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Replies: 15
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Hall of Famer [22127]
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Clemson 1955
Jun 25, 2019, 8:11 PM
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One of the major topics at several recent town hall meetings in Clemson is the current traffic situation. That and several recent "oldie" photos of Clemson got me to thinking what it was like when I came to Clemson in early July, 1955, almost 64 years ago. I could not find a population figure for Clemson for 1955 but in 1960 it was reported to be about 1,600. The student enrollment was about 2,500. The only traffic light was at College Avenue and current SC 93. I don't recall there being a SC 93 at that time because US-123, US-76 and SC-28 all came through Clemson on the current SC-93.
All roads leading to Seneca, Anderson and Greenville were single lane. The road to Seneca made a slight turn to the right past the Esso Club, crossed a narrow bridge over the Seneca River and then across the area where Hartwell Village is located. It then followed the current US-123 past Paws Diner to the traffic light at Food Lion, turned right and continued in a round about way to Seneca. The current Seneca bypass had not yet been built.
Immediately after crossing the bridge over the Seneca River was a small quaint store. It's greatest claim to fame was the parrot. Every child in the area knew the owner had a parrot and insisted they needed to go see the parrot. Of course they always wanted a candy bar, soft drink or package of crackers so the owner had a thriving business because of his parrot and every child's desire to go see the parrot.
US-123 to Greenville followed the current SC-93 to Central, Norris, Liberty and Easley. On the East side of Easley it followed the current route to Greenville.
Where the current US-123, US-76 and SC-28 routes are located in Clemson was virtually a wooded area when that road was constructed. In the 1960's, the current US-123 from Clemson to Easley was constructed and I believe it was at that time SC-93 was designated as the current route from Clemson to Central, Norris, Liberty and Easley.
US-76 and SC-28 to Anderson made a turn to the South near the current exit from SC-93 and then followed the current Business 28 through Pendleton and then to the traffic light at the current US-76 junction. From there it followed the current route to Anderson.
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All-In [10738]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 25, 2019, 9:40 PM
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Very interesting - Joe - thanks for the info. Were Dan's and Mac's around in 1955? I started Clemson in 1962 - and both were going strong then .... -
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MVP [529]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 25, 2019, 9:52 PM
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Dan's was there but not Mac's.
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Hall of Famer [22127]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 28, 2019, 3:39 PM
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I just now Googled Mac's and noted it was founded in 1956.
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Paw Master [17835]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 26, 2019, 12:51 AM
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Joe21 a Clemson Tiger Legend! Love your stories please keep them coming. Let me know when the book comes out. I would love to have a first edition of “The Life and Times of Joe21”autographed hardback book. What a great collectors item.
I hope you will consider the idea.
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All-Pro [747]
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Great article! I started in 1972 and there was 9,193.....
Jun 26, 2019, 7:04 AM
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Students enrolled in the fall of ‘72. Also, there was a good bit more students enrolled in 1960 than 2,500. There was actually 4,048 students enrolled in the fall of 1960.
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Hall of Famer [22127]
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Re: Great article! I started in 1972 and there was 9,193.....
Jun 26, 2019, 12:47 PM
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The 2,500 students was the approximate enrollment in the 1954 - 1955 class. That was the last year of the all-military.
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Legend [6940]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 26, 2019, 8:10 AM
[ in reply to Re: Clemson 1955 ] |
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Where can I order a copy? Joe, All the writings been done, just need to print it.
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Solid Orange [1347]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 26, 2019, 7:52 AM
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Good story about Clemson. I had to pull up a map to follow those roads today and see how they were back then before 123 came in.
When the water level dropped a lot a few years ago you could see the footings where the old bridge crossed the Seneca River. I didn't know the road was that close to the Esso Club.
I like these kinds of stories. Clemson is changing so much every two or three years that some people will never know what the old Clemson looked like. I started going to games there back in the 50s with my granddad but being so young I didn't know, or even think to know, how the roads were back then.
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Legend [6940]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 26, 2019, 8:09 AM
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Yes, Clemson is a very different place today. I remember in the early 60s it was a long distance phone call to call Greenville so my "boyfriend", later husband, would drive to Easley to PCP, Pickens county produce, to call me in Greenville. Seems the gasoline was cheaper than the phone call!
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Valley Legend [12726]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 26, 2019, 4:12 PM
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hum along ..."Pickens County Produce on the Easley BY-Pass in Easley, SC" .........
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1st Rounder [692]
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Early 50s Map
Jun 26, 2019, 2:06 PM
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Pulled an early 50s map.
It looks like on this map the area behind (I guess north) of the railroad tracks was called Calhoun. Is tat still the case? I don't recall...
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Valley Legend [12726]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 26, 2019, 4:15 PM
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I think my first visit there was in 1953 for my cousin's graduation. I remember playing on the cannons outside of Tillman Hall. His dad had graduated from there in the late 20's or very early 30's. My cousin married a Clemson girl and is buried in the cemetery at the Old Stone Church.
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Hall of Famer [22127]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 26, 2019, 5:48 PM
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Clemson Univ. was at one time located in Oconee County. The county line ran through the middle of what is now SC-93 and then South on US-76. I don't remember the year but sometime after Lake Hartwell was created, the citizens living in that portion of Oconee County on the East side of the lake, voted to annex that area to Pickens County. This vote included the present Clemson Univ.
Before the annexation, there was an automobile accident that presented several legal questions. The accident occurred on SC-28 at the junction of Issaqueena Trail. A vehicle going west on Issaqueena hit a vehicle going south on SC-28. The Oconee-Pickens County line was down the middle of SC-28. Most everyone assumed the Anderson County line was at Eighteen Mile Creek but I believe it was determined it was near the site of the accident. So, there were three county jurisdictions involved in the investigation of the accident. There may be someone on the board who can verify or refute my comments.
In 1963 I was moving from one of the University apartments to a recently purchased home in Clemson, both of which were located on the Pickens County side. When I contacted a moving company, I was asked if I was moving out of the county, which seemed like a strange question. The reason? His license was limited to Pickens County.
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TigerNet Elite [71403]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 28, 2019, 4:03 PM
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This is good stuff. I am always fascinated by history of the places I have lived and visited. Thank you for sharing things that we wouldn't know about otherwise. I will certainly pass this along to my Clemson buddies and to my son who will be TigerTown bound next year.
Keep em coming Joe!!!
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TigerNet Elite [71403]
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Re: Clemson 1955
Jun 28, 2019, 4:21 PM
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That early 1950's map is pretty cool. For you youngsters, those little black squares where Littlejohn is now are 2 bedroom prefabs. They were scattered all over campus. One of my best friends lived in a prefab between Littlejohn and Hwy 93 in 1980. We had a lot of good times in that prefab. It had a small kitchen, one bathroom, a small living area, and 2 bedrooms that slept 2 per room. They disappeared in the early 80's.
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