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A NEWSLETTER OF HISTORIC COLUMBIA
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ISSUE № 01
FALL 2017
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ANNUAL REPORT
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VOLUME
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Historically Speaking
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Letter from the President A
s you will see when you read through the annual report, we are celebrating another successful year for Historic Columbia. 2016-17 marked the final year of a three-year strategic plan that was designed to meet the following goals: •
Be the known leader in the stewardship of historic sites in Columbia and Richland County
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Engage and inspire the community through dynamic and inclusive public programs
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Have the organizational capacity to fulfill the mission of Historic Columbia
Historically Speaking Fall 2017 | Volume 57 | Issue 1 President
David Campbell 1st Vice President
John Dozier 2nd Vice President
Robert Lewis Treasurer
Gina Lesslie Secretary
Isabelle Mandell The mission of Historic Columbia is to nurture, support and protect the historical and cultural heritage of Columbia and Richland County through programs of advocacy, education and preservation.
Highlights of the organization’s successes include: •
Implement interpretive enhancements at the Mann-Simons Site. A full interpretive and substantial physical upgrade premiered at the September 2016 Jubilee Festival of Black History and Culture. The $100,000 cost was covered by grants as well as foundation and corporate contributions to the project.
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Explore options to develop a Revolving Fund Program. In November 2016, the Board of Trustees approved the feasibility study, which was conducted by an outside contractor, and set the path for the HC preservation committee to develop a policy and business plan for HC’s engagement in preservation-related real estate activities.
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Increase research of and access to local history. Since adopting the plan in 2014, HC established web-based and guided tours of the following neighborhoods: Barhamville, Forest Hills, Lower Richland and University Hill. In addition, working with community partners, we established the Columbia Jewish Heritage Initiative, which includes a web-based, self-guided print piece and guided walking tour of Jewish Sites, but also over 40 oral histories, annual public programs, installation of three historic markers and a strong steering committee that now supports HC and CJHI. Increase heritage tourism visitation. Heritage tourists account for 67% of daily admission sales and 57% of overall attendance across all tours and programs offered by the organization. Overall, walk-in tours increased by 5.3% during a three-year span that included the reopening of the Woodrow Wilson Family Home and year-long closure of the Mann-Simons Site.
In This Issue 3 Board & Staff, Financial Statement 4 Total Solar Eclips Recap & Midlands Gives 5 Partnerships & Outreach 6 Cultural Resources 7 Preservation 8 Education & Programs 9 Volunteers 10 Hampton-Preston Rehabilitation Update 11 Membership
In January at the annual retreat, board members discussed and established a framework for a strategic plan for 2017-2020 that retains the three goals of the previous plan, while outlining new objectives and action items. Over the next three years the organization looks toward the 200th birthday of the Hampton-Preston Mansion; the implementation of a dynamic revolving fund and the exploration of a presence for HC in a high pedestrian traffic location in the city. For now we celebrate the success of our most recent fiscal year, recognizing that we would not be here without the support of you – our membership – providing support and guidance that enables our continued success. We thank you for your valued support and we challenge you to seek out one new member this year. Historic Columbia aims to preserve all of Columbia’s history and we need everyone to be a part of it.
Visit us on the web: www.historiccolumbia.org
David Campbell
President, Board of Trustees 2
HISTOR I C C OLUMB I A | A NNUA L RE P ORT
Board of Trustees Board of Trustees
Ex-Officio Members
David Campbell, President John Dozier, 1st Vice President Robert Lewis, 2nd Vice President Gina Lesslie, Treasurer Isabelle Mandell, Secretary
Kenneth Childs Carroll Heyward Jenna Stephens
The Palladium Society Board of Directors Carroll Heyward, President Jennifer Bullock Stefan Leonhardt Patrick Cleary Lisa Matthew Brian Cuthrell Andrew Montgomery Lauren Dillon Lydia Pappas Lauren Elliott John Roberts Lauren Gilstrap Grace Salter Anthony R. Goldman Katie Washington Mataesha Green David Wiesendanger Oliver Hartner Ashleigh Wilson Ashley Jenkins
City / County Council Representatives / Liaisons
At-Large Members
Rena Grant Kim Jamieson Dawn Mills-Campbell Sam Davis Greg Pearce
