Heritage Highlights P a G E 2 a Note from the Director’S Desk

July, 2019 Heritage Volume 7 Highlights

A Piece of History in Motion We were blessed with the dona- son’s sewing machines at Wa- tion feed invented by Allen B tion of a Civil War era Wheeler tertown, New York. To start Wilson (1824-1888). The under & Wilson treadle driven sewing with, production was slow, how- thread is contained in a disc machine which is now on dis- ever, by the bobbin which fits play in our ‘sewing room.’ One early years of loosely in a ring- of the most ingenious of the the 1860’s, it shaped holder sewing machine inventors was had increased that looks like a Mr. Allen B. Wilson. Born in from 20,000 to thin, metal Inside This Issue: New York in 1824, he later 30,000 & then doughnut. Inter- moved to Michigan where he 50,000 ma- locking of the two A Note from the 2 made a living as a journeyman chines, peak- threads occurs Director’s Desk cabinet maker. Around 1840 he ing a decade when the loops of Archivist’s Notes 2 began the development of a later at over the needle thread sewing machine, which was 128,000 per are caught & independent of the efforts being year. In 1856, extended by the A drawing of a treadle driven sewing Highlighting a Hero 3 made by other inventors in New the company revolving hook & England. In 1849 he devised was renamed machine taken from a 19th century passed under the the rotary hook and bobbin com- the Wheeler & Wheeler & Wilson advertisement bobbin. The Calendar & Upcoming 4 bination, forming what would Wilson Manu- presser-foot has Events be the special feature of the facturing Company & moved to an inset glass plate which al- Wheeler & Wilson sewing ma- a new facility in Bridgeport, lows the seamstress to observe Handmade Quilt Raffle 5 chine. The rotary hook mecha- Connecticut where it began full the seam at the point of stitch- Flyer nism worked very simply & very scale manufacturing of sewing ing. We cannot be certain if the Howard Burnham 6 quietly. Turning the hand machines. Although Singer particular machine on display Performance Flyer crank caused the bobbin to ro- sewing machines would eventu- at the museum is a No. 3 or 4. tate in circles & during each ally become the most popular There are a few clues which Paleographic Highlights 7 revolution a hook picked up the brand, Wheeler & Wilson ma- helped us narrow down the pro- top thread from the needle & chines were the most widely duction dates for the sewing twisted it with the thread from produced (& most widely copied) machine. It has a slightly Volunteer of the Month 7 the bobbin to produce a stitch. machines in the 1850s & 1860s. lighter, 'waisted' base casting Wilson obtained a patent for his Although sewing-machine and a narrow section that first machine that same year & in prices dropped after the Civil appeared in the 1860s & carried Summer Camp 2019 8 1854 he patented another sew- War, a machine was still a size- on to about 1880. Also, the ing machine that included the able investment (about what a brass medallion on the base important & effective four- car would cost in today’s funds). seems to have first appeared Board of Directors & 9 motion feed for moving the work Some neighboring families around 1870. The serial code on Mission Statement after every stitch. The four pooled their money to share a the plate of the machine, along motion feed is still used on all machine or purchased a ma- with the clues above, have led sewing machines today! Dur- chine on an installment plan. us to estimate its date of pro- ing an exhibition in New York, The Wheeler & Wilson Com- duction, which, keep in mind, Wilson was introduced to the pany was eventually bought by was all done meticulously by older Nathaniel Wheeler who, Singer in 1905, which continued hand, to 1872 or 1873 making it at the time, was the manager of the manufacturing of the D-9 nearly 150 years old! The same the firm Warren, Wheeler & into at least the 1920s. Wheeler machine is on display in Varina Woodruff of Watertown, Con- & Wilson No. 3 machine is the Davis’ dressing room in the necticut. They formed a part- true precursor of the modern White House of the Confeder- nership in late 1851 under the lock-stitch sewing machine, acy. If you would like to see name of The Wheeler, Wilson since it incorporates the rotat- this beautiful piece of history, Company to manufacture Wil- ing hook principle & four mo- please stop by the Museum!

V o lu m e 7 Heritage Highlights P a g e 2 A Note from the Director’s Desk...

