| Quiet, calm and cozy
on first view, but with a depth and a past that its appearance belies.
Stroll the streets of Central and enjoy its friendly, small-town flavor. Explore its shops and visit the variety of restaurants that offer everything from down-home Southern favorites to upscale Italian fare. Most of all, discover its historically significant, even romantic, past.
Central
Rich in History
Workers in front of the Railroad Eating House |
Railroad buffs will have a field day (or several days) exploring Central. As the midpoint between the major population centers of Atlanta and Charlotte, 133 miles from each, this little town found itself the focus of a railroad boom in 1873. The Atlanta and Richmond Air Line Company set up shop and even gave the town its name. The flood of newcomers brought prosperity, and Main Street exploded. New shops, hotels and other businesses cropped up to meet the social and commercial needs of the burgeoning community. Much of the town’s character today is directly tied to the railroad. It’s obvious that the railroad tracks run through the middle of town (or should we say the trains run through; local residents could set their watches by the passenger and freight trains that still rumble through daily.) Beyond that, much of the town’s architecture is representative of the Victorian era. Although the downtown area is thriving, care has been taken to preserve the original storefronts.
History lives on . . .
in Central’s many well-preserved homes and commercial buildings.
Scottish, Irish and English settlers, used to looking at rolling hills and mountains, found the Blue Ridge foothills a comfort to their eyes and souls and settled the area following the Revolutionary War. You’ll find many of their names on street signs and houses: Clayton, Gaines, Gassaway, Head, Morgan, Rowland, Sheriff, Watkins and more.
   Central History Museum
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416 Church Street
Open Sundays, 2-4 p.m., except major holidays. Call for appointment at other times.
Phone: 864-639-2794 or 864-639-2156
fax: 864-639-5846
email: heritage@innova.net
www.centralheritage.org
Warm, homey and as natural as if the residents just got up from the supper table and went for a walk, this 1893 residence, was built by Jeptha and Minnie Morgan, Main Street merchants for many years. Exhibit rooms feature artifacts and history of the town and surrounding area. The well-kept grounds are highlighted by a formal rose garden. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a site on the South Carolina Heritage Corridor.
 Central Community Center back to top
(formerly Central African-American School)
114 West Main Street
864-639-2115
Open by appointment only.
Originally built in the 1920s as a three-room schoolhouse, by the 1940s the school had expanded to eight grades and featured classrooms, a kitchen and a dining room. It is now used as a community center.
 Central City Hall/Jail back to top
415 Gaines Street
Viewing only
Built of granite blocks during the 1920s, the building was used first as a jail for local offenders and as a city hall. In 1994, prior to acquisition of the Morgan House for use as a museum, Central City Council gave the Central Heritage Society permission to use the old jail as a museum. Although plans were put on hold for its use, it is hoped that one day the town will again allow this historic building to serve the community as a public historic site.
 Red Caboose back to top
East Main Street near traffic light
864-639-2794
Viewing only
The car that traditionally signals the end of the train is fittingly displayed as a memorial to the railroad tradition that brought so much prosperity and so much history to Central. This bit of Americana is of special interest to the many railroad buffs who visit Central, as well as to children of all ages.
 Collins Ole Towne back to top
228 Lawton Road
864-639-2618
email: croypatcollins@aol.com
Open by appointment only
A visit to this Depression-era country store furnished with a collection of store memorabilia from the 1920s and 1930s is a step back in time. The barbershop next door recreates the full-service center where a man could get a haircut, shave, shoe shine, or even a shower. The little red schoolhouse includes desks from Central High School, a stage, and school memorabilia. The blacksmith shop features implements from that vanished trade and examples of the smithy’s work. Every fall, Ole Towne celebrates a favorite foodways tradition by making molasses.
 Central Roller Mill Antiques and Specialty Shop
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300 Madden Bridge Road
864-639-5569
Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
An eclectic collection of antiques, memorabilia and interesting paraphernalia is housed in this authentic roller mill, one of the few remaining examples of this type of structure.
 Central High School back to top
410 Church Street
Viewing only; not open to the public
This Classic Revival columned structure has served the community as a school, a library, and a community theater and has played other civic roles. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
 Southern Wesleyan University back to top
907 Wesleyan Drive
\864-644-5000
www.swu.edu
Founded in 1906 at its recent location as Central Wesleyan College, the school is sponsored by the Wesleyan Church. The school operated as a junior college until 1959, when it became a senior liberal arts college. Its name was changed to Southern Wesleyan University in 1994.
 Faith Clayton Family Research Room back to top
Southern Wesleyan University
967 Wesleyan Drive
864-639-6387 or 864-644-5088
www.swu.edu
claytonroom@swu.edu
Housed at Southern Wesleyan University’s Rickman Library, this extensive genealogical collection includes pictures, documents, books and a database of more than 300,000 names. It is considered one of the state’s finest regional genealogical resources.
 Freedom’s Hill Church back to top
725 Wesleyan Drive
Southern Wesleyan University
864-644-5000
In October of 1847, a Wesleyan Methodist minister who loved God and hated slavery accepted a call to pastor a new congregation of Southern Christians who had taken the same courageous stand in the turbulent years before the Civil War. Originally built in the Snow Camp community of what is now Alamance County, North Carolina, and dedicated in March 1848, Freedom’s Hill is now located on the campus of Southern Wesleyan University. Student-led worship services and interpretive programs are the focus of the chapel, and a heritage center is to be built adjacent to the church for the comfort and convenience of guests. More story
For more information, please contact:
Central History Museum
416 Church Street
Central, SC 29630
864-639-2794 or
864-639-2156
heritage@innova.net
www.centralheritage.org
Town of Central
1067 W. Main Street
P.O. Box 549
Central, SC 29630
864-639-6381
central@innova.net
www.cityofcentral.org
Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce
1105 Tiger Blvd.
P.O. Box 1622
Clemson, SC 29633
864-654-1200
info@clemsonchamber.org
www.clemsonchamber.org
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