Katherine Hopkins Mark Jones Jamie Keller Jeff Payne Alison Summey
HC Advisory Council Jenna Stephens, Chair David Bornemann Janice Bowman Frank Braddock Susan Brill Anne Bristow Jim Byrum Ann Cameron Russell Cann Frank Cason Kenneth Childs Debbie Cohn Rosie Craig Beryl Dakers Jim Daniel
Fred Delk Kate Dixon Jessica Elfenbein Christina Fleming Ed Greenleaf Lindsey Griffin Alex Guzman Jamie Harpootlian Mel Hart Monya Havekost David Hodges Ann Holtschlag Michelle Hurley Gloria James Nathan Kimsey
Jeff Lawler Richard Linden Andrew Lucas Esther Maldonado Betsy McDonald Todd Miller Stuart Moore Kathy Norton Lorin Palmer Megan Plott Eleanor Pope Keith Powell C.D. Rhodes III Henry Roe Henry Shaw
Scottie Smith Stephen Suggs Darrin Thomas Cleve Walker J. Calhoun Watson Mozella White
2016–2017 Financial Statement Historic Columbia Foundation Statement of Activities for the year ending on June 30, 2017. Operating Revenues and Incomes City of Columbia
598,565
Richland County
406,143
Individual/Corporate Donations
313,914
Includes H Tax & A Tax
Includes memberships/contributions/corp funding
Grants
72,335
Assets released from restriction
20,000
Rental
129,203
Tours
108,355
Other
55,629
Public Programs and Special Events Interest income, gift shop and other listed of financials
Staff Robin Waites, Executive Director Katharine Allen, Research and Archives Manager Heather Bacon-Rogers, Weekend Staff Manager Brittany Buckner, Rental Coordinator Lois Carlisle, Executive Assistant Evan Clements, Director of Grounds Jill Found, Youth Programs Facilitator Fielding Freed, Director of Historic House Museums Celia Galens, Community Engagement Coordinator Debbie Giles, Director of Administration and Finance Brian Harmon, Marketing Coordinator Mitch Journey, Gift Shop Manager Betsy Kleinfelder, Visitor and Interpretive Services Coordinator Jeff Kruse, Facilities Assistant Keith Mearns, Horticulturalist Lauren Mojkowski, Development Coordinator James Quint, Director of Education Dave Ruff, Head Gardener John Sherrer, Director of Cultural Resources Wendi Spratt, Director of Development Sean Stucker, Director of Facilities Anna Kate Twitty, Director of Marketing and Communications
Total Operating Income
1,704,144
Operating Expenses Program Expenses
1,378,730
General Supporting
170,711
Fund-Raising Expense
144,450
Total Operating Expense
1,693,891
Net Operating Income
10,253
Non Operating Income
26,426
Temporarily Restricted Net Assets
1,193.591
Permanently Restricted Net Assets
8,936
Increase in Net Assets
1,239,242
Net Assets, beginning of year
2,383,649
Net Assets, end of year
3,622,891
Visit historiccolumbia.org for a full list of 2016-17 donors. FA L L 20 17
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What's Happening #OnThis Spot?
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ast spring, with direction and assistance from the marketing committee, HC developed a new social strategy to engage the public. #OnThisSpot is meant to remind our audiences that history is omnipresent. Even sites and places without historical markers can be rich in stories. In the lead-up to the 2017 Midlands Gives campaign, Historic Columbia coordinated a “Where in the Midlands” video series highlighting HC and community efforts at important historic sites around Columbia and Richland County. We will continue to use #OnThisSpot in our social media posts and encourage our supporters to do the same.
Midlands Gives
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our years and 337 nonprofit participants later, this annual 24hour online giving event hosted by Central Carolina Community Foundation brings the region together as one community, raising money and awareness for local nonprofits in 11 Midlands counties. Historic Columbia is grateful for the support and financial contributions of our members, boards, volunteers, friends and colleagues who helped us finish the 2017 Midlands Gives raising nearly $19,000. Your donations kept Historic Columba at the top of the leaderboard throughout the day –finishing 2nd among 337 nonprofits with the total number of unique donations. Historic Columbia was supported at a record level this year. Your individual commitment to a group effort raised awareness of philanthropy in our community. To date, over $3.8 million has been raised through Midlands Gives for local nonprofits. Mark your calendar for the fifth annual Midlands Gives event on May 1, 2018.
Historic Total Eclipse at Robert Mills Draws a Crowd
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undreds of attendees joined Historic Columbia at the Robert Mills House to view the Total Eclipse on August 21. The weekend proved to be a boon for attendance, sales and general awareness of Historic Columbia. On Friday of Eclipse Weekend, more than 90 people participated in Columbia’s largest water balloon fight on the grounds of Robert Mills. Not only did they get the chance to cool down and have some fun, they also learned to implement historic battle tactics.
As part of its Midlands Gives campaign, HC launched a series of live videos promoting history #OnThisSpot. To kick this off, the team created a riff on the BBC interview meme.