As you all know, we are in the midst sending out e-mail blasts to keep you before November!! As you know, of a South Carolina summer, with updated. If you have not yet attended this is an on-going fundraiser for the high temps, high humidity and God’s one of our ever-popular Ghost Walks Museum. Flags can be purchased in own fireworks shows (those summer (and if you have attended them in the honor or memory of a loved one. lightning storms)! Although the Mu- past), mark your calendars for Octo- Each flag will have a ribbon with the loved one’s name on it and will be seum took a hit from a recent light- ber 19 and 26. Each year, we feature displayed in front of the Museum ning strike and is working around new stories and tales of the recent during the months of May and No- nd construction on the 2 floor of the “happenings” here at the Museum. vember. During the remainder of the old Courthouse, we are still managing They never fail to get the blood year, the flags will be displayed in the to have fun, learn new things and in- pumping and are always tremendous hallway of the Museum. This is a troduce the treasures of Dorchester fun! wonderful, patriotic way to honor our County to our visitors. Volunteer Bettie Berry has generously friends and family members, veterans and civilians alike! Flags are $25 each The Museum recently offered two donated a queen/king sized, hand- and forms can be obtained from the DIY Science Summer Camps. The made, hand quilted quilt to the Mu- seum to be raffled off. Details are on website at www.dca-hc.com or you kids had a ball making homemade can e-mail me at contact-us@dca- the flyer here in this newsletter. The bubbles, using cabbage juice to test hc.com. for acidity, making cornstarch goo, quilt will be raffled off on the final Consider a memorial to the Museum rd launching rockets to celebrate the 50th day of the 3 Annual Quilt Show, to honor a loved one who has passed. anniversary of the moon landing and which will be held from November 2 Don’t forget that any donations made MANY other experiments. They got through 9. Plans for a “Music at the to The Heritage Museum are tax de- messy and made a mess, but enjoyed Museum” series are in the works so ductible! All donations of any learning and experiencing hands-on stay tuned for details on it. The Mu- amount are very welcome! science! seum will also be hosting another historical performance by Howard As always, thanks from all of the staff We have a number of upcoming Burnham on November 17 in Sum- and volunteers at the Heritage Mu- events, some of which the details merville. Stay tuned, as well, for seum for your continued support! have not yet been confirmed, but more information on it. We hope to see you soon!! should be in the near future. Keep an Be sure to get your Flags of Honor eye on your e-mails as we will be LaClaire S. Mizell

Archivist’s Notes...

Still working hard to continue Walker Real Estate Collection!! Library is coming along nicely. At transferring information to the re- As I’m sure you’ve deduced, this is this time, we have approximately search computers and digitizing the quite a collection! I don’t know 8,000 documents already loaded Legare Walker Papers. There are how long it will take to complete onto the research computers. Each now close to 5,000 digitized pages the digitization of this collection, week, more information is added to of the Legare Walker Real Estate but I know this information will be the computers and one day soon all done and that’s only the contents very helpful to researchers and his- will be available to the public for of one and a half of the of 224 torians once it’s available on our research! Christine Rice boxes that make up the Legare research computers. The Research

