 1896 by David D. Davenport, the Greer Cottonseed Oil and Fertilizer Company sold products acquired through the processing of cottonseed: oil, meal, and hulls, as well as linters used in the actual processing. The company survived the destruction of offices and warehouses by a fire, and after Davenport's death, company stock was sold to the Greer Oil Mill and Feed Company, Inc., which continued ginning operations until 1959.
Mill tokens were given out to mill employees as an advance on their pay. The catch was they could only be used in the mill general store. Since minting coins was expensive, many mills shared coinage with surrounding mills and differentiated them by punching the first letter of the mill name in them. Victor Mill coins came in 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, and even one dollar variants.
Mill tokens were given out to mill employees as an advance on their pay. The catch was they could only be used in the mill general store. Since minting coins was expensive, many mills shared coinage with surrounding mills and differentiated them by punching the first letter of the mill name in them. Victor Mill coins came in the 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, and even one dollar variants.
Victoria Bailey was the wife of W.C. Bailey, the first intendant (mayor) of Greer. After his death she became a savvy businesswoman and real estate investor. Victoria Street in Greer is named for her.
Color map of Greenville County, South Carolina from 1869. Includes names of property owners, roads, townships, and major landmarks. The future location of Greer shows the crossing of the State Road and the Chick Springs/Spartanburg Road, showing the Blakely place situated at the crossroads.
Tinned steel box, lacquered black; double red striping top and bottom. This box, likely from the mid- to late-1800s, was kept for generations in a drawer of a hallway secretary. It held numerous letters and photographs. They center around the families of William Clark and Victoria Cunningham Bailey, their daughter Etta, and her husband William Wesley Burgiss.
W. W. Burgiss was the first president of Victor Mill. He became a major real estate investor in Greer, in Greenville County, and in the West Palm Beach area of Florida. He became Greenville County's first major philanthropist, entirely funding the Greenville Shriner's Children's Hospital and the W.W. Burgiss Charities, which remains in operation to this day.
W. C. Bailey was the first station agent at the Greer's Depot in 1873; the founder and first Worshipful Master of the Bailey Masonic Lodge; and he was the first intendent (Mayor) of Greers.
Set of 20 pictures-tokens used at Victor Mill Store for employees, Copy of 50 cent pc given for opening account at Bank of Greer, City Park, Presbyterian Church, City Hall, Downtown Greer, Grammar School, First Baptist Church
1997.81.1.2 - Photograph of City Park, Greer Postcard
1997.81.1.9 - Photograph of Grammer School
1997.81.1.8 - Photograph of Grammar School
White loomed bed cover made by Millie Staggs Fisher around 1875-90. She was great grandmother to J.B. Howell. Grandfather (A.G.Howell) had grocery store corner of W. Poinsett and Main.
