The Creation of the Little River Area Historical & Cultural Committee
(and how we need your help!)
Soon after the dedication of the new C.B. Berry Community and Historical Center in Little River, the Community Coalition of Little River (CCLR) sought to display some local history there for visitors and locals alike to enjoy. We then learned that the Horry County Museum in Conway had virtually nothing historical from the Little River area to display. We thought, how can this be - surely Little River is rich in history! Before long, the Horry County Museum, the Horry County Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation, and concerned citizens partnered on a mission to locate and preserve historical artifacts, photographs and documents, structures, and oral accounts that identify the wonderful unique history of the Little River area. This was the creation of the Little River Area Historical & Cultural Committee (LRAHCC) and project "Generation to Generation".
What was life like when you grew up here? How can we capture it, and preserve it, and keep it from being forever lost? We hope and believe that many deep-rooted families and churches are in possession of historic items and would love to have them preserved and displayed and celebrated, but do not know how to go about it. Our mission is to help make the connections that will keep heritage alive and passed along from generation to generation.
Project "Generation to Generation"
*** The Chestnut Consolidated School no longer exists. It was the first and only African-American public school in this area. It existed from 1955 to 1970. Local African-American children were educated in church schools prior to 1955 and integrated schools after 1970. LRAHCC connected Chestnut School Alumni, the Horry County Museum and the Horry County Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation. Efforts are now underway to place an historical marker at the original site of the school and it is expected to be completed soon. Anyone in possession of photographs, yearbooks, or artifacts from the school is encouraged to contact Horry County Museum to discuss preservation.
- Phone: 843-915-5320
- Fax: 843-248-1854
- E-Mail: HCGmuseum@horrycounty.org
*** A grand live oak near the little river waterfront, perhaps over 200 years old, takes your breathe away. Some speculate that George Washington stabled his horse under that tree during his famous visit in 1791. LRAHCC connected the owner who dearly wants to protect this historic tree and the Horry County Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation. This tree is now listed on the Horry County Historic Register.
*** Artifacts, pictures and documents - LRAHCC serves to help owners of historic items get those items copied and/or preserved. With copies of your historic pictures and documents, the Horry County Museum will be able to preserve and protect that proof of history and create exhibits that celebrate our heritage.
*** Cemetaries - the Horry County Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation has an ongoing project of locating cemetaries. Missing cemeteries are a sad but common story for state and county officials, with no way to accurately count how many older cemeteries have been lost to time or development. Horry County has started a plan to prevent future damage to historic cemeteries including slave cemeteries, which are often hard to identify because of differences in burial rituals. Adam Emrick, a senior planner with Horry County, is cataloguing cemetery boundaries to add to the county's historic registry and make sure the properties are protected. He has been able to use a list of 236 cemeteries created by the Horry County Historical Society as a start, and every year that number grows as Emrick adds old family cemeteries, slave cemeteries, old generational African-American cemeteries and those found by the local Sons of Confederate Veterans. The list has grown to more than 400, and Emrick said the county has surveyed about a third of them as of July 2009. LRAHCC serves to maintain public awareness of this program and will connect Adam with anyone having knowledge of a potentially undocumented cemetary.
*** LRAHCC is assisting the North Myrtle Beach Area Museum in creating video accounts. In February 2009, 8 longtime residents had the opportunity to recount their memories and tell their stories on camera. Through the generous loan of a viewing kiosk from the North Myrtle Beach Area Museum, these videos, as well as others, are available for viewing at the C.B. Berry Community and Historical Center in Little River. LRAHCC is looking for more folks with historical tales to tell or to just recount what life was like in the days gone by.
The Brentwood House and the Livingston House are now listed on the Horry County Historic Property Register.
LRAHCC serves to inform property owners of the qualifications and benefits of placing your property on the register:
If you have historic items or stories to share, we welcome you to contact us by email: co-chair@cclittleriver.org