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Historical
society will preserve Kershaw history
By
Johnathan C. Ryan - Reporter The
Lancaster News October 12, 2006
KERSHAW - While thinking about moving back to Kershaw to live in her
childhood home, Sonya Poole realized there was something missing in the town.
Although vivid memories of the town's traditional architecture remained, it
wasn't long before Poole, who recently moved back to Kershaw, realized the
buildings themselves did not.
"I was like, 'Where is this building and where is that house?' and
they weren't there," she said.
So, faced with newcomers and young people not as knowledgeable or
concerned about the town's historical assets, Poole knew she had to do
something.
"I was like, 'someone has to,' and I've always been pretty
passionate about my leanings, so I decided to do it," she said.
She's founded the Kershaw Historical Society, now going through the
legal process of becoming a nonprofit group.
First on the society's list of goals is collecting and creating
an inventory of donated or borrowed possessions, such as
documents, photos, art and furniture.
"The Herculean goal will be to acquire a historical
building and make a museum of this stuff," she said.
"It will also house the society's offices."
Poole said the society has made a few acquisitions at this
point. People can donate the items or lend them to the
society for a set amount of time for exhibition. Poole said
it will be thrilling to see what comes in.
Exhibitions can be "any and everything" relevant
to the founding and history of Kershaw, she said.
Assisting Poole on the society board
are Mike Hilton, director of the Community Resource Exchange;
Dr. Danny Blackwell, a retired physician and history
enthusiast; and Miles Gardner, a retired educator, author and
historian.
"All of them are very enthusiastic about preserving
history," Poole said.
Gardner, who has written books on local history, believes
there's a need to start the historical society now.
"The history isn't being passed down like it was
to us," he said. "Yet everyone has at least
some passing interest in history."
Gardner said what's most interesting and unique about
Lancaster County history in general are the small,
regional quirks and differences in the way people
talked.
He said southern Lancaster County was known for
short-tempered people and violence was rampant.
"It was a rough and ready sort of
place," he said.
The society will likely get a boost with this
weekend's Hog Jam. Proceeds from the barbecue
cook-off and fall festival will help support
the society.
"It's a project that's many decades past
due," Poole said. "This is a way to
give back, and it will benefit everyone in
the town of Kershaw and surrounding
communities."
For details, call Poole
at (803) 475-7495.
Contact
Johnathan Ryan at 416-8416 or jryan@thelancasternews.com
Article © The
Lancaster News, reprinted with permission.
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