About Us

About

Welcome to our newly improved website. The Abbeville County Historical Society  is thrilled about our continued success, progress and goals including the future of Abbeville County. Tourism is South Carolina’s largest industry and we are proud to be a viable part of that, as related to rich our history.

Founded in 1957, our mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and share the rich history throughout Abbeville County. Our collections include things such as relevant old documents, letters, furnsingings, textiles, photos, paintings, publications, etc., that reflect how our citizens have lived through the ages. They are parts of the foundation of our rich heritage. In addition, we are interested in the historic buildings of our city and county and in the promotion of their preservation as well as historic gardens, parks and greenspaces to include our American Revolutionary War sites.

We are the parent organization of the Abbeville REV 250 Committee as we work to promote the 250^th celebration of the American Revolutionary War in 2026 and thereafter. We also wholeheartedly endorse and support additional historical markers whether erected by the Society or our citizens.

Our headquarters of the Abbeville County Historical Society is the historic McGowan- Barksdale-Bundy House which is on the National Register of Historical Places and located at 305 North Main Street (mailing P.O.12 zip code 29620). The house, a true architectural treasure, was graciously deeded to the Society in 1989 by a nephew of Gen. Barksdale, the late Mr. J.D. Bundy, of Monroe, North Carolina. This house was home to two Generals, Gen. Samuel McGowan and Gen. William Barksdale.

It is a  Victorian Queen Anne house built in 1888 and painted in its original colors. The house has four levels: 1. The basement level that consist of the Franklin and Ann Pursley Railroad Museum which encompasses 4 rooms. One room has a large mural depicting the old 1896 Abbeville Train Depot and a HO Scale model train display. In addition, there are many items and artifacts from the railroad employees of Abbeville. Next is the old Poliakoff Dept. Store room, followed by the old Rough House Pool Hall Room and an underground root and wine cellar dating to 1859, (2) The main floor consist of a large living hall, library, dining room, ladies parlor, tower room, solarium and archives room, (3) the second story consist of a period bedroom, the late Joe Savitz Apothecary with the Carol Bateman and William Rogers antique pharmaceutical collections, two military memorabilia rooms with items from the American Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, and other wars forward. There is a small collection of toys displayed and last the 4^th level is commodious storage attic.

The grounds consist of centuries old noted plants and trees including the S.C. State Champion Tea Olive in the front. We plan to reconstruct many of the original gardens from our Historical Architectural Landscapes Design based on the actual original gardens when acquired. Note the old Harpers Ferry bell.

There are 3 African-American cabins on the back grounds, two of which have plaster walls and were built in 1859. They are undoubtedly among the finest examples of Gothic Revival servants houses remaining in S.C. All three of the African-American cabins located behind the main house have received much preservation works over they years and still are undergoing major renovations and restoration.  In addition, the Franklin Pursley Railroad Park in the back is home to Caboose #5759.

Thank you,
Andrew E Hartsfield, President