Originally belonging to the Cherokee Nation, a treaty with settlers in 1755 made a settlement in the SC Backcountry which would become the county of Abbeville. The settlement got its name from a group of French Huguenots, who fled France in 1764, due to religious persecution.
Palmetto Places takes us on a tour of the downtown area to see the results of the revitalization efforts including that of Abbeville's Grand Opera House. First christened on October 1, 1908, this opera house was graced by performers such as Fanny Brice, Ziegfield Follies, Houdini, Jimmy Durante and Sarah Bernhardt. With the increasing popularity of motion pictures and "talkies," the theater experienced a decline, closing down. The opera house once again hosts life performances for 8 months of the year, and Michael Higdon and Justin Eller offer a live performance of Neil Simon's "Lost in Yonkers."
A block away from the opera house is Abbeville's Rough House where locals go to play billiards, enjoy country music, and eat hot dogs, complete with homemade chili.
Abbeville is known as the "cradle and grave of the Confederacy." On November 22, 1860, 3,000 individuals met on a nearby hilltop and voted that SC secede from the Union. On May 2, 1865, Jefferson Davis took sanctuary at the home of Confederate Major Armistead Burt. Here the Confederacy's council of war met for the last time and where Jefferson's cabinet convinced him that the war was lost. Today, it is a museum, and a popular tourist attraction, filled with antiques and artifacts from the Antebellum era.
Palmetto Places explored the architectural and cultural heritage of South Carolina's small towns and countryside. Host Joanna Angle explores historic houses, public buildings, and country stores, and talks with local artists, painters, sculptors, weavers, writers, storytellers, and musicians.
Side Notes:
- To view upcoming performances at the Abbeville Opera House and purchase tickets, visit the Abbeville Opera House website.
- Learn more about the Burt-Stark Mansion in Abbeville or to schedule tours or plan an event, contact.http://www.burtstark.com/
- Diamond Hill Mine is one of the premier quartz mines in the south. Among the varieties of quartz that can be found here include skeletal quartz as well as amethyst, milky and smoky quartz. To learn more about the mine or schedule a visit.
