JHS Gold and Black Yearbook, class of 1963
Johnsonville State Bank is pictured here at an older location, circa 1954 at approximately 122 West Broadway Street. In June of 1956, JSB moved across the street to a new state of the art facility with air conditioning.
Broadway Street in Johnsonville looking East, circa 1954
Broadway looking East, circa 1954. Pictured: Tomlinson's & Venters, P.D. Poston Grocery (later Turner's IGA). Not yet built are the Johnsonville Pharmacy or the old Johnsonville Post Office (which opened in 1958).
Johnsonville Looked Good To a Boy From Possum Fork
Gid Haselden reminisces on his childhood in Possum Fork and how Johnsonville has changed over the years (including a fire that destroyed most of town.)
JOHNSONVILLE LOOKED GOOD TO A BOY FROM "POSSUM FORK" JOHNSONVILLE - Half way between Florence and Georgetown - which is to say that particularly favored location location wherein the Low Country comes rushing up to greet the Pee Dee area - is a town called Johnsonville. Two things alone hold together the community - the Wellman Combing Co., with more than five-hundred employees, and an indomitable will on the part of its one-thousand citizens. AS towns go, Johnsonville is not old; but it is old enough to have firmly established itself in the affections of those whom therein dwell. One such man is D.B. Haselden. Since the last-named merchant has been a resident without interruption of the town for the past 33 years: and since Haselden was born within 2 and one half miles of his present residence, the stor of D.B. Haselden is the story of Johnsonville. Here it is in Merchant Haselden's own words: "When I came to live in Johnsonville there were no paved roads in or out. To a boy from Possum Fork, however, it looked real good. Anyway, I opened a small grocery business here on Oct. 5, 1926. My business kept up with the town - neither grew one iota. In 1927 a lumber outfit moved in unasked but very welcome. The Bennet-Walker Lumber Co., was composed of a planing mill and 5 or 6 sawmills, and remained in business here until the death of John Walker - about 1942. Walker's son still lives here. Much later the Combing Company moved in, and saved what was left of Johnsonville." What was left? "Yes. In Jan. 1931, in the dead of night a fire broke out. By dawn the Main street looked like Flanders Field after a heavy rain. Only two shops were left standing; a drug store and - you guessed it - the D.B. Haselden Grocery. The heck of it was that folks seemed to be in no hurry about rebuilding. I used to feel like a shopkeeper in the destroyed city of Pompei, I tell you. It looked like that fire was to prove a fatal blow to our town. Do you know, it was not until about 1944 that they started rebuilding from the ashes? Thirteen long years I kept shop on a street all but obliterate. Why it must have been all of twelve months after the fire before the charred smell left Broadway. That's the name of the main stem, you know..." The long and lean Mr. Haselden suddenly leaned back and roared with laughter. "Pardon me," he said finally. "I was remembering a song which was popular along about those same disheartening days. It went: 'Bright lights on Broadway, sunshine down in Dixie,' et cetera et cetera. We had the sunshine alright but not much illumination on our Broadway. "I believe I mentioned Possum Fork a little earlier? Well that's where I was born. If Johnsonville was a bit on the isolated side brother, you should have know the Fork back when I was a boy. It was almost literally out of this world. I recall a school teacher who came to teach out there - they put him up in a deserted house back in a thicket. He wanted. The told him without cracked to know if the place was haunting a smile, that the 'houses were all too small, at Possum Fork, to hold a ghost.' I reckon though, that ma didn't believe them. He didn't stay long. "The Fork is still there - only a little better than two miles from Johnsonville. Some folks will say I have no shame - disclosing conditions as they were back fifty years ago. But I am downright proud of being from Possum Fork. If this story reaches the paper, I'll bet there will be hundreds of people who will know that I am telling the truth. "I didn't see a train until I was 12 years old. The nearest railroad was at Lake City. I never visited either Florence or Georgetown until I was a married man of 23." Haselden's eyes took on a far away look. "I can recall going to Allison's Landing - that's on the Pee Dee - with my father, after we'd heard the boat whistling. Dad used to buy his staples at Georgetown - flour, rice, coffee and sugar, and have them brought up the river. It was about six miles to the