V o lu m e 7 Heritage Highlights P a g e 3

Highlighting a Hero

William Calhoun Walters, Veteran John A. Mair recalls: known locally (Reevesville) "I was awakened about 5:45 AM on the morning by a violent as Cal Walters, graduated explosion forward that shook the ship from bow to stern. from St. George High The explosion School in September of threw me off 1942. The United States the cot and I had been fighting the Ger- landed on the mans and their allies for well deck with a about two years when Cal thud! My view bravely volunteered to join the ranks of the Navy forward was in July of 1943 less than a year after his high obscured by the school graduation. He was an electrician mate 3rd cargo deck over class assigned to the U.S.S. Mississinewa, a 553 my head but I foot auxiliary oil tanker pictured below. knew something terrible had happened! My first thought was that a crew member had been smoking a This photo captures the last seconds above water of the cigarette over U.S.S. Mississinewa before it was sunk in 103 feet of water the forward by a Japanese Kaiten manned torpedo on November 20, 1944. It was the only US Navy ship to be sunk by Kaiten The Mississinewa, commissioned on May 19, 1944, aviation gaso- attack alone. weighed 25,425 tons and supported the ships of line storage the 3rd fleet in Central and South Pacific waters. tanks and caused a tremendous accident. I did not realize It was at anchor in Ulithis in the early morning that the explosion was a result of a Japanese attack!" hours of November 20, 1944 with 440,000 gallons There is a memorial on Mangejang Island, at Ulithis, for of aviation gasoline and a full load of fuel oil when those lost in the sinking of the U.S.S. Mississinewa including a one-man Japanese suicide torpedo submarine our local hero, Cal Walters. He was survived by his mother (Japanese Kaiten) collided with her. A secondary and father, Mr. & Mrs. W.A. Walters, two sisters (Gladys explosion, presumably the 5" ammunition maga- Ruth & Adell) and three brothers (Richard Louis, David zine, occurred at 6:05 a.m. engulfing the ship in Lloyd and Ernest Edward), at the time, all of Reevesville. flames before finally sending her and 63 men (3 Cal was awarded the Purple Heart, Navy Good Conduct officers and 60 enlisted men) to a watery grave Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal for his brav- nearly 3 hours after the initial impact. By 8:30 a.m. ery and ultimate sacrifice. Our country is forever indebted the fires were extinguished, but her bow dipped to him and his family for the same. below the surface. Any rescue efforts were aban- References doned, and the ship slowly rolled to the port. It California Dive Team Finds USS Mississinewa continued to roll as the stern rose, displaying its Bent Prop - The Search for USS Mississinewa © Pacific Wrecks - USS Mississinewa AO-59 twin, four-bladed screws (pictured right) and then Source: https://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/usn/AO-59.html disappeared.

V o lu m e 7 Heritage Highlights P a g e 4

Mark Your Calendars for these upcoming August 2019 events this Fall! Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat  October 19th — Ghost A Date in History: On August 5, 1914 the 1st 1 2 3 Walks electric traffic light installed in the USA was erected on the corner of East 105th Street and  October 26th — Ghost Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. Walks 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  November 2nd thru 9th — Quilt Show 11 12 13 14 15 16 17  November 9th — Drawing for Quilt Raffle (see flyer on next page!) 18 19 20 21 22 23 24  November 17th — Howard Burnham performance of Lord Cornwallis, Doar Hall of 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Saint Paul’s Anglican Church in Summerville September 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Dorchester County Archives & History Center Quilt Raffle

King / Queen sized quilt created, handmade & hand quilted in the Royal Star of South Carolina pattern Hand quilted with the feather pattern for the Royal History of South Carolina, with hand embroidered state seal, South Carolina State emblem, enlargement of the SC quarter and a Carolina Wren with Jessamine in each corner Donated to the Heritage Museum by Bettie Berry Tickets are $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00 Drawing will be held on November 9, 2019 CONTACT (843) 931-1021 FOR TICKETS! All proceeds will benefit the Dorchester County Archives & History Center

Save the date! THE DORCHESTER COUNTY ARCHIVES & HISTORY CENTER and The Summerville-dorchester museum Proudly present Howard Burnham

Noted English writer and performer of literary and historical dramatic monologues in a moving portrayal of Lord cornwallis

In full costume, Mr. Burnham will recreate the time and personage of Charles, Earl Cornwallis, as he revisits the scenes of his historic campaign through the Carolinas and, with resignation and humor, gives the British perspective of the final phase of the American victory in the Revolutionary War.

Sunday, November 17, 2019 at 6:00 pm Doar Hall of Saint Paul’s Anglican Church 316 West Carolina Avenue Summerville, SC

For more information, contact the DCA&HC at (843) 931-1021 or the SDM at (843) 873-1991

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Volunteer of the Month

Frances Metts has been volunteer- special occasions and events ing at the Heritage Museum since whenever they might fall its “grand opening” in January of throughout the week. Frances, I 2017 when we hosted the travel- know I don’t say it enough but ling Smithsonian Exhibit. — THANK YOU, THANK Throughout the years Frances has YOU, THANK YOU for all continued to be a faithful Tuesday that you have done for the morning volunteer. In addition to Museum! We appreciate your working her “normal” hours, she positive attitude and ever present is always willing to help out for smile each week!

