The Bell Beside the Grave: A Strange Reminder of the Fear of Being Buried Alive
A tiny bronze bell beside a massive grave in Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery tells a strange story about the 19th-century fear of being buried alive.
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Lindsey Graham Comes Home: The Senator from Central Is Laid to Rest Beside His Parents
Lindsey Graham’s career carried him from a small-town childhood in Central, South Carolina, to the United States Senate. After his death in 2026, he returned home to be buried beside his parents at Mount Zion Cemetery.
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This Day in 1849, a South Carolina Newspaper Called Pickens District “The Niagara of the South”
Published on July 28, 1849, the Keowee Courier described Pickens District as one of the healthiest and most beautiful places in America, praising Table Rock, Whitewater Falls, and the region’s crystal-clear rivers while encouraging families to move to the South Carolina mountains.
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This Week in Upstate History: Pickens County Faces Reconstruction July 13, 1867
Step back to July 18, 1857, and discover what life was really like in Pickens District through the pages of the Keowee Courier. From deadly railroad construction accidents and heartbreaking local tragedies to the rise of Florence Nightingale and the promise of the Blue Ridge Railroad, this fascinating newspaper captures a community on the brink of enormous change just four years before the Civil War.
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This Week in Upstate History: What Was Making Headlines in Pickens District on July 18, 1857?
Step back to July 18, 1857, and discover what life was really like in Pickens District through the pages of the Keowee Courier. From deadly railroad construction accidents and heartbreaking local tragedies to the rise of Florence Nightingale and the promise of the Blue Ridge Railroad, this fascinating newspaper captures a community on the brink of enormous change just four years before the Civil War.
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What an 1860 Census Map Reveals About Slavery in the South Carolina Upstate
An 1861 map based on the 1860 U.S. Census offers a fascinating look at slavery in the South Carolina Upstate. While coastal counties were dominated by large plantations, Pickens, Greenville, and other Upstate counties followed a very different path, shaped by geography, agriculture, and smaller farms.
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The Surprising History of Easley’s Iconic Clock Tower
The Easley Clock Tower is more than a downtown landmark—it’s a piece of the city’s history. Discover how a clock that survived the 1924 City Hall fire became the centerpiece of Old Market Square, the story behind the hidden time capsule, and why this iconic tower continues to be the heart of downtown Easley.
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Ambler Elementary School: More Than 130 Years of Learning in the Mountains
For more than 130 years, the Ambler community has valued education. Discover the remarkable story of one-room schoolhouses, mountain teachers, school consolidation, and the generations of families who helped make Ambler Elementary one of northern Pickens County’s most treasured schools.
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Inside the July 11, 1878 Edition: A Window into Pickens County Nearly 150 Years Ago
Step back nearly 150 years and discover what life was like in Pickens County through the pages of the Pickens Sentinel published on July 11, 1878. This inaugural installment of our From the Pickens Sentinel Archives series explores dramatic front-page stories, a glimpse into education at Central High School, local politics, everyday life, historic advertisements, and the people who helped shape the Upstate we know today.
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The Curious Gap Between Two Historic Buildings on Main Street, Pickens
Discover the surprising history behind the narrow gap between two historic buildings on Main Street in Pickens, South Carolina. Learn about Folger & Thornley, early merchants, Sanborn maps, and how downtown evolved over more than 140 years.