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Guided walking and house tours proved popular Saturday and Sunday with more than 300 people participating over the weekend. The line for tickets stretched out of the Gift Shop door and down the driveway. The highlight of the weekend, though, was certainly Monday’s viewing. With more than 630 tickets sold to the event, Historic Columbia hosted visitors from Israel, the Dominican Republic, 31 states and the Midlands. In the hours leading up to the main event, guests had the opportunity to tour the Robert Mills House & Gardens, picnic on the lawn and boogie down with Columbia’s top children’s band, Pears 4 Bears. Luckily, the clouds stayed away and visitors #OnThisSpot witnessed one of the most dazzling astronomical phenomena—a total solar eclipse.
Several CJHI committee members attended the 2017 State Historic Preservation Awards at the South Carolina State House on June 16, 2017. Seen here are Barry Abels, Robin Waites, Katharine Allen, Rachel Barnett, Debbie Cohn, Lilly Filler, and Lyssa Harvey with Governor Henry McMaster.
Columbia Jewish Heritage Initiative Continues to Grow
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nitiated in 2014 in partnership with a number of local and statewide organizations, activities of the Columbia Jewish Heritage Initiative (CJHI) continue to expand.
Between December and January, with funding from the South Carolina Jewish Historical Society, HC installed historical markers at three sites including the location of the Marion Street Synagogue, the second site of the Tree of Life (Heyward Street) and the House of Peace Cemetery (Whaley Street). This spring, working closely with CJHI committee members Lyssa Harvey and Rachel Barnett, HC established Kugels & Collards - a blog that explores Southern Jewish history through food. The blog recently featured guest writers Bruce Miller, owner of Groucho’s Deli, and Olivia Brown, a USC graduate student whose work explores Southern Jewish foodways. Visit www.kugelsandcollards.org to learn more.
Preservation Awards This year’s diverse application pool—from private homes to universities, places of worship to apartment complexes—demonstrated the continuing dedication to historic preservation throughout the city and county.
2017 Preservation Awards Winners
The rehabilitation of the Palmetto Compress Building is a testament to the strength of Columbia’s grassroots preservation advocacy. Image credit Dressler Photography
Adaptive Use Palmetto Compress Building The Bakery at Bull Street Preservation/Restoration Chappelle Auditorium at Allen University 1931 Henderson Street New Construction in an Historic Context Kennedy Greenhouse Studio at USC Preservation Leadership Award Martha Fowler
CJHI by the numbers:
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Historical markers installed:
• Site of the Beth Shalom Synagogue on Marion Street • Beth Shalom Cemetery on Whaley Street • Tree of Life Congregation on Heyward Street Added 9 new sites to the Columbia's Jewish Heritage web tour, bringing the total to 43.
Collected
10 NEW ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS from members of the Jewish Community. Since 2015, CJHI has interviewed 39 individuals.
Scanned more than photographs provided by members of the Jewish Community. Lead two tours highlighting Jewish historical sites in Columbia's downtown commercial corridor.
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Preparing for HamptonPreston’s Bicentennial
Collections:
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new objects from 11 accessions
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n preparation for the site’s 200th anniversary, Historic Columbia staff has been hard at work on a reinterpretation of the museum. Interpretive enhancements will include new interior signage, revised period vignettes, wayside signage and digitally-based tablet tours. Through these new lenses, visitors will get an in-depth look at African and AfricanAmerican contributions to the property. The reinterpretation will also focus on the mansion’s time as a tourist home and boarding house.
objects were accessioned through Abandoned Cultural Property legislation
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outright gifts
As with any historic property, facilities concerns also needed to be addressed. The mansion will receive a much-needed new HVAC system to remediate problematic moisture issues in the basement. Further buildingrelated work will address aesthetic issues, such as interior paint and exterior stucco finishes. As part of our upcoming recognition of the 200th anniversary, conservation of a portrait of Kate Hampton by conservator Craig Crawford revealed not one, but two past overpaintings of the original. Crawford carefully removed the two layers and painstakingly in-painted the areas of loss. Crawford said, “What is left of the original paint layer is in good condition. With carefull inpainting, that does not cover any original paint, the portrait will more closely appear as the artist intended.” We look forward to unveiling this significant portrait during the upcoming year.
Freed, far left, with Senator Lindsey Graham and some of the delegation members from USC’s Honors College and museum professionals from Richland, Horry, Charleston, and Oconee counties.
