Letter 4: Laurens, SC to Hunting Beach State Park
Since leaving Ashville we found a National Forest Camp called Brick House campground. The old three story brick house had two chimneys on each end of the house. It must have been a grand old place in it's day. Today it is deserted and a hedge was hiding it from a good view. This was the closest campground to the city of Laurens and not far from Newberry. We were on a quest for Fred’s ancestors that lived here from the late 1700s into the early 1800s. We spent three days in the courthouses and libraries. We found lots of Huggins, some Valentines, and very few Harrington’s. At the Library in Laurens County, the genealogy librarian was off, but they called her and she was very nice to talk to us by phone from her home. She said those families were here early then moved on to Georgia. Fred did find a James Harrington living in Hall Co Georgia in 1820 and had 2 males under 10 living in the household. This is a strong possibility to be James Valentine Harrington’s father?????
Sunday, March 29 we attended the
First United Methodist Church in Laurens and enjoyed their very formal (all men had on suits, ladies in dresses) traditional service. We expected this in the south. Nor were we surprised by their generous hospitality by inviting us to their 5th Sunday lunch.
After church we found a laundry mat and washed! First time and we had lots of laundry!
Fred called this (Newport and Laurens County) a rural area. Each county seat had about 15,000 residents. There were other towns in the county with 2-3000 people or less. Between the towns there were scattered residences. It was very pretty. It was about half cleared for cultivation and the other half was wooded. The woods were a mixture of pines and hardwoods. The soil was sandy with a pronounced red color.
Parts were depressing. Some of the old grand farm (plantation?) houses were abandoned and in irreversible decline. Many time there would be a modular home nearby. The same was true in the county seat towns. Evidence of past wealth was there. Grand old three story homes lined each side of the older streets near the courthouse square. Some were immaculately maintained. Some were beyond saving. This area has seen better days! The industry appeared to be in four categories—farming (timber, row crops and hay), timber processing, light manufacturing and support for the local economy. For example we noticed an Avery Label manufacturing plant near Laurens, I’m sure the locals are glad to have the plant because of the jobs created, but I’m also sure Avery is here due to the relatively lower wage rate in the area.
All of the people we asked for help were warm, friendly and helpful. We thought “What a great place for a preservationist with money!”
Monday we moved to an RV park close to Columbia and Tuesday we left the trailer to get a new water pump. It had been acting up since mid trip last year, so we were glad to finally find the problem and get it fixed.
Fred was surprised to see the sand color was almost white in this area (Lexington County) just west of Columbia. There was a considerable amount of truck farming. We saw evidence of tomatoes, garlic, cabbage and strawberries growing on a large scale in the area. Too bad it was out of season for them.
Lexington is an interesting town. It is a county seat town, so its older. Unlike the towns of Newberry and Laurens described above, Lexington is growing and appeared prosperous. We saw many new home. A new large high-school whose sign proclaimed the girls golf team was the AAAA state champion. Even the older core of the city looked neat and well kept. What’s the difference between these towns just 100 miles apart? I don’t know for sure, but my guess is Lexington is prospering due to the nearness to Columbia and the economic activity generated by South Carolina’s capitol.
After leaving the trailer for repairs, we drove in to Columbia (about 20 miles) to the 
SC Archives. We spent a large part of our day there and didn’t find any good clues. We have learned a lot about SC.
1. Their archives are very nice and they are willing to help online or by mail.
2. The web site is http://scdah.sc.gov/
Reference Services
“The Reference Services Branch operates the Research Room and answers mail, telephone and e-mail queries. Staff will answer questions about the records and provide specific information from them if the amount of research time is reasonable. Staff will also check specified indexes for a specific name and fill a photocopy order for records in which the name appears. Staff cannot undertake extensive research or analyze records for questions of judgment; they can, however, recommend sources for further research. On request, we will provide the names of people who are willing to do genealogical research for a fee. In general, researchers with extensive or complicated projects will find it more profitable and enjoyable to do their own research. (layout of the reference room). Reference queries can be submitted by e-mail.”
3. Searches can be made online of all records they have.
4. When new parts of Georgia opened up for settlement in 1825 people took wagon trains to Georgia from Laurens, Abbeville, Newberry and Union Counties(old 96th District). Some pastors moved their whole congregations
5. Turkey Creek Presbyterian Church and Poplar Creek Baptist Church kept good records and they still have them They are in Abbeville and Laurens CO’s.
6. All the people we asked for help were very courteous and helpful.
7. Unfortunately we did not find out who James Valentine Harrington’s father was. He just appears in 1835 in Georgia getting married. A later census says he was born about 1815 in SC.
We are giving up for now on our quest to find James’s father and look to sight seeing again.
Back to more interesting information from us. The flowers are starting to show up with
Jasmine and wisteria 
growing and blooming in the woods. It drapes from tree to tree. Azaleas are also starting to 
bloom in yards and 
dogwoods are in yards and the woods. It has rained a large part of our time on this trip. And it is predicted again. We are ready for dry weather for the roads and sidewalks. We hope it will be dry in Charleston, Hilton Head and Savannah.
Wednesday April 1, we drove south to Hunting Beach State Park. Along the way we traveled with the big Boys on IH26 and IH95. On IH95 we saw as many RV’’s heading north as we did trucks! Now that’s a lot of RV’s! Along the freeways we saw Crimson Clover. When we turned off the freeway we really started seeing the country. It is covered with Wisteria, Spanish moss and swampland. This is South Carolina’s “Low Country.” Everyone has azaleas.
We were fortunate (its spring break here for public schools) to find an opening at Hunting Island State Park on the Atlantic Ocean. After unhooking we drove a few miles back up the highway and Olivia had fried shrimp basket and Fred ate shrimp, oysters and scallops. They were fried “Just Right!” We drove to the end of the island and walked out on a long fishing pier, then drove through the jungle, 
of pine/palms/palmetto/hardwoods/sweetgums, to the lighthouse where we walked about a mile 
along the beach. There are lots of shells on this beach. Fred was very happy Olivia doesn't like shells the way she likes rocks! She didn’t “collect” any.
We had heard from several people that this state park is the most popular state park in South Carolina and we can see why. We are camped in the jungle and can hear the waves breaking on the beach. There are 200 camping spots and all are full and the campground is quiet. Patti, you made a good recommendation even if it is a long way out to the park.
The temperature has been quite pleasant for the past 10 days. Lows in the 50s and highs around 70.
Love to all, next letter will be Hilton Head and Savannah
For comments email Olivia@bobheck or FredHarrington@yahoo.com
