TRAVELING THE TROLLEY TOUR

By C.H. Elliot

Isn’t it funny how often we visit museums and historical sites when we travel, but take the same types of things for granted in our hometown?

Certainly there are school field trips in our younger years, but how much of our local history do we just remain ignorant of?

Aiken has innumerable historic landmarks and monuments, it can be daunting to figure out where to begin.

Enter the Aiken Visitors Center & Train Museum. Between the dioramas, displays, countless books in the gift shop, and multiple brochures, it’s perfect to whet the historical appetite.

But the Trolley Tour that runs every Saturday is the icing on the proverbial cake.

For approximately an hour, one is treated to a lovely tour of historic landmarks, homes, and points of interest in and around downtown Aiken. From Martha Schofield’s Normal and Industrial school to landmark churches that take up entire square blocks, to the beautiful horse district and Hopelands Gardens.

It’s an excellent summary of the history built into the city. For others, perhaps a stepping stone into learning even more about how Aiken came to be and the types of people who once lived here.

The Historic Aiken Trolley Tour leaves Visitors Center & Train Museum at 10 am each Saturday. Reservations are strongly encouraged, as tickets often sell out two to three weeks in advance. Call the Visitors Center at 803-293-7846 for more information .

Top left: The Aiken Visitors Center & Train Museum is where the Trolley Tour begins. Inside the replica of the original Aiken Train Depot, there are countless model trains, depicting the railroad through the years.

Lower left: The cupola that stands on the school property of Schofield Middle School is the only remaining section of the original Schofield Normal and Industrial School. Martha Schofield opened her school in 1868 to provide education for the Black community.

Lower right: One of the massive oak trees that loom over Hopelands Gardens. Hopelands was built for Mr. and Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, and upon Mrs. Iselin’s death in 1970, she bequeathed the 14-acre estate to the City of Aiken to be maintained for public enjoyment. There are meandering paths that take the visitor through a plethora of beautiful flowers, trees, water features such as fountains, ponds and reflecting pools. There’s also a walking labyrinth for introspection and reflection. In summer, concerts and plays are staged upon at the amphitheater. At Christmas, the estate is illuminated Lights at Hopelands.

Top: Friendship Baptist Church, located in the 500 block of Richland Ave. E. In the mid-19th century, the Rev. John Phillips, a Black minister, realized the need for a worship building and secured the location that became Friendship Baptist Church. Construction began in 1866. In August 1893, a fire completely destroyed the church and all church records. The loyal congregation rallied and the new church was completed in December 1893.

Bottom: The trolley sits ready for visitors to board.

602 Barnwell Ave. NW Built in 1885

Arthur B. Ford, publisher of the Aiken Recorder in 1880, purchased this home in the late 1880’s. He achieved literary fame with the publication of his Civil War memoirs. One of the owners of the home was Mrs. Robert Carter, mother of actress Joanne Woodward. Joanne and her husband Paul Newman visited Aiken often.

Right: Hill House

303 Newberry St. NW An example of a Queen Anne shingle style Victorian house, Hill House was home to the families of Charles Hill and Robert and Mary Powell. These families worked together in Aiken’s first car dealership.

Photographs by C.H. Elliot

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The Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame is located on the grounds of Hopelands Gardens. The museum features champion thoroughbred flat racers and steeplechase horses trained in Aiken.

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