Beech Island Historical Society facts for kids
The Beech Island Historical Society (BIHS) is a special group that works to save and share the history of Beech Island. It also covers the history of Aiken County. Both of these places are in the state of South Carolina in the United States. The society is a non-profit organization, which means it uses any money it earns to help its mission, not to make a profit for owners. It also runs a museum.
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How the Society Started
The Beech Island Historical Society began in 1985. Its very first president was a person named Harold Maness.
Helping to Build a Museum
In 2005, the society received a large amount of money, $200,000, from the United States Department of Agriculture. This money was a special grant to help rural areas. The society used it to fix up an old brick barn, built around 1900. This barn used to store cottonseed. The plan was to turn it into a museum about farming history.
Important Events and Milestones
Celebrating History with Events
In 1986, the society helped organize a big party called the Beech Island Tricentennial Celebration. This event celebrated 300 years of history in the area. It took place at Redcliffe State Park and brought in more than 10,000 visitors!
After that, the society started an annual event called Beech Island Heritage Day. This popular event happened every year for 20 years in a row. The last Heritage Day was held in 2006.
A New Home for History
In 1991, something very helpful happened. The family of George McElmurray, who was one of the first members of the society, gave them a gift. They donated an acre of land, a large warehouse, and a meeting hall with four rooms. This generous gift allowed the society to open the Beech Island Historical Society and Visitor's Centre. This new center became a place where tourists and visitors could learn about the area's past.
Winning an Award
The hard work of the society was recognized! On April 3, 1998, the society won the Progress Award. They received this award for their work on the Beech Island Historical Society and Visitor's Centre building. The award was given by the Confederation of Local South Carolina Historical Societies in Columbia, South Carolina.
State Recognition
In 1997, the government of South Carolina also showed its support. The South Carolina General Assembly passed a special motion. They wanted to "express their best wishes" to the members of the Beech Island Historical Society. This was to celebrate the eleventh annual Beech Island Heritage Day, which happened on May 24, 1997.
The Society Today
Today, the Beech Island Historical Society has grown quite a bit. It now has over 300 members! The society holds meetings every month, from September through March. These meetings are open to everyone, so the public can come and learn about local history.
See also
In Spanish: Beech Island Historical Society para niños
- List of historical societies in South Carolina
