Tag Archives: Spartanburg County

-South Carolina, Black History, Cemeteries, Famous People, Historic Photos

Pink Anderson marker at Lincoln Memorial Park-Spartanburg, South Carolina

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Pinkney “Pink” Anderson (1900-1974) was a blues artist born in Laurens County, South Carolina. By the age of 14, he joined Dr. William Kerr of the Indian Remedy Company to entertain crowds as part of the medicine show circuit. Medicine shows often consisted of musical acts, circus sideshows, ventriloquists, and magicians who enthralled crowds while “doctors” would sell magical elixirs.

Anderson became quite known in the medicine show circuit. He recorded an album in the 1960s. Unfortunately, he had a stroke that limited his abilities in the late 1960s. Anderson passed away in 1974.

Public domain image from Wikipedia

Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd was inspired to create the band’s name by combining the first names of Pink and Floyd Council, another blues musician.

Until the last few years, Pink’s home still stood in Spartanburg.

-South Carolina, Black History, Schools

Dean Street School-Spartanburg, South Carolina

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The Dean Street School was built in the 1890s in the heart of the middle-class Black neighborhood that developed around Dean Street. Originally a white wooden school, the brick was added to the facade in the 1930s.

The school was named the Alexander School after the long-serving principal, R. M. Alexander, who was in that role from 1895 to 1929. It served as the school for Black schoolchildren until the 1960s when Spartanburg schools finally began integrating.

In 1990, the Epsilon Nu chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity purchased the building. They restored the school, and it is now their local fraternity headquarters.

-South Carolina, Black History, Churches and Temples

Metropolitan AME Zion Church-Spartanburg, South Carolina

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I’ve been unable to locate the history of the church. I suspect it was started as a freedman church during Reconstruction.

-South Carolina, Houses

Colonial Revival House-Glendale, South Carolina

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Tac records indicate this home was built in 1868. Oddly, it’s not listed on the South Carolina ArchSite.

-South Carolina, Abandoned, Historic Photos, Hotels and Motels

Smoak House-Glenn Springs, South Carolina

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The Smoak House once served as a boarding house for people who were traveling to Glenn Springs, South Carolina to experience the healing waters of the Glenn Springs. While the Glenn Spring Hotel was more known, the Smoak House provided easy access as it was across the street from the springs. The home was built in 1890. Based on ads, it doesn’t seem to have become a boarding house around 1910.

Undated image
September 6, 1914 advertisement in The State
May 7, 1922 advertisement in The State
-South Carolina, Churches and Temples

Walnut Grove Methodist Church-Roebuck, South Carolina

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The Walnut Grove Methodist Church in Roebuck, South Carolina began in 1858. The current church building was completed in 1905. The church added brick in the 1950s in order to help stabilize the walls. Inside the sanctuary, it is relatively unchanged.