#111: Sugar Tit + other quirky SC town name origins, archaeology of Charles Towne Landing, and America's first museum
For South Carolina history lovers far and wide! Published weekly on Monday mornings. Enjoy weekly SC history articles and upcoming SC historical events.
Dear reader,
Welcome to SC History Newsletter #111!
As always, I’d like to welcome the following new subscribers to our community. Thank you for your interest in South Carolina history!
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And now, let’s learn some South Carolina history!
Yours truly,
Kate
(Writing from Greenville, SC)
➳ Featured SC History Events
Please note our featured SC History Event below, and click here to visit my SC History Events Calendar that organizes all the upcoming SC history events I have discovered.
Please let me know if you’d like to add an event to the calendar! Reply to this email, send me a note at schistorynewsletter@gmail.com, or use the button below to send me your events.
Event Recommendation of the Week:
Thursday, August 29th at 12:00 pm | “Unearthing New Perspectives: Continuing the Archaeology of c.1670 Charles Towne” | Powder Magazine | Charleston, SC | Tickets $8.50 in person & virtual options | Website
“Nicole Isenbarger provides an overview of the ongoing excavations at Charles Towne Landing and the varied approaches being employed to reveal new evidence of the development of the town, experimental agriculture, early architectural styles, commerce, and local industry. These findings illuminate the labor of the enslaved Africans, indentured servants, and colonists and their role in shaping Carolina into a thriving colony.”
➳ SC History Book & Article Recommendations
“The Charleston Museum: America’s First Museum”
(Note from Kate: This book was recommended to our readers by my wonderful podcast guest last week, Virginia Theerman, Curator of Historic Textiles at the Charleston Museum. This book celebrates The Charleston Museum’s 250th anniversary and the highlights of the museum’s collection. I can’t wait to read! Have you?)
Here is the publisher’s description:
“On January 12, 2023, The Charleston Museum commemorated 250 years since its founding in 1773. Created for educational purposes on the eve of the American Revolution, now two and a half centuries later, America’s first museum continues to educate today.
To celebrate this anniversary milestone, the Museum has published this special volume, The Charleston Museum: America’s First Museum, which documents its history and impressive collections in archaeology, natural history, archived materials, decorative arts, and historic textiles, as well as its preservation of historic landmarks, such as the Heyward-Washington House, the Joseph Manigault House, and the Dill Sanctuary, a 580-acre wildlife refuge on nearby James Island. This handsomely illustrated commemorative volume brings its rich history to life, offering insights into many of its 2.4 million collected artifacts while detailing the contributions of key figures, such as Gabriel Manigault, Laura Bragg, and Milby Burton, who made it one of the premier museums in the southern United States.”
Support The Charleston Museum by purchasing this book at the link here or below:
Do you have a book or article on South Carolina history that has caught your attention? Reply to this email to let me know!
➳ SC History Topic of the Week:
Quirky SC town names + origins!
I am an avid listener of the British comedy podcast “The Wittering Whitehalls” (hilarious and oh-so-British) and they have started a “Comedy placenames” section of their show that has inspired me for our newsletter today. I began to wonder: what are the funniest and quirkiest town names in South Carolina and what are the origins of these names? I had to find out…
Ninety Six, SC
Name origin: Ninety Six is a town near Greenwood, SC. The town has unique historical and archaeological significance, going back to the mid-1700s. It is believed to have been named Ninety Six because that is the number of miles early settlers believed were between the town itself and the Cherokee Indian town of Keowee, near where modern-day Clemson, SC is today.
Other fun facts: The first land battle of the Revolutionary War outside of New England was fought in Ninety Six in 1775. The town would come to feature prominently in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. The earthen “Star Fort” constructed by Loyalist forces at Ninety Six remains one of the “best preserved examples of the original 18th century fortification.”
Coward, SC
Name origin: Located in Florence County, Coward was named after prominent original settlers to the region — the Coward Family. Curators at the local Florence County Museum have found that in 1831, Captain Solomon Coward was granted 126 acres “spanning a section of the Lynches River to southern Florence County.” Some records also indicate that the town may have been named after Colonel Asbury Coward, a Confederate veteran who later became commandant of the South Carolina Military Academy. In any case, it wasn't until the early 20th century when the area adopted the name Coward officially, which the local citizens (then and now) proudly embrace.
