Dr Gene Atkinson

Orangeburg Revisited Dr Gene Atkinson

Orangeburg, South Carolina, is home to an abundant history, shown in this second volume through over 225 rare images of times gone by. The epitome of the small town, Orangeburg is where friends would gather at the famous Bluebird Theatre or the old soda fountains at a turn-of-the-century drugstore. Residents marveled when the Orangeburg Hotel was constructed in 1909; at the time it was the second tallest structure in all of South Carolina. Marchant Music Co., whose showroom is featured in this volume, recalls the days when everyone gathered around the piano in the parlor. Beauty queens from the old Fall Festival, which preceded the formation of the Orangeburg County Fair, grace the pages of this collection. Even the first motor-powered fire truck makes an appearance, as do the stalwart men who comprised the old volunteer fire departments. Also notable in this volume is the rarely mentioned George H. Cornelson, who had more impact on the city than any other person over the last 130 years.