With busy hands and minds, American workers perform a diverse array of jobs to power our society. Work is part of nearly every American’s life, whether for professional satisfaction and personal growth or to ensure the well-being of their families. In offices, factories, on the road, and at home, millions keep the nation going through contributions to industry and American culture. Six South Carolina communities, in cooperation with SC Humanities, will celebrate this important history as they host The Way We Worked, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program.
The Way We Worked will be on view in South Carolina from January 28 through November 12, 2017. Locations, in order, are St. George; Blythewood; Pickens; Chester; McClellanville; and Hartsville. See the full exhibit schedule here! Each community has been expressly chosen by SC Humanities to host The Way We Worked as part of the MoMS program, which is a unique national/state/local partnership that brings exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations.
The Way We Worked is now open in Blythewood, SC at the Blythewood Historical Society’s Langford-Nord House. The exhibit is on display there from March 19 – April 30, 2017. They have a nice variety of special events planned. Some of the upcoming events to look forward to are:
March 19 – April 30, 2017
The Smithsonian exhibit The Way We Worked will be on display at the Blythewood Historical Society (Langford-Nord House, 100 McNulty Street, Blythewood, SC)
Hours of operation:
Mondays – CLOSED
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fridays – CLOSED
Saturdays – 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sundays – 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
For more information contact call 803-333-8133 or email blythewoodhistoricalsociety.sc@gmail.com
Saturday, April 1, 2017 |2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Railroad Day
The SC Railroad Museum will host a train ride in Winnsboro in neighboring Fairfield County from 2:00 – 3:30
Location: SC Railroad Museum, 110 Industrial Park Rd, Winnsboro, SC 29180
Tickets are $5 and must be purchased in advance
Info: call 803-333-8133 or email blythewoodhistoricalsociety.sc@gmail.com
Wednesday, April 5, 2017 | 3:00 p.m.
Blythewood Library Storytime at the Langford-Nord House
For students 8+ on the theme of “work”
Blythewood Historical Society (Langford-Nord House, 100 McNulty Street, Blythewood, SC)
Info: call 803-333-8133 or email blythewoodhistoricalsociety.sc@gmail.com
Saturday, April 22, 2017 |10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Farm Day
A day of exhibitors displaying specialties such as old farm equipment, a gris mill, farm animals, honey frames/bees, and a box garden for children to plant seeds.
Location: Blythewood Historical Society (Langford-Nord House, 100 McNulty Street, Blythewood, SC)
Info: call 803-333-8133 or email blythewoodhistoricalsociety.sc@gmail.com
Sunday, April 30, 2017 | 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Closing Event & Walking Tour
A Retail Walking Tour to 9 sites in Blythewood that were old stores/shops. Each site will have a docent there to tell the history of the store with a flip chart of old photographs and information about the establishment. Closing remarks will take place at the end of the tour, and refreshments will be served.
Location: Blythewood Historical Society (Langford-Nord House, 100 McNulty Street, Blythewood, SC)
Info: call 803-333-8133 or email blythewoodhistoricalsociety.sc@gmail.com
“Allowing our state’s residents to have access to the cultural resources of our nation’s premier museum is a priority of SC Humanities,” said Randy L. Akers, Executive Director. “The goal of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of our citizens, and The Way We Worked provides a unique opportunity to involve thousands in the cultural life of our communities. With this special tour, we are working with citizen-led committees and institutions throughout our state to develop local exhibitions and public programs to compliment the Smithsonian exhibition.”
The Way We Worked has been made possible in South Carolina by SC Humanities. The Way We Worked is part of the Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.
In South Carolina, SC Humanities has received additional support for the The Way We Worked project from The Byerly Foundation, Dorchester County Accommodations Tax, Pickens County Accommodations Tax, Richland County Accommodations Tax, and Sonoco.
The Byerly Foundation
Funded in part by Pickens County Accommodations Tax
Official Pickens County Tourism website is www.visitpickenscounty.com
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 23-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.
Image: Wilson Esso Circa 1943. George Frances Wilson at bus stop in Blythewood in front of Esso Station operated by her husband Elton. Photo courtesy of historyofblythewood.com and her daughter Kay Lydon.