Something to Celebrate

Celebrate Aiken! commemorates our city’s rich past, its vibrant present and bright future, and most of all, its people, who have made it what it is today.  It all began with the coming of the railroad.

The Railroad: The longest railroad in the world at the time of its construction was responsible for Aiken’s founding. By the late 1820s, many upcountry cotton growers were taking their crop to Augusta and shipping it by barge to Savannah.

William Aiken, Sr. of Charleston, president of the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Co., instituted a bold plan to build a 136-mile river of rails from Charleston to Hamburg, S.C. (now North Augusta) and take back the precious cotton trade. Surveyors Andrew Dexter and Cyril Pascalis were assigned to lay out the section nearest to Hamburg. As fate would have it, they stayed at Chinaberry Plantation, the home of William W. Williams and his beautiful daughter Sarah. Chinaberry still stands off South Boundary between Whiskey Road and York Street. For the approach into Hamburg, the surveyors were assessing the land closer to Beech Island, which offered a level area for construction.  However, Dexter, having fallen in love with Sarah, asked Mr. Williams for her hand in marriage. Plantation owner Williams agreed, so long as the railroad came through his plantation.

Williams and other property owners donated land for a depot and village, and in 1834 Dexter and Pascalis laid out our beautiful system of parkways. The original town lay between Edgefield and Railroad Avenues (later renamed Park Avenue by the New York residents of Aiken’s Winter Colony) and between Newberry and Williamsburg Streets.

Aiken became incorporated on December 19, 1835, in honor of William Aiken, Sr., president of the railroad.

Shortly, the town that sat amidst a huge pine forest atop the last finger of the Appalachians became a summertime health retreat for coastal residents who wanted to escape from the threat of malaria.  The pure pine air also attracted people with respiratory problems.  Several health sanitariums were built to accommodate them. It was at about this time that Celestine Eustis from a prominent New Orleans family, brought her young niece Louise here to recover from a lung disease that had killed her parents.

The Winter Colony Era: Louise Eustis, who developed a lifelong love for Aiken, would later become a New York debutante, where she met the dashing and wealthy Thomas Hitchcock.  They later married and spent their first winter in Aiken. Hitchcock later invited his friend, William C. Whitney, to visit and between them they established Aiken’s wealthy Winter Colony and many of the fabulous landmarks we treasure.

It was also during this time that Henry Dibble oversaw the planting of oaks that canopy South Boundary.

African-American residents of Aiken have always played an important role in the growth and development of the city. Their role during the Winter Colony is but one example.  Contractors Albert and William McGhee helped build several Winter Colony homes and buildings. Dr. C. C. Johnson, a pharmacist and physician, opened a drug store in the early 1900s, and George Edney built and ran the first black-owned service station.  Many African-American tradesmen who were educated at Martha Schofield’s Normal and Industrial School in the late 1800s and early 1900s started businesses that serviced the Winter Colony residents. The Immanuel Mission School was founded in 1891 and offered education in a variety of trades, as well as art, music and Latin. It is now known as the Center for African American History, Art and Culture.

Savannah River Plant: For more than half a century the town barely changed until 1950, when the U.S. government announced plans to build a massive 300-square mile facility to produce plutonium and tritium for the country’s nuclear arsenal. The Savannah River Plant, now known as the Savannah River Site, brought in thousands of construction workers almost overnight, completely disrupting the languid pace of Aiken. Schools ran in two shifts and subdivisions such as Crosland Park  sprang up as fast as developers could build them.

Scientists and engineers at the plant, referred to as “The DuPonters,” played a vital part in the social and political life of Aiken and added much to its culture and prosperity. The plant had a very significant impact on the financial, social and fabric of Aiken’s history.

Earlier known as a refuge for the ailing, Aiken has lately become a beacon for retirees as they move here to enjoy our amenities.

Celebrating Aiken’s 175 years and Its Future: Aiken has much to celebrate over the past 175 years, as well as a promising future. There will be something for everyone to experience as we celebrate its birthday.

The celebration is broken into quarterly themes that evolve chronologically over 2010.

First Quarter: History, Horses, Health and High Society — focuses on our fascinating history, our wonderful equestrian heritage, and Aiken’s early reputation as a health resort. The kickoff event is titled “Sights, Sounds and Tastes of 1835”.

Second Quarter: Arts, Education and Entertainment — celebrates Aiken’s devotion to the arts, its fine centers of education and marvelous entertainment facilities.

Third Quarter: Business, Innovation and Technology — recognizes Aiken’s vital commercial sector and its significant contribution to our community.

Fourth Quarter: Aiken’s Future — is devoted to Aiken’s promising and prosperous future. It culminates with a 175th Birthday Party on Dec. 18.