Landing, we'd travel by mule and cart. When I was a boy, I thought of Georgetown as the beginning and the end of civilization. My father used to float logs and cross ties to Georgetown, you see. He'd be gone on those trips from five to ten days. Have to walk back, you know. Anyway, upon his return he would tell we children of the wonders of Georgetown; of its bulging shops, its find houses, etc. "Sometime during the early 1920s, a momentous thing took place. By popular vote Johnsonville was separated from Williamsburg County, to become part of Florence County. I suspect that Florence - the county, that is - wasn't really overcome with joy by our addition; but the people had spoken. The town itself is not old. Originally the land upon which it was built was part and parcel of the S.B. Poston farm. I can recall when the main street was sold off in lots. "I operate the smallest grocery store in Johnsonville, but it's been a living. With the help of my wife - I married Emily Powell of Possum Fork, Dec. 1917 - I've been able to raise and educate five children: there's V.C. - he's practicing law down in Georgetown - Hubert L., who has some 18 years of Navy service behind him, Wilma Ruth, who serves as secretary in the Charlotte office of the FBI, Ken, now rounding out ten years wi the U.S. Air Force, and Reid Nettles, teaching at Johnsonville High. World War II, says the Johnsonville merchant, wade for very slight change in the town's leisured pace. "There were no bases or defense plants nearby," he says, "and about the only real difference was in the absence of young people - the boys off to war, their wives (if married), following them to camps and places and cities here, there and everywhere located..." Haselden took a deep breath. "And now, I am going to stick my neck out, but good! I believe that Johnsonville is as big as ever it will get. That's my very own and personal conviction, of course. I hope it proves to be in error - but I trust I will be pardoned and forgiven by my neighbors when I say I shall not lose any sleep if the town doesn't swell too rapidly. I like it the way it is." Mr. D.B. Haselden, now 62, can look back proudly and declare that he has spent his entire life within a couple of miles radius of Johnsonville. "It is fellows like myself," he says, "who account for the existence of small places like this one. On this score, may I had, I make no apologies."
Cooperative Attitudes Aid Johnsonville's Big Growth
Story of Johnsonville's recent growth due to Wellman, plus article about new church, Westside Free Will Baptist
Pete Jacobs (1924-2011) and Everlina Skinner Jacobs (b. 1928). Everlina and Pete were the first family to move into the Bluefield community when it was still an old mule road in a field with tobacco barns. In their time they've seen Bluefield thrive, age, and decline through the years.
Anthony "Tinkum" Skinner and Pearl Skinner
Anthony Tinkum Skinner (1903-1972) and Pearleen Flowers Skinner (1902-1999) farmed in and around the Johnsonville area.
Poston's Lunch Diner and Sinclair Station, Broadway Street
This station and diner was run by Lurie and Christine Poston. It was located on Broadway Street in Johnsonville beside the railroad tracks.
Johnsonville High School Class of 1953 Senior Trip to Washington, DC
JHS Class of 1953 senior trip to Washington, DC. In the 1950 Gold and Black the Class of '53 was listed as: J.W. Avant, J.W. Coker, Boyd Prosser, Faye Thompson, J. Gold Altman, Don Melton, James Edward Eaddy, Yvonner Leta Hanna, Wilmer Crosby, Lucille Thompson, Vera Thompson, Letha Mae Parnell, Eunice Mae Tanner, Jackie Jones, Blanche Lee Haselden, Barbara Ann Dennis, Dorothy Lee Nettles, Johnnie Mae Ard, Shirley Perry, Doris Stone, Louise Thompson, Francis Filyaw, Jeanette Walters, Randolph Hanna, Winnifred Hanna, Miriam Lily, Evert Crosby, John Huggins, Horace Browder, Le Ray Hucks, Morris Calcutt, Kenneth Lanning, Isabel Poston, James Altman, Clarence Hucks, Pate Prosser, Louis Rogers, Jimmy Bennett, Andy Poston, Nedo Eaddy, Bruster Powell, Jerry Poston, Joseph Baxley, Mary Hanna, Wera Nell Prosser, Eva Dean McDaniel, Betty Powell, Jean Turner, Merry Caroy Huggins, Betty Jane Tune, Sally Jo Stalvey, Clydia Jo Nettles, Rebecca Altman, W. L. Mace, Aquilla Strickland, Bobbie Jane Altman, Donnetta Matthews, Helena Venters, Thera Mae Dennis, Thomas Powell, Dan Gaster, Mack Lambert, John Altman
Ebenezer United Methodist Church engraving
This collectors plate engraving shows the original Ebenezer UMC building (1917-1958)
Shows the right of way and parcels of land purchased from landowners C. Belle Poston, S.B. Poston, R.H. Kimball, and J.D. Haselden. Also includes street grid of Johnsonville in 1918.