Don’t Let This Opportunity Pass You By!!!

Would you like to join the — Audubon Center at dleton Plantation, & many, Volunteer Team at Dor- Francis Beidler Forest, many more! If you would chester County Archives & Charles Towne Landing, like to volunteer, please History Center’s Heritage Charleston Harbor Tours, contact LaClaire Mizell at Museum? If you volunteer The Charleston Tea Planta- 843-931- 1021 or go to our only 12 hours per month, tion, Drayton Hall, Gibbs website and complete & you and a guest can get in Museum of Art, South return the Volunteer Agree- FREE at amazing venues Carolina Aquarium, Boone ment Form to LaClaire throughout the Lowcoun- Hall Plantation, Magnolia Mizell at 101 Ridge Street, try! These locations include Plantation & Gardens, Mid- St. George, 29477.

Paleographic Highlights

Curator/Paleographer President Pierce Moorer Town Council meeting Patrick Scally has fin- (1830-1896), Pickney L. records from 1915 - ished transcribing the Moorer (1832-1887), 1926. After that pro- letters, wills, and estate and Emmanuel D. ject has been completed, inventories belonging to Moorer (1835-1852), there’s a batch of Civil Jacob J. Moorer (1799- and is now working to War-era letters waiting Image of one of the original documents in the Moorer collection that Mr. Scally 1835) and his sons, finish the St. George to be transcribed. recently finished transcribing.

V o lu m e 7 Heritage Highlights P a g e 8 Summer Camp 2019!!!

This year’s summer camps had a something from it and go back ‘science’ theme to them. One was to the drawing board with modi- held in June and one just ended in fications that will get you where July. Despite the heat and humid- you want to go! As we all know, ity, the kiddos had a blast learning some of out most important dis- how science works and how coveries were scientific sometimes an experiment is just ‘mistakes’! Please take a gander that...the outcomes are not always at some of the photos below to what you would anticipate, but see the fun had by all! that doesn’t mean you can’t learn

This newsletter highlights the activities & current events at the Heri- Dorchester County Archives & tage Museum at the Dorchester County Archives & History Center. History Center The DHA&HC is a Non-Profit Organization that was chartered in 2014. We believe that ‘History is Perishable’ and that the best way to care for the past is to tend to our future. Mission - Preserving today for tomorrow. Our mission is to preserve the county’s heritage for future genera- tions through innovative leadership, education, and programs by redefining the effort of preservation as a future-oriented, proactive set of behaviors engineered to intelligently and continually weave our values, stories, lands, and culture into the fabric of future growth. 101 Ridge Street St. George, SC 29477 Vision – Every man, woman and child mentally and emotionally engaged in the Phone: (843) 931-1021 effort of preservation. E-mail: [email protected] We believe that the stories of the people and places of Dorchester Website: www.dca-hc.com County should not be lost. We want families to document their roots and we want to interpret how our county has developed. We will base our public programs on research and documentation. We Preserving Today for Tomorrow believe history is inclusive and will strive to keep a diverse Board of Directors and offer programs that appeal to all citizens. We will provide preservation oriented education and engagement opportunities and assistance to the people of Dorchester Co. by working with and through existing organizations and institutions. Values—Our Stories, Our Families, Our Land, Our Culture & Our Future Learning local history helps children build connections to their community. Similarly, the only way we can understand others is by studying their past. We will provide opportunities for the community to engage in systematically archiving and retelling the story of Dorchester County.

Dorchester County Archives & History Center Board of Directors & Staff

Phyllis Hughes, Chair Archivist Christine Rice Rudd Smith, Vice Chair Curator Patrick Scally William Blakely, Treasurer Director LaClaire Mizell Anne Irick Ed Carter Edsel Taylor Harriet Holman Monty Jones Tracey Todd Diane Frankenberger Brunson Westbury David Dement LaClaire Mizell, Recording Secretary