Piedmont Historic Group Expands Offerings for Researchers, Community

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The Piedmont Historical Preservation Society celebrated a major expansion of their research capabilities Sunday with a brief overview and displays of the new acquisitions and digitalization of materials.

The new materials include World War I-era letters from the Margaret Payne Collection, which was completed as part of a student service learning project at USC-Upstate, as well as collections from other donated materials.

Anderson County Councilman Jimmy Davis, who grew up in Piedmont said the county will continue the work of the society and the museum.

“At one time Piedmont Manufacturing was the largest textile manufacturing facility in the world,” said Davis, whose grandfather worked for the company. “Even though the mills are long gone, the history still remains and the spirit of Piedmont remains.”

Joe Hursey, a board member of the group, said the museum will continue to grow as more donations of materials are received. Those at Sunday’s event were encouraged to spread the word of the need to ask the community to donate any documents, artifacts or other items important to Piedmont’s history to help expand the work of the museum.

Efforts are also continuing to raise funds to complete the oldest YWCA building in the state, a house which will be home to the museum when completed. The structure built in 1908 by Piedmont Manufacturing Co. as a home for single women working in the mill, which features the artifacts of everyday life in the mill village as the new home of Piedmont History Museum.

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