In 1954 there were too many 1st grade students for all to attend Hemingway Grammar School, so some of the students were located at the Muddy Creek School. There was also one 2nd grade class that attended at this time
Old Johnsonville High School Diploma, 1915
1915 Diploma, Old Johnsonville High School. Ottis Guinan Huggins was an honor graduate.
Sawman Huggins and Jim Huggins at Huggins Brothers Lumber Company
Ottis Sr. and Jim Huggins in front of the "Little Store" in the lumber mill area, circa 1952. Huggins Brothers Lumber Company was by Ottis "Sawman" Huggins Jr. (1922-1985). It was located at Ards Crossroads by the railroad track. Huggins established the lumber company in November, 1919 when he returned from WWI.
Venters Community at Ards Crossroads, site of Huggins Brothers Lumber Company. Note the Old Johnsonville Cemetery , upper left corner of photo. Old Johnsonville School was located on this property, next to Old Johnsonville United Methodist Church.
Saw Man Huggins, Mac & Barbara McClendon
Elm Street, Johnsonville, SC; Mac McClendon owned and operated the sand pits just outside Johnsonville
Owner and operator, Julian David Brown, Sr. Uncle Julian built a seed separator and packaged the seeds for sale.
L to R: Odell Venters, Bonner "Mac" McClendon, unidentified, Mayor Joseph T. Huggins.
Johnsonville Legion Ceremony - When the new American Legion post home was dedicated Thursday night, Post Commander, Joe T. Huggins (second from left) as host of the occasion was surrounded by high officials of the Legion in the state. Seated, left to right are Jess Bullard, of Columbia, state asjutant, Commander Huggins, Mrs. Huggins; O. B. Freeman, of Loris, department vice-commander, and W. J. McLeod, of Walterboro, state commander. The picture at the bottom, taken just before the ceremony and banquet at 8 p.m., shows the new hut, constructed almost entirely by members of the post. In addition to post member and Legion officers of the state and various districts, Governor and Mrs. Thurmond and Florence County officials attended the ceremony. (Photos by Walter S. McDonald) Source: Florence Morning News
Last Will and Testament of George Samuel Briley Huggins
The will of George Samuel Briley Huggins was written on letterhead from the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Johnsonville on Nov. 18, 1912. C. J. Rollins was the Manager, J. S. McClam, President, S. B. Poston, vice President and T. J. Cottingham was the cashier
Article describing the making of The Swamp Fox, a Disney series starting Leslie Nielsen as General Francis Marion. Local mentions of Snow's Island are described.
JHS Gold and Black yearbook, class of 1961
Description of the very early days of Johnsonville after incorporation, 1913.
Johnsonville Post Office Holds New Rating
This yearbook chronicles Stuckey School in one of its final years, 1968-1969. A few years later Stuckey was fully integrated to Johnsonville schools, and the old Stuckey School became Johnsonville Middle School. Click here for the history of Stuckey School.
