One of the finest regional examples of nineteenth century technology can be found just three miles
north of Pickens, SC. Located just off Highway 178, at 138 Hagood Mill Road, this 1845 gristmill
served many generations of rural farm families until its’ closing in the mid-1960s.
Farmers only got paid once a year and that was when, and if, their cash crop was sold. Gristmill’s like the Hagood Mill made farm life possible by taking a “toll” of the corn ground instead of charging money. Before refrigeration, in the hot summertime, corn meal only had a shelf life of about two weeks, so the old “corn mill” was a place the farmers depended on and visited frequently.
It was also a place of human interaction and social sharing. Hagood Mill operated during the War Between the States; The Spanish / American War; World War I; World War II; The Korean War and part of the Vietnam War.
In the 1960s, the Federal Government passed regulations requiring the farmers’ corn to be tested before grinding, and also, requiring preservatives. This effectively shut down most of the gristmills nationwide and Pickens County was no exception.
In 1972 Hagood Mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1973 the mill and surrounding property were donated to the Pickens County Museum Commission by the James Hagood Bruce family (descendants of James Hagood who built the mill in 1845 at the age of nineteen). In the early 1970s also, South Carolina was one of the states that made an exemption for water-powered gristmills to operate. Thus began a long off-again, on-again process of restoration by the County of Pickens, culminating with the mill being “back in business” on a monthly basis around Thanksgiving 1996 with the help of Alan Warner, who served as miller until 2009. Warner, a mill historian, has documented over sixty gristmill sites in Pickens County…almost all of which are now gone.
Since 1996, the mill has operated, rain or shine, the third Saturday of every month from 10:00 until 4:00. These monthly “corn grinding” days became mini-festivals of traditional arts, folklife and music. Presently there are more than twenty-five regular demonstrators who share their skills in milling, blacksmithing, cotton ginning, moonshining, spinning, weaving, bee-keeping, metalsmithing, quilting, woodcarving, flintknapping, chair caning, open hearth cooking and more.
Present miller, Reed Severance, a nationally certified interpreter, likes nothing better than to share with folks his knowledge of life in and around the gristmill. All the demonstrators are talented and engaging… a few are a virtual “one man show” of vanishing technology, like moonshiner / farmer, Robert “Mountain Man” Perry and hard-working blacksmith, Roger “Griz” Hockwalