Spring Festival by Fox Press

About Trinity Episcopal Church

Trinity Episcopal Church dates from 1842, a year prior to the construction of a clapboard building to accommodate Anglican worship in Abbeville. By 1858, an emergent congregation desired a finer structure. The architect, George E. Walker of Columbia, found inspiration in the magnificent Gothic cathedrals in Europe; his design seemed appropriate, as John de la Howe had asked that Abbeville be named after his native home in France. The cornerstone of the present building was laid on June 27, 1859, and thick masonry walls were assembled of handmade bricks to support a soaring spire. The church was consecrated by Bishop Thomas F. Davis on November 4, 1860, just two days before Abraham Lincoln was elected president of

the United States.

Trinity Church houses a collection of rare, 19th-century American stained glass. According to a popular legend, the large chancel window was of English origin and survived the Union blockade of Charleston during the Civil War. Intended for a Northern congregation, so the lore was told, the vestry chose to keep the window and adapt it to the existing space. Current research, however, reveals the valuable window is likely the one originally conceived for the church.

Art historians attribute the chancel window to the studio of William Gibson, the "father of stained glass painting in America." Stylistic similarities point to Gibson as the source of the "Suffer the Little Children" win-

dow and the iconic medallions adorning others. The Epiphany window depicting the Holy Family is the church's only 20th century stained glass. Crafted by J&R Lamb Studios, it is deftly situated to capture rays of sunlight throughout the day.

The church bell was a gift of J. Foster Marshall, a churchman and colonel who died in the Battle of Second Manassas. During the war, a Confederate officer allegedly proposed that it be melted to manufacture a cannon, but it was found that the bell was not constructed of the proper metal for munitions. J. D. Chalmers of Abbeville donated the marble baptismal font and communion table in 1860, the same year that the boxwood gardens were established outdoors. Wooden furnishings

were made by a local craftsman, with grained pews consisting of single planks. A tracker organ was built by John Baker of Charleston from parts imported from England. The electric chandelier and lighting were presented by the Ladies' Guild and installed in 1907.

The Rev. William Porcher Dubose, a veteran of the Battle of Second Manassas, served as rector from 1868 to 1871. A renowned theologian, he left Abbeville to become Chaplain at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Trinity Episcopal Church and Cemetery has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1971.

Today, the congregation aspires to preserve its legacy and extend God's mission for generations to come.

Tucked behind the grand and majestic Trinity Episcopal Church lies a sacred space: the labyrinth. Crafted from gravel and reclaimed bricks— some once part of the church itself—it offers a quiet path for centering prayer and meditation. This continuous journey inward and outward reflects the rhythms of life and faith. Along the way, walkers pause to reflect, pray, and reconnect with God. Benches invite rest, while scripture plaques offer spiritual guidance. Walk. Rest. Pray.

2025 Abbeville Opera House Season

Comedian Brandon Rainwater

Saturday, August 23rd at 7:30 p.m.

Chi-Town Transit Authority: Chicago Tribute

Saturday, September 20th at 7:30 p.m.

Interstellar Echoes: A Tribute to Pink Floyd

Saturday, October 4th at 7:30 p.m.

For

Southern Crossed: The Musical

Friday, May 16th at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 17th at 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 18th at 3:00 p.m.

Comedy, Magic, and Mind Reading

Saturday, May 31st at 3:00 p.m.

The Baillie Players present HomeSquad the Musical

Monday, June 16th at 6:00 p.m.

Comedian Jerry Carroll Saturday, June 21st at 7:30 p.m.

The Mad Hatters: Tom Petty Tribute Saturday, August 9th at 7:30 p.m.

Steel Magnolias

Friday, October 31st at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 1st at 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 2nd at 3:00 p.m.

Comedian Andy Beningo

Saturday, November 8th at 7:30 p.m.

Frankly Scarlet

Saturday, November 15th at 7:30 p.m.

Ernie Haase and Signature Sound: Jazzy Little Christmas

Saturday, November 22nd at 7:30 p.m.

MONDAY - CLOSED

TUESDAY - SATURDAY

LUNCH 11:30 - 2:30

DINNER 5:00 - 10:00 SUNDAY

LUNCH BUFFET 11:30 - 2:30

809 E. GREENWOOD ST.

SC 29620

Past meets present in Abbeville's historic treasures

By Henry E. Green

Hidden treasures in plain sight?

We’re all familiar with Abbeville’s historic buildings-Trinity Episcopal Church, the Burt-Stark Mansion--but there are other items of interest that you might pass by without a thought--items that have stories behind them that may not be so well-known.

The fountain at the south end of Court Square might be a good point. According to the marker a short distance away, this is a Humane Society Alliance Fountain, dating from 1912.

It is one of 125 watering troughs/fountains presented to communities throughout the United States in the early 1900s by the National Humane Alliance, as part of an effort to improve the lot of workhorses.