Other fun facts: I love that on the Coward, South Carolina town website, the phrase “a quiet and peaceful place” is literally a part of the town’s logo. Coward is located within a reasonable driving distance between Myrtle Beach, Columbia, and Charleston. Coward is also home to the Lynches River County Park, which covers 676 acres along the Lynches River and features “towering Cypress trees and sand hills” which according to local reviews, makes it great for camping, canoeing, and scenic nature trails.
Sugar Tit, SC
Name origin: This small community in Spartanburg County was originally settled by the Scots-Irish. These early settlers were hard workers, and the women worked in the fields as well, even with their babies bundled to them. To keep their babies calm, these hard-working farming mothers would apparently grab some sugarcane, dip it in water, and feed it to their babies. They called this little device a “sugar tit.” It was a primitive pacifier. Additionally, there was a local general store in this area called Harrison’s where the local men went drinking. When families couldn’t find where the fathers had gone, it is said that mothers would send their children up to Harrison’s and say something to the effect of, “Your father must have a sugar tit up at Harrison’s. Send him home.” Harrison’s store used to hang a sign proudly outside that read: “Welcome to Sugar Tit, South Carolina.”
Other fun facts: No doubt many curious travelers have seen the slightly inappropriate and giggle-inducing billboards on I-85 advertising Sugar Tit Moonshine, which is made in Sugar Tit, South Carolina. It is a 100 proof corn whiskey and the distillery is owned by Bob and Kathy Jordan. Bob claims that it is “the smoothest moonshine in South Carolina.” You can purchase it here.
Possum Kingdom, SC
Origin: Located in Greenville County — and technically in Belton, SC — Possum Kingdom is thought to have earned its name because of hungry Confederate soldiers. Because the community was close to the site of a Civil War battlefield, it is said that cold, hungry Confederate soldiers hunted in the woods of that area and couldn't find anything to eat besides possums, which apparently were plentiful! Thus, it became known as Possum Kingdom.
Other fun facts: There is a Possum Kingdom Super Speedway, which is marketed as the “biggest and fastest kart track in the South.”
Ketchuptown, SC
Origin: Located in Horry County, Ketchuptown got its name from a local country store where people would “catch up” with each other. The store was owned by Herbert “Hub” Small. In the 1920s, Small built a house and a small store where he sold clothes, food, ice, and hardware. In those days, people transported themselves by horse, buggy, or wagon. There was a stand of large oak trees near the store where people would hitch their horses. According to local lore, farmers would flock to Small’s store on Saturdays to “catch up,” trade, and talk with friends. At that time, many people in the area could not afford newspapers and didn't know how to read, so catching up at Small’s store was the best way to learn about local news.
Other fun facts: In the early 20th century, a railroad was built over the Little Pee Dee River between Ketchup Town and Lake Swamp. The new railroad brought newcomers to the area from Sweden and Finland, who worked to harvest timber. The Small family would host square dances in their home next to the store. Susan Buffkin, writing for the Independent Republic quarterly publication, wrote:
“Square dancing was a popular recreational activity for the loggers and the Swedes and Finns were often guests in the Small home on square dance evenings…Fiddle music was at the time provided by Brice Shelley and Marshall Grainger. The “Charleston” was popular and was performed by some of the Small family and others.”
Boiling Springs, SC
Origin: This town in Spartanburg County was named after a small spring that appeared to be boiling and would sometimes shoot water 6 feet in the air! Apparently people would come from all over to witness this natural phenomenon. Due to development of the area, by the 1930s, the spring had become a barely bubbling stream. The spring is located at the corner of Macmillan Blvd and Hwy. 9. There is now a small park surrounding what remains of the spring, along with a historic marker, but the once “boiling” water is now gone.
Other fun facts: According to the Boiling Springs Business Administration, the town received “much consideration” as a location for the county seat before Spartanburg was chosen. While Spartanburg became a textile town, Boiling Springs stayed true to its farming roots, and peaches became a source of income in the early 1900s.
Pumpkintown, SC
Origin: Located in Pickens County, Pumpkintown was named in the early 1800s by an anonymous early traveler who was filled with wonder “at the sight of the Oolenoy Valley covered with huge yellow pumpkins.”
Other fun facts: Each year there is a Pumpkintown Pumpkin Festival where visitors can enjoy local crafts, music, and of course, pumpkins! Built in 1986 by the Aartun Family, there is also the Pumpkintown Mountain Opry, which to the visitor (and to my family when we found it!) looks like something out of Swiss Family Robinson. The Aartun Family built the 4-story venue with old-world craftsmanship and the site contains shops, a restaurant — and on Saturday nights — also offers dinner and a show, marketed as “Southern Mountain Theater.”
