H-48

Jerry Alexander's Cateechee history book wins "Best in South Carolina" 
competition
 
Jerry Alexander's new book on Cateechee Mill Village in Pickens County has won 
"Best In South Carolina" for local history in the prestigious South Carolina 
Genealogical Society publications competition for 2005.

The retired Seneca resident accepted his award on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the 
annual meeting and workshop of members of the 20-chapter society from all 
regions of the state, held in Sumter, S.C. Recommending the publication for 
competition was Mrs. Margarette Swank, of Travelers Rest, a member of the 
Pendleton District Chapter of the Society, which encompasses Pickens, Oconee and 
Anderson Counties.

John L. Andrews of Hartsville, president of the 3,000-member society, revealed 
there were a goodly number of entries in this popular category, which were 
judged by a three-member panel. Alexander said the judges apparently were won 
over by the theme of the 280-page historical work depicting textile worker's 
lifestyles that existed across the state and south as an integral part of our 
cotton mill culture." This book covers all the aspects of everyday human living 
one could think of, including little details such as hog killings, staking out 
milk cows, old cash pay envelopes and even the exact way people dressed for 
work." he said. 

Millions of people across Pickens County, this state and the entire southeast 
once made their living in company owned mill villages from the early 1900s 
through the 1950s when most companies began selling off of workers homes. This 
ended the company owned village era, which included the mill store, post office, 
church, school, café, houses, barbershop, cow barns and even the dirt in the 
streets themselves, the author says.

At the same time, increases in cheap foreign textiles began flooding the country 
and now is threatening an end to jobs in the mills, hundreds of which now dot 
the South as empty hulks awaiting destruction and removal.

"It's a time now gone forever from our southern homeland. However, I hope this 
book will keep that lifestyle alive in people's memories for generations to 
come," the author stated.  

Agreeing, the state's chief historian, Dr. Rodger E. Stroup, Director of the 
S.C. Department of Archives and History, says in the book's introduction, "it is 
imperative that we document not only the physical remains of the mills and their 
villages, but also stories of people who lived and worked there. I have come to 
appreciate the role the mill villages played in the development of South 
Carolina during the twentieth century," he stated. 

The award winning book is available at Barnes and Noble in Greenville, The 
Sentinel and Michaels Restaurant in Pickens, The Booksmith in Seneca, and 
McDowells Emporium in Anderson or can be ordered directly from the author at 
P.O. Box 1233, Seneca, S.C. 29679 (1-864-882-9326) for a cost of $25, which 
includes tax and postage. Just include a note as to how you want him to 
autograph it.