Built in 1893, the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany is located just off downtown Spartanburg. It’s one of the few Black Episcopal congregations left in the South. Prior to the pandemic, The State wrote an article on how the congregation continues to shrink. At the time of the article, six people were in attendance at the service covered by the newspaper.
Tax records indicate this home was built in 1800. During the 1900s, I was told it was used as the mill supervisor’s house. I am currently looking for more information on the house.
The Brooklyn School is a Rosenwald School affiliated with the Brooklyn CME Church in north Spartanburg County. Built in 1928, this two-teacher type school cost $3016 to build. Since I first photographed this school, it has rapidly deteriorated. This is the last known Rosenwald standing in Spartanburg County.
Early photos of it can be seen on the Fisk database.
The Marysville School educated the Black schoolchildren of the families who worked at the surrounding mills. Built in 1915, the school was in use until 1954. The three-room schoolhouse was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
In Spartanburg, South Carolina’s Greenlawn Cemetery, there is an impressive monument, sculpted by Bernard Zimmerman , called “The Wonder of Life.” Commissioned by the cemetery, it’s one of the largest monuments I’ve seen in a lawn cemetery. Each sculpted figure (18 in total) represents different aspects of life. It was restored a a few years ago, and the trees that surrounded it were removed.
Glenn Springs, Spartanburg County
Built around 1900, the post office used be next to the hotel, but when it burned, the town decided to move the post office to this location. The first postmaster, Robert Allen Cates, also ran the Cates Store. This is a contributing building to the Historic District of Glenn Springs.
Built as a home in 1885, Robert Allen Cates, the town’s postmaster, lived here with his family until he chose to make it into a general store. In 1938, the nearby church used it as a Sunday school. The building was recently restored. It’s a contributing building to the Glenn Springs Historic District.
Founded in 1848, the Calvary Episcopal Church is in the former resort town, Glenn Springs, started by John B. Glenn who had a mineral spring on his property. This Carpenter Gothic church was built in 1897. It lists as part of the Glenn Springs Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
This farmhouse sits in Spartanburg County on a back road near I-26.
Located in historic Glenn Springs, this transitional Greek Revival home belonged to Lillie Mae and Bill Smith. It’s still in the family, and they do have a desire to restore. I understand there is a grand staircase in the home. I highly recommend a visit to the town because of the historic buildings there.
The Shiloh Methodist Church is the oldest extant church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The congregation started after the Revolutionary War. This church building was constructed around 1825. Church services have not been held since 1915, but there is a yearly homecoming every May.
It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Located in the center of a cul-de-sac, the Allen-Wells Cemetery has ties to the early families of Spartanburg. I believe the cemetery has been restored since I took these photos.
