 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
MARION |
|
f the Great Pee Dee River hadn’t been at flood stage and impassable when Sherman’s troops were on their fateful march through South Carolina, Marion County might have lost many of its historic buildings. That act of nature spared the area and left structures that survive to this day, including those in the charming historic district of Marion.
Marion County and the town of Marion were named for the Revolutionary War General Francis Marion, a native son who frequently frustrated English forces unfamiliar with the swamps and wetlands found in abundance here. Settled since Colonial times, the three towns in Marion
County – Marion, Mullins and tiny Nichols – were sleepy little farming hubs until tobacco was introduced in 1894. With a climate and soil perfect for that broad leaf plant, warehouses sprang up and Mullins became known as the “Tobacco Capital” of South Carolina.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
oday, its Golden Leaf Festival celebrates a strong rural heritage with local and regional artisans, live entertainment, a beauty pageant, car & truck show, and much more. The S.C. Tobacco Museum is in Mullins and focuses on the growing of tobacco and rural farm life before 1950.
Nearby Marion has its own big party, the annual Swamp Fox Trot Festival, which brings crowds to the town to enjoy a parade, crafts, amusements, helicopter rides and live performances.
Frequently, visitors tour the historic district and marvel at those stately homes spared by a twist of fate. One of them, The Grove, The Inn on Harlee, is owned by Denley and Ann Caughman and is one of the foremost examples of Eastlake Victorian architecture in the Eastern U.S. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the inn’s parlors and rooms are beautifully adorned in period furnishings.
The Caughmans enjoy meeting visitors from as far away as England, as well as young people who have exchanged wedding vows there. One English couple wanted to experience small town America, but were nonplussed that they couldn’t order a pint of ale at the restaurant because it was too close to a church. They responded, “But at home in England, our Parish priest owns the local pub!” Nevertheless, the English visitors enjoyed their stay in Marion and perhaps even learned to enjoy iced sweet tea as a substitute for their ale.
“Marion still retains the small town atmosphere, buildings and private homes which make it such a beautiful Victorian town,” Mrs. Caughman explains. She and her husband enjoy the visitors who stop on their way to somewhere else, only to find that this small community warrants a destination in itself.
|
|
|
|
|
For Charlotte and David Hollandsworth, Marion was a town they drove through each October on their way from West Virginia to Myrtle Beach. On Fridays, they’d drive 20+ miles from the beach to the small town of Conway, to attend the Lions Club, and one day, drove on to Marion, thirty-some miles further. He was smitten, she less so, “because I wasn’t ready to retire.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
The next year, they drove through town again, and were surprised to see the Halloween decorations everywhere on Main Street.
“I thought to myself, these people really take pride in this little town,” Mrs. Hollandsworth says. The couple drove around Marion and as they were driving, noticed a house for sale.
“We made arrangements to see this beautiful Spanish-style home,” Mrs. Hollandsworth says. “We saw it and I knew this was the one I wanted. We started negotiations and a few weeks later closed the deal.”
They sold their home and moved to Marion. Now, they’ve bought a golf cart, and attend American Legion baseball games, as well as high school football. Their neighbor brought a cake to welcome them to town, and two weeks later, presented them with fresh vegetables. Two little neighborhood girls, ages 10 and 11, drop by for frequent visits. “They’re like my adopted grandchildren,” Mrs. Hollandsworth laughs.
An unexpected illness sidelined her husband, but the health care he has received in the area has been “fantastic” and, thankfully, he’s on the mend. “Everyone has been so friendly, and we’re so happy with our move,” she says.
It’s a combination of factors that has also attracted strong businesses to Marion, including Beneteau, a boat manufacturer employing 240 families who craft 400-500 “floating dreams” each year. Other notable businesses are ArvinMeritor, a manufacturer of motor vehicle parts and accessories, Datwyler Ribber + Plastics, Inc., and Road Rescue, an ambulance manufacturer. These companies have recognized the value of Marion. Their contributions to the area go far beyond creating jobs, because many new families have relocated and are proud to call Marion County home.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor, printer and public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business and management.
Have some fun.
Get some expert
feedback. Post your
Marion
questions,
comments and experiences on the "Carolinas
Message Board."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
