An old store sign, a school photograph, a family letter, or a memory of an ordinary afternoon can give a familiar place a different depth. If you have a story connected to Pumpkintown, the Oolenoy Valley, or the surrounding foothills, tell us what you know. You can begin with a few details and a question; you do not need a finished article.
What would you like to share?
We welcome local memories, photographs, documents, and leads about the people and places of the area. A family farm, a neighborhood business, a school, a church, a workplace, or a place where people gathered can all be starting points. Everyday details matter too: what a room looked like, how someone traveled to work, or what a familiar building was used for.
You may have a firsthand memory, a story passed down in your family, or a photograph with an uncertain identification. Each offers a different starting point. Tell us how the information reached you and which parts you are sure of, so a recollection can be understood in its own context.
Use our Contact form and begin your message with “Story submission,” followed by the place, person, or subject. Mention any photographs or documents you have and include a viewable link if one is available.
A few details that help
Start with what you know, even if the record is incomplete. An approximate year is useful when it is identified as approximate, and an old nickname can help when you explain who used it. Include as much of the following as you can:
- The people involved, including names, nicknames, and relevant relationships.
- The place: a community, road, business, landmark, or former address.
- The date or approximate period, and what helps you place it in that time.
- How you know the story: your own experience, someone else’s recollection, or a document.
- The source of any photograph or document, its creator if known, and how you would like the source credited.
If your story concerns something already on PumpkintownSC, include the article link and explain the detail you can add or correct. You do not need to make the pieces fit before getting in touch. An unexplained name on the back of a photograph may be the most useful part of the lead.
Photographs, letters, and newspaper clippings
Please keep original materials and begin with a digital copy or a description of what you have. For a photograph, include the whole image and any writing on the back when it is safe to do so. Preserve the wording of a handwritten caption, and distinguish it from an identification you are adding now. Tell us if the image has been restored, colorized, or otherwise altered.
For a newspaper clipping, include the newspaper title, issue date, and page if known, along with a readable copy or source link. The University of South Carolina’s Historical Newspapers of South Carolina collection can help you follow a local newspaper lead. If the publication or date is missing, say so rather than supplying a guess.
Do not force a brittle album open or detach a photograph that is stuck to a page to obtain a copy. The Library of Congress digitization guidance emphasizes protecting originals during copying. If something is fragile, describe it first and keep it safe.
Sources, memories, and mountain stories
A memory can explain what an experience felt like, while a dated record may establish when a business operated or a building changed hands. Tell us which kind of information you are sharing. If a detail came from a relative, include their name or relationship when appropriate, and make clear that it is their recollection.
Local legends are welcome as stories. Let us know where you heard a version and whether you know of a printed source. A tale about a place can be interesting without being presented as a documented event. Browse the history hub for examples of the subjects and reading paths covered on the site.
Permission, credit, and personal information
Share material you created or have permission to provide, and identify the person or organization that can authorize publication when known. Tell us your preferred credit and any questions about using the material. If permission is uncertain, describe the item first instead of treating its availability online as permission to republish it.
Clearly identify any details supplied only so we can contact you, and leave out sensitive personal information that is not needed for the story. If your account concerns living people, consider their privacy before sending it. Our Privacy Policy explains how information provided through the website is handled.
What happens after you send a lead
Submissions are reviewed for possible use in an article or as a starting point for research. Sending a story does not guarantee publication. A clear source, useful context, and a way to contact you make it easier to follow up if a detail needs clarification.
For an upcoming event, business announcement, or community update, use Help Keep Pumpkintown Connected for the details to include. If you are ready to share a memory or historical lead, open the Contact form and tell us where the story begins.