Here’s a grand old Carolina house, but where in the world is it? Send your best guess – plus your name and hometown – to feedback@statehousereport.com. In the subject line, write: “Mystery Photo guess.”
Our previous Mystery Photo
In the May 4 issue, we showcased the old Florence County Library on Irby Street in Florence, S.C.
Jay Altman of Columbia immediately recognized the building and recalled: “Francis Marion University actually started in this building. I lived in Florence while attending Francis Marion (during the first four years of its existence (1970-1974) Previously, the school was a two year extension of USC (USC-Florence). The current school started in the basement of the old Florence County Library in the late 1950s before moving to its current location in the early 1960s.”
Will Breazeale of Las Vegas, Nevada, recalls the old library and tells us it is now a law office.
George Graf of Palmyra, Va., sends along this information: “ According to douggelbert.com, the Florence Public Library, built in 1925, is significant as the first truly public library in Florence and as a fine example of Neoclassical Revival architecture with Beaux Arts influences. The library was designed by the Florence architectural firm of Wilkins and Hopkins, with William J. Wilkins and Frank V. Hopkins as its principals. The first library in Florence grew out of the practice of Florence attorney Belton O’Neall Townsend, who occasionally lent colleagues and friends books out of his law office as early as the 1870s. In 1903 the Florence Civic Improvement Society established a town library in City Hall on Evans Street. Miss Florence Harllee, daughter of William Wallace Harllee, president of the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad, and the person for whom the city was named, served as librarian. Not truly a public library, it was restricted to patrons with a ‘membership ticket.’”
The current public library is on South Dargan Street. Thanks all.
Send us a mystery: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!