On the north end of Court Square, you can find “Big Bob,” a bell which used to alert Abbeville residents in the event

Roger Wilson, owner

of emergencies.

It is not used for that anymore, of course, but it has found a new use. On the last Friday of the month, area veterans gather on the Square’s north end to honor the memory of those veterans who have passed away during the past month, and the bell is tolled in conjunction with that remembrance, as the names of the deceased veterans are read aloud.

“Big Bob” is not the only “old thing” that has found a new use in Abbeville.

On the afternoon before the Abbeville High School prom, the teenage boys and girls gather in their prom finery for photographs with family and friends--on Court Square and on the grounds of the Burt Stark Mansion.

Young people in “old” surroundings, like fresh wine in an old bottle--it all makes what they are doing perhaps all the more satisfying, especially

as they experience one of those milestones of youth.

Nearby is the Opera House, like a very dignified lady--looking especially well-preserved despite more than 100 years of existence.

Here, too, old meets new. The Opera House recently hosted a performance by “Vintage Vixens”, an all-lady band playing music from the Sixties and early Seventies.

The Vixens were new to the old community theater, and while the music they play is more than half a century old, it pays tribute to a time when young people were finding their voice in America. Consider the college students who flocked to Mississippi in the early and mid-1960s to help with voter registration.

Young?

Old?

Deliciously hidden?

Beaming for all to see? Abbeville has it all.

• Flowers, Vegetables, & Ferns

• Feed & Seed • Fertilizer

• Pet Supplies

• Animal Health

• Hardware

• Carhartt Clothing

• Boots • Fencing • Tack

Telephone: (864) 366-9522 Fax: (864) 366-4730

MAY 1st- 2nd (Evenings) MAY 3rd, 2025

Thursday, May 1st

5:30 pm – 10:00 pm Amusement Rides

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Brooks Dixon (Main Stage)

8:30 pm – 10:30 pm Bobby Power Band (Main Stage)

Friday, May 2nd

5:30 pm – 10:00 pm Amusement Rides

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Jackson Station (Main Stage)

8:30 pm – 10:30 pm R and B Inc. (Main Stage)

Spring Festival One Day Ride Wristbands

Skip the line and save money by purchasing your ride tickets ahead of time! Visit https://www.abbevillecitysc.com/494/Amusement-Ride-Schedule-and-Tickets

One day wristbands can be used Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Rides will operate from 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM on Thursday and Friday and from 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM on Saturday.

Riders must pick up their wristband at the Festival Admin Tent, near the Main Stage on Washington Street. Tickets can only be redeemed on the day wristband is being used.

Presale ends Thursday at 4:00 PM. Tickets are non-refundable. No refunds will be issued for inclement weather.

Ride wristbands can be purchased at City Hall from Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Spring Festival is a FREE family friendly event open to the public featuring live music, special events, vendors, and more! Ride Wristbands and tickets are available for purchase, but are not required to attend the festival. Looking for FREE kids entertainment? Make sure to visit the Kidzone!

11:00 am – 10:00 pm Amusement Rides

12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Community Groups

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm The Pickens Creek Band (Main Stage)

9:00 am – 12:00 pm KidZone on North Main Street

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Marty Cann (Acoustic Stage)

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Madison Medlin (Acoustic Stage)

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues (Main Stage)

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Zander Villayne

8:30 pm – 10:30 pm Nicole Marie Quinn & The Dreamcatchers (Main Stage) Saturday, May 3rd

Trey Edwards, Mayor

Louise Aikens, District 1

Faye Thomas, District 2

John Sutherland, District 3

Chris Crawford, Mayor Pro Tem, District 4

James “J.J.” Jackson, District 5

Jason Edwards, District 6

Benji Greeson, District 7

Matthew Gambrell, District 8

Blake Stone, City Manager

Fran Strickland Anderson, Asst. City Manager

Summer Memories in every bloom Main Weekend

June 5 - 8, 2025

Signature Topiary Display

ALL MONTH LONG 57 Stunning Floral Sculptures Spread Across Uptown Greenwood

Main Weekend

Thursday, June 5

Greenwood Performing Arts’ Concert

Museum Exhibit Opening

Juried Youth Arts Show Reception

Friday, June 6

Garden Symposium

Museum Exhibit

Opening

Juried Arts & Crafts

Blooms & Beats

Music @ the Market

Food Trucks

Saturday, June 7

Flower Power Fun Run

Kidfest

Garden Tours

Juried Arts & Crafts

Blooms & Beats

Music @ the Market

Food Trucks

Topiaries, Tastings, & Tunes

Juried Arts Show

Awards Ceremony

Sunday, June 8

Garden Tours

Cokesbury College Tour & Ice Cream Social

More Summer Memories

BLOOMING THROUGHOUT JUNE

Kick off the SC Festival of Flowers @ Ladies Luncheon

The Museum’s Special Exhibits

The Arts Center‘s Juried Art Show

The Arts Center‘s Juried Youth Art Show

Emerald City’s Annual Classic Car Show

Railroad Historical Center‘s Exhibit

Junior Tennis Tournament

Flag Day Ceremony

Pollinator Week Celebration

Greenwood Community Theatre’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