Museum Advocacy in Washington, DC
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tewardship of our museum collections requires more than wearing white cotton gloves. In February, Historic Columbia’s Director of Historic House Museums, Fielding Freed, joined the South Carolina delegation on Capitol Hill for a day of grassroots lobbying on behalf of our state’s museums. The group met with House and Senate members to request that they maintain funding for the Office of Museum Services (OMS), which awards grants that help to educate students, digitize collections, and engage communities. Historic Columbia has received three grants (2008, 2006 and 2012) totaling $250,531 for community engagement programs and museum collections care.
Awards 2016-17
Photo courtesy of Crawford Conservation. Historic Columbia collection, HCF 1972.147.1
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2017 South Carolina State Historic Preservation Award for Heritage Tourism (CJHI)
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2017 Confederation of South Carolina Local Historical Societies Award of Merit (CJHI)
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National Council on Public History Outstanding Public History Project (Mann-Simons)
Seibels House Investigations and Discoveries
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ollowing the first round of structural investigations in 2015 and 2016, this year saw the first phase of physical changes take place at Columbia’s oldest remaining residence. Insulation, contaminated soil and other tainted materials were removed revealing a spacious basement with indications that it had served as a more functional space in prior decades (or centuries). During the final investigations, conducted in April, engineers used a borescope camera to uncover hidden materials behind plaster walls and ceilings. Seibels will see more changes in the coming year with the procurement of grants for further restoration work. As material was removed from the basement at Seibels House, the original intricate masonry became more exposed.
Preservation Easement Program and Main Street Update
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he total number of easements held by Historic Columbia continues to climb following the acquisition of a new contract downtown. HC now holds 11 easements. Redevelopment of properties within the portfolio continues, through projects like the Powell Furniture Building—now a boutique hotel and the Robinson Building—soon to be a bowling alley and restaurant. From event spaces to office spaces and from restaurants to residential units, the dimensions of downtown continue to grow within the existing historic footprint. HC is proud to play a role in this transformation.
HC Staff gather around the reclaimed sign for The Grand during a Behind the Scenes Tour of the 1500 Block of Main Street.
Main Street Behind-theScenes Tour Draws Record Crowds
I Keep your eyes #onthisspot later this year to see the transformation of these two historic properties.
nterest in rehabilitation projects downtown continues to rise. This year HC partnered with owners and developers of historic properties for unique behind-the-scenes tours. Main Street’s 1600 block is a stand-out example. Guests had the chance to tour the circa-1872 Robinson Building during its transformation into a boutique bowling alley and restaurant. Each venue yielded surprises and lessons in bricks-and-mortar historic preservation work, as well as an opportunity to interact with the entrepreneurs, developers and craft persons involved in this downtown renaissance. FA L L 20 17
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This summer, campers leaned to “play the past� while learning about the history of games in South Carolina.
On the Road Again with Traveling Trunks
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n the 2016-17 school year, Historic Columbia continued to engage South Carolina elementary school students in history through our popular Traveling Trunk program. Consisting of five different in-school presentations by Historic Columbia staff, the trunks include a variety of hands-on and interactive activities that supplement classroom learning on topics including the Civil War and antebellum eras, Reconstruction, World War II and the Civil Rights Movement. All Traveling Trunk programs use local history to connect students to South Carolina state social studies standards.
Traveling Trunks by the numbers:
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Record- breaking in-school visits during the 2016-17 school year schools outside of Richland and Lexington counties visited
The Traveling Trunk program is made possible in large part by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina who have sponsored the program for several years.
7,500
more than students participated in HC's outreach programming
25% of total visits were to Title One Schools
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$ Students have the opportunity to get hands on with history through the Traveling Trunk program.
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HISTOR I C C OLUMB I A | A NNUA L RE P ORT
how much it costs schools to host a Traveling Trunk program thanks to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Volunteers
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volunteer hours 2016-17
his year volunteers have been active in all areas of the organization, with a large focus being on Interpretive Guides. These volunteers lead tours of all four house museums, as well as many of our walking tours, driving tours, Second Sunday programs and cemetery tours. Upon the reopening of the MannSimons Site, nearly 20 Interpretive Guides learned the new tour of the house within a few short weeks. Several new volunteers were recruited through a newly developed crash-course training program, which allows guides to learn the tour through a oneday, intensive training that was met with success.
$80,459
Our 15 garden volunteers were instrumental in numerous projects across the grounds, including the improvements at the Hampton-Preston Mansion, updates to My Mother’s Garden at the Robert Mills House and enhancements to grounds at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home. Be sure to stop by to take a look at their hard work!