Round O, SC
Origin: This small community in Colleton County is said to have gotten its name from a local, Native American warrior whose name was too difficult to pronounce. However, the warrior sported a circle (painted or tattooed) on his shoulder and that is what the locals used for his nickname “Round O.” According to Charleston Living Magazine, the warrior was likely the Cherokee chief named Utossite (d. 1759).
Other fun facts: According to historian B. F. Ackerman, the Round O area was originally settled in the mid-1700s as a “buffer zone” between Charleston and Native American settlements. Before the American Revolution, there were numerous rice plantations in the region.
Coosawhatchie, SC
(pronounced koo-saw-HATCH-ee)
Origin: Located in Jasper County, this area’s name comes from combining the name of the original inhabitants of the land, who were the Coosaw tribe of Native Americans and their word for river, which was “hatchie.”
Other fun facts: Coosawhatchie was located on the King's Highway that stretched from Boston to Charleston and was settled by trappers in the 1740's. The town grew around a store owned by Henry and Daniel de Sausser, who were brothers and rice planters. During the American Revolution, much of the town was burned by British forces in 1779. During the Civil War, Confederate General Robert E. Lee made his headquarters in Coosawhatchie when he was “fortifying the coastal defenses of South Carolina and Georgia during late 1861 and into early 1862.” General Lee also bought and named his famous horse Traveller in Coosawhatchie.
Do you live in any of these towns or areas listed above? Can you tell us any more fun folklore or stories around their names? We would love to hear! Leave a comment below!
➳ SC Town Names — Article Sources
"Boiling Springs, SC." Boiling Springs Baptist Church, boilingspringsba.com/home-5489-4805-8244-9860-7420-6822. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"Coward History." Town of Coward, www.townofcoward.com/history/#:~:text=Some%20records%20indicate%20that%20the,the%20South%20Carolina%20Military%20Academy. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"Coward Town." Town of Coward, www.townofcoward.com/. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"Historic Markers Database: Round O, South Carolina." HMDB, www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=11725. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"How Sugar Tit Got Its Name." Greenville Online, www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2015/10/21/how-sugar-tit-got-its-name/74328846/. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"Just Passing Through." Charleston Living Magazine, charlestonlivingmag.com/just-passing-through. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"Ketchuptown." South Carolina Picture Project, www.scpictureproject.org/horry-county/ketchuptown.html. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"Ninety Six National Historic Site." National Park Service, www.nps.gov/nisi/learn/historyculture/index.htm#:~:text=Ninety%20Six%20National%20Historic%20Site%20is%20an%20area%20of%20unique,the%20upper%20South%20Carolina%20foothills. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"Ninety Six National Historic Site FAQs." National Park Service, www.nps.gov/nisi/faqs.htm#:~:text=This%20supposedly%20happened%20in%201760,Clemson%2C%20SC%20is%20today). Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"Possum Kingdom Speedway." Facebook, www.facebook.com/p/Possum-Kingdom-Speedway-100063726800420/. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"Possum Kingdom Lake." Possum Kingdom Lake, www.possumkingdomlake.com/visitors.html?type=raw&tmpl=component&print=1&page=#:~:text=Sablosky's%20best%20source%20of%20supply,became%20known%20as%20Possum%20Kingdom. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"Pumpkintown Mountain Opry." South Carolina Picture Project, www.scpictureproject.org/pickens-county/pumpkintown-mountain-opry.html#:~:text=The%20opry%20house%2C%20seen%20above,in%20its%20development%2C%20Pumpkintown%20Mountain. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"It Happened in Horry: Ketchup Town Provided a Place for Folks to Get the News." My Horry News, www.myhorrynews.com/opinion/it-happened-in-horry-ketchup-town-provided-a-place-for-folks-to-get-the-news/article_6437375e-f25c-11ec-bcb3-63904e4c6569.html. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
"The Forgotten South: Cottageville, South Carolina History Lost." The Forgotten South, theforgottensouth.com/cottageville-south-carolina-history-lost/. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
I always want to improve my work. Please answer the poll below to give me your review of today’s newsletter. I also welcome your suggestions for new content! Simply reply to this email with your ideas. Thank you!
Here’s another for you. Dataw Island. The name can be traced back to the early 1500’s! It is believed to be one of the oldest place names in the U.S. So, of course, it has a long and convoluted history.
https://www.datawhistory.org/52-sams-in-52-weeks/dataw-island-on-datha-island/