SC Festival of Stars

Wesley Commons‘ Ladies Bridge Luncheon

Enjoy the Scenic Roads of Greenwood @ Bee Buzzin’ Bike Tour

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Abbeville County’s

Press and Banner

and Abbeville Medium

The Baseball Comes to Town, 1873-74

Excerpt from Old Abbeville by Lowry Ware (2004), citing original reporting in the Press & Banner, August 15, 1873; October 22, 1873; and July 1, 1874.

The Abbeville Amateur Base Ball Club having accepted the challenge of the Cokesbury Athlete Club, the game came off on the grounds of the Abbeville Club on last Friday afternoon. Much interest had been taken from several days previous by both the Cokesbury and Abbeville people and large numbers from both places had made preparations to witness the game. Greenwood and other portions of the District were also well represented. On the three o’clock train more than a hundred ladies and gentlemen arrived from Cokesbury at our Depot, where they found a welcome greeting from delegations of our people, who had all the available carriages, buggies, and wagons of the town awaiting to convey to the field of the friendly contest. By this time all the places of business in the town of Abbeville had been closed, and her citizens were assembling en masse, and by half past three o’clock the grove was crowded with spectators.

At the meeting of the clubs it was agreed that Mr. G. M. Hodges of the Cokesbury club should act as the Umpire. Messrs. H. P. Hodges and T. P. Quarles were scorers for their respective clubs, Messrs. J. M. Dickson and W. C. Benet, as captains.

The Abbeville Club went to the bats first, and in the presence of the large assembly each members of the clubs took the place assigned him, either in the field or on the corners. At a few minutes before 4 o’clock the game was commenced and at the first inning the Abbeville club made but two rounds and the Cokesbury club made twenty which gave them prestige and their efforts were redoubled. Second and third innings were much in favor of the Cokesbury club, and at the fourth inning the Abbeville club was “whitewashed,” they having failed to make a single “round.” The fifth inning was also to the disadvantage of the Abbeville club, but at the sixth inning Abbeville came out ahead and played with more spirit and better effect during the remainder of the game.

The whole number of scores made by the Abbeville Club was fifty one, while the Cokesbury club ran the number of their scores to eighty six. In justice to the Abbeville club, we would state that they have been only recently organized, whilst their opponents have had much longer practice.

The large number of scores may be accounted for, as owing to the unevenness of the ground, the gullies and the trees.

Much elated at their victory, the Cokesbury people returned to their homes on the extra train which left here at 7 o’clock.

In September, Abbeville played a return game at

Cokesbury before a crowd of 500 and lost by the score of 43 to 28.

The Press & Banner, October 22, 1873, in the middle of a long account of the annual fair held by the Abbeville Agricultural Society had a short account of the second baseball game played in Abbeville and the first one in which the home team was victorious, as follows: At three o’clock in the afternoon of Wednesday [October 14], the match game between Abbeville and Cokesbury was played on the grounds of the Abbeville club and was witnessed by a large number of both sexes. Mr. C. A. C. Waller of Greenwood acted as umpire and after a close and exacting contest, announced a victory for Abbeville – the score standing 54 to 51.

The Press & Banner, July 1, 1874, carried the following story:

Baseball Contest. According to previous announcement, the match game between the Cokesbury Baseball Club and the Resolutes of Abbeville came off here on Friday last, and after a spirited contest the palm of victory was borne off by the Resolutes. The score stood fifty to twenty three. The umpire was Mr. C. A. C. Waller of Greenwood and the scorers were Messrs. T. P. Quarles of Abbeville and E. C. Graydon of Cokesbury. A special train brought up the young men of the Cokesbury club, also a bright array of ladies and gentlemen to witness the attractive game. Abbeville too turned out in full force and lent the potent witchery of bright eyes and ardent sympathy, to stimulate the champions to victory. Both sides put forth their best efforts, but Abbeville bore off the coveted prize. The opposing champions were distinguished by handsome uniforms – the Cokesburians by neat caps brimmed with blue, white shirts and blue knee pants –the Abbevillians by blue shirts and white pants with a blue stripe.

Abbeville bAsebAll NiNe. In 1896, T.H. White and W.H. White (father of James B. White) were the pitcher and catcher (respectively) for the semi-pro team called the Baseball Nine. (Photo courtesy of James B. White, as published in Images of America: Abbeville County by Abbeville County Historical Society, 2004).