Stephanie Nesmith Forte, James Nesmith (c/o 1968), and Emma Nesmith (c/o 1967)
1941 is the third edition of the Gold and Black yearbook for Johnsonville. All of the photos are hand-pasted into the document. This copy has been edited to enlarge and improve the original photographs, and used 2 copies as source records. Both copies were missing some photographs.
Ned and Mary Dean Huggins and Livingston "Bo" Bishop
1940 is the second edition of the Gold and Black yearbook for Johnsonville. All of the photos are hand-pasted into the document. This copy has been edited to enlarge and improve the original photographs. Any missing photographs were missing from the source document provided by Livingston "Bo" Bishop and his granddaughter, Heidi Bishop Dumm.
Heidi Bishop Dumm and Livingston "Bo" Bishop
Children of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church celebrate the completion of the new sanctuary, 1960.
First Female Highway Patrol from Johnsonville
December 1977 One of the first female highway patrol officers - Carolyn Mcdaniel Hartfield
This photo was originally contributed to the Johnsonville Library Altman Genealogy and Local History Digital Collections by Noonie Eaddy Stone. Pictured: Billy and Jean Cox with all of their children in front of house taken in Williamsburg County. (Back Row Left to Right) Ethel Cox, Elizabeth Cox (mother of Thetis Prosser), William Shell Cox, Mary Cox, Emily Cox, Flutte Cox. (Front Row Left to Right) Lille Cox, Bud Walter Cox, Jean Stone Cox, William (Billy) Cox, O'Rella Narcissus Cox, Jasper Cox
Photo displayed at the Centennial celebration of Rehobeth Church in 2009. A few of those pictured are Cortez, Merlyn, Gail, and Pam Cox, Ronald Cox, Cletus Cox, Sherrell Cox, and Vaughn Eaddy.
William James "Billy" Cox and Sarah Jane Stone Cox
William James "Billy" Cox Jr (1842–1921) and Sarah Jane Stone Cox (1850–1924) were the founders of Rehobeth Pentecostal Holiness Church.
John Briley Altman and Ethel Cox Altman.
John Briley Altman and Ethel Cox Altman. Ethel was the daughter of William James "Uncle Billy" Cox and Sarah Jane Stone Cox. John Briley was the son of was the son of John James Altman, first Postmaster for Vox.
Grave of John Witherspoon (1742-1802), located at the old Aimwell Presbyterian Church burial grounds, Old River Road at McWhite Road. John took control of Witherspoon's Ferry (now Venters Landing at Johnsonville) after his older brother Robert Witherspoon died with no issue in 1787. Witherspoon's Ferry had already been in use during the Revolution, and this spot served as the backdrop for General Francis Marion's commission to lead the militia. John and Robert were both sons of Gavin Witherspoon and Jane James, who came from Knockbracken, Ireland to Williamsburg. John was a patriot during the American Revolution, serving as a private with Marion's Brigade in the Britton's Neck Regiment for 244 days in 1780 and 1781. In 1801 it was ordered that a Ferry should be re-established and vested in John's care. John married Mary Conn and had one child, Elizabeth, who later married David Rogerson Williams, Governor of South Carolina from 1814-1816. John Witherspoon died in 1802, and according to the terms of his will, the ferry was re-established and vested in John D. Witherspoon, executor and friend, for a term of 14 years beginning in 1815, “in trust for and having the sole benefit of the incorporated Presbyterian Church at Aimwell on the Pee Dee River." John's will also stipulated that William J. Johnson be given rights to the Ferry site under condition: "It is my will and desire that the trustees aforesaid or their successors shall give William Johnson the present use of the lands aforesaid the exclusive privilege of leasing the lands aforesaid for a term of 12 years provided the said William Johnson on the wisdom of the said trustees aforesaid shall conduct himself with propriety." It was John Witherspoon who vested the ferry lands in William Johnson, who later established the post office at Johnsonville which became the town we know today.
Map of the Town of Johnsonville - Sold Aug 12, 1912 This map shows the lots available in the Johnsonville land sale.
Morgan Ham and Octavia Elizabeth Stone Carter Family
Arles Timmons Hanna and Violet Elizabeth Carter Hanna