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TO CELEBRATE THE OCCASION OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF WEST UNION AND TO CONGRATULATE AND COMMEND MAYOR LINDA OLIVER AND THE CITIZENS OF WEST UNION FOR ONE AND A HALF CENTURIES OF SHOWCASING BOTH THE BEAUTY AND PROGRESS OF THIS GREAT SOUTH CAROLINA TOWN.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to join the Town of West Union in celebrating the milestone of its one hundred fiftieth anniversary; and
Whereas, located in Oconee County and chartered on February 26, 1870, West Union lies along South Carolina Highway 11. The larger city of Walhalla borders the town to the west, and Lake Keowee lies just a few miles to the east. West Union is small-town friendly and blessed with a multitude of nearby scenic must-sees, such as the iconic Issaqueena Falls, which holds out a story made to be shared with wide-eyed young people; and
Whereas, in the outdoor paradise surrounding West Union, you can enjoy a swim or a boat ride on Lake Keowee, go for a hike, visit neighboring Clemson (fifteen miles down the road), or tour the Duke World of Energy, a nuclear power plant. In addition, local family-friendly festivals offer everyone a fantastic time. And if a trip to the big city is needed, Greenville is just an hour away; and
Whereas, West Union, which was for some time the northern terminal of the Blue Ridge Railway, was settled by Colonel Joseph Grisham in 1834. Colonel Grisham lived in the Pickens District near High Falls and served as a Baptist minister, one very much opposed to whiskey, so in his area he formed a temperance union. When he moved his residence, he formed another temperance union, which he called West Union since it lay west of the first temperance union. Later, he formed a third such union, this time south of West Union, and gave it the name South Union. He also built a Baptist church where the Neville home now stands. His own commodious house was built of logs that were weather-boarded over. For long years, it was the home of Mr. W.A. Strother. From this home, an elaborate wedding took place when a daughter of the Grisham home was wed to Joseph E. Brown, Georgia's famous war governor; and
Whereas, having received its charter in 1870, the town held its first election in April 1871. J.P. Mickler was intendant (a high administrative official), and J.M. Beard, Andrew Osborne, Dr. B.S. James, and Fletcher Smith were the first wardens; and
Whereas, in 1922, West Union's places of business consisted of a cottonseed-oil mill, corn mill, large wheat mill, bank, garage, lumber manufacturing plant (the largest in South Carolina's Upcountry), beef market, seven stores, and one physician; and
Whereas, today, West Union is a thriving community of three hundred thirteen residents; and
Whereas, during its sesquicentennial anniversary year of 2020, the Town of West Union will hold a celebratory event at the Oconee Heritage Museum to commemorate its one and a half centuries of community life. The House of Representatives takes great pleasure in extending best wishes to the people of West Union as they anticipate a bright future enhanced by the rich heritage of the past. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, celebrate the occasion of the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the Town of West Union and congratulate and commend Mayor Linda Oliver and the citizens of West Union for one and a half centuries of showcasing both the beauty and progress of this great South Carolina town.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mayor Linda Oliver.
This web page was last updated on March 19, 2020 at 2:22 PM