2018 Railroad Festival

Saturday, April 28, 2018 2018 Central Railroad Festival • Pickens County Courier Page 23
Silas C. Arnold, Mrs. Ollie W. Bowers, Clarence
C. Phillips, Ernest Head, and others.
Joseph Eaton owned large tracts of land
in and around the village (Central) extending
toward Twelve Mile River. His sons, Lucius
Ross and Ephraim “Efe” Eaton, who inherited
this property, were early merchants. The
Ross Eaton store (little red-framed building)
was across the road from the Central Roller
Mill.
Earlier settlers include Henry Rowland,
George Brock, Sam Neal, Rufus Washington
Folger, Dr. Lawrence Clayton, Robert Finley
Morgan, Frank Morgan, J.C. Watkins, T. L.
“Tuck” Watkins, Richard Lewis, William F.
Gary and many others.
Coming of the Railroad. According to
William F. Geeslin, Public Relations and Advertising,
Southern Railway System, Washington,
D.C. September 28, 1873 was the
beginning of Central. The connecting link
in the line extending north from Atlanta and
south from Charlotte through Central was
completed and open for operation.
Since the village of Central was midway
between Atlanta and Charlotte about 133
miles each way, the Railway Company decided
to set up its shop here and the place was
called Central. Thus a town was born.
Houses were built for those who moved
in to work on the railroad. Stores were erected
to provide supplies and food for the people.
Shops for railway workers were built, for
this was to be the Terminal, where engines
would be repaired and changed. Engineers,
conductors, telegraph operators brought
their families and finding the refreshing climate
and friendly people to their liking, built
homes and settled down.
On the north bank of the railroad track
in the middle of the town, a long platform
was erected for the coal chute where big,
heavy dump carts were kept loaded with
black shiny coal. At the end of the chute was
a great tank of water that seemed to be always
overflowing.
Branching off to the right of the track,
toward the present textile mill, was the “Y”
or turntable, where engines were changed.
The incoming engine would be left and replaced
by another, all bright and shiny.
When the engine switched back on the
side track below the coal chute, Mr. Cyrus
Stephens superintended the filling of the
coal dumps. Bob Wright would push the
dump forward and the fireman would shovel
coal into the engine’s furnace. Then farther
down the track the engine stopped for water
from the big water tank.
Just below the tank back in a large grove
of trees a long rambling hotel was built to
become quite famous up and down the line.
When the northbound train No. 12 and
southbound train No. 30 met every day at
Central at 12 o’clock, the passengers alighted
and were greeted by a porter, wearing a snow
white coat, ringing a large dinner bell.
The South Carolina Senate and House
of Representative enacted legislation on
March 17, 1875 to incorporate as a town. It
was to extend one-half mile in each direction
from the Air-Line Depot. It was to be
governed by an intendant and four wardens
and elected on the first Monday in April of
every year. The town charter was renewed
on December 19, 1885.
Main Street was destined to see a great
change take place in the year 1897. At this
time the Southern Railway moved its headquarters
from Central to Greenville. The
first trainload of cars pulled out Sunday, July
4, 1897. Families that had built their homes
and settled down were uprooted. Houses
were vacant and business was at a standstill.
To add to the gloom, a fire broke out
one night that almost wiped out “down town
Main Street.” There was no fire-fighting
equipment. Gradually business revived and
began to take on new life.
Central’s charter had expired and it was
necessary to get a new one. It was re-granted
on September 8, 1901. Central had 349 inhabitants.
The Norris Cotton Mill had been in operation
since 1896 and Issaqueena Mill (Central)
was organized in 1903. This opened up
opportunities for employment. T.M. Norris,
president of Norris Cotton Mill, and
Mrs. Norris moved to Central and became
an integral part of the community. (Lived
in house next to Central History Museum.)
Thirty-seven homes were built for a cost of
approximately $250-- the first ones in 1904.
The railroad siding to the mill was finished in
October 1903.
The Wesleyan College (now Southern
Wesleyan University) began classes in the fall
of 1906 and brought in new people.
Central High School which had become
a State High School moved into its
new quarters in the modern brick building
on Church Street in September 1909. (brick
building beside Mt. Zion Methodist Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Head came from
Rosman, North Carolina in 1924 and ran a
grocery store on Main Street. After this they
bought land and built a number of rental
houses. Here they operated a store and also
manufactured cement blocks.
The town’s first water system was furnished
by Issaqueena Mill, but the first sewage
system was completed about 1949 while
Max Perry was mayor. Issaqueena Mill generated
its own electric power and furnished
some electric power to Central.
About 1917, Central contracked for
electricity from the Lenhardt Dam, a power
source on Twelve Mile River. Ed Jones
was employed as manager to install lights,
read meters, and collect for the town. Later
(about 1935) Duke Power bought the right
to furnish Central’s electric power.
We encourage you to come
We encourage you to come out and
out and enjoy the festivities
enjoy the festivities
Central Heritage Society
1588 Eighteen Mile Road
Central, SC 29630
(864) 639-2894
Welcome to the
Central Railroad Festival!
We encourage you to come out and
864.639.2794 | 864.639.2156 enjoy the festivities
416 Church Street Central, SC 29630
Central Heritage Society
Central Heritage Society
864.639.2794 | 864.639.2156
416 Church Street Central, SC 29630
864.639.2794 | 864.639.2156
416 Church Street, Central, SC 29630