3,333 worth of hours logged by garden volunteers
Number of Volunteers: 50 interpretive guides 30 special event volunteers nearly 100 Jubilee volunteers 15 garden volunteers
The Annual Volunteer Awards Luncheon honors outstanding members of HC’s volunteer community.
Vennie Moore leads a tour of the Mann-Simons Site. FA L L 20 17
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HC Garden Rehabilitation Update + Donor Impact Woodrow Wilson Family Home: A Museum of Reconstruction in Columbia and Richland County In the gardens of the Woodrow Wilson Family Home a project to complete the plantings in the Work Yard and increase event space at the site has just begun. Both projects are being accomplished with generous support from The Columbia Garden Club Foundation. Robert Mills House & Gardens Spring saw the completion of the Gift Shop parking lot project to enhance visibility and increase native plant diversity at the Robert Mills House thanks to the support of The Carolina Garden Club Foundation. The project added Black Gum, Inkberry Holly and Summersweet to the growing collection of regionally indigenous plants on the property. This summer, Hannah and Ron Rogers generously supported a replanting of My Mother’s Garden on the Robert Mills House grounds, which was recently completed. The amended planting scheme adds more than 20 unique perennials and shrubs to create an overflowing cottage garden with multi-season appeal. Hampton-Preston Mansion & Garden Several supporters helped HC to complete Phase I and begin Phase II of the Hampton Preston garden rehabilitation. These thoughtful donors included the Powell Family, Palmetto Garden Club, Frank S. Cox, the Bigwarfe family and many other generous contributors. The highlight of the October 2016 dedication included the ribbon cutting on the gazebo in the Henry Michael Powell Memorial Children’s Garden. The largest changes to the grounds are taking place in the Hampton-Preston gardens. With the generous support of The Darnell W. & Susan F. Boyd Foundation, Phase II is well underway. This phase includes the installation of more than two acres of historic gardens and pathways, boundary wall restoration, irrigation and electrical infrastructure reconfiguration and the installation of large vine arbors. Building upon this work, AgFirst Farm Credit Bank supported the garden to establish new virtual database and accompanying plant identification in the Hampton-Preston Gardens. Additional support was awarded by Central Carolina Community Foundation’s Connected Communities grant program to provide enhanced visitor amenities. Together with this support and other generous donations from Synovus/NBSC and the Palmetto Garden Club, Historic Columbia will be able to attract a more visitors to the site and provide more dynamic programming and events. This project is set to finish in the spring of 2018.
A large concrete urn was donated by Susan Boyd and installed during the creation of new pathways at the Hampton-Preston Mansion and grounds.
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If you haven’t recently visited these properties, we encourage you to see them at your leisure or join us during an upcoming program or event with Richland Library or the Columbia Children’s Theater. These partnerships illustrate ways Historic Columbia is expanding services to the Midlands as a direct result of the generous donors investing in the gardens.
Your Membership Drives Us Forward
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s a diverse and vibrant community, Historic Columbia strives to enhance livability and tourism in the Midlands. Historic Columbia’s membership program is an integral part of our success. Individual, organizational and business memberships provide critical support for HC’s delivery of quality programs and expanded preservation advocacy across Richland County. In the new year, HC will review our current membership program with a critical eye to make changes to meet the needs and interests of our constituents. We invite suggestions and feedback as we work to streamline and enhance your member experience.
Chilli Cook Off contestants go all-out with their recipes and costumes in hopes of winning fan favorite.
Making a different to the bottom line
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id you know as a current member of Historic Columbia, you receive priority registration to all Historic Columbia’s Behind-the-Scenes Tours? These tours are hosted at least four times a year and this past year included locations such as the Arcade Mall/Down Under, The Red Lion— Columbia’s downtown Antique Mall—and one of the newest projects in the 1600 block of Main Street, a boutique bowling alley and fine dining establishment—The Grand. Behind-the-Scenes Tours raise more than $12,000 each year for Historic Columbia and offers a unique way for people to support our mission. These tours also attract new members and encourage existing members to stay current with their membership. Over the past year, the Behind-the-Scenes Tours attracted nearly 60 new members and 2nd Wind Heating and Air has participated as the presenting sponsor of these tour series annually following the launch of the tours in 2011-2012.
Renovation Rodeo gives Palladium members an inside look at some of Columbia’s most innovative restoration projects. FA L L 20 17
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During the 19th century, living off the land included cutting firewood in the country and selling it in the city. This ca. 1899 photograph of an unknown woman delivering what looks to be fat-lighter (the extremely flammable heart of an old pine tree) door-to-door in Columbia is one of four from the Barron family collection of images. Historic Columbia collection, HCF 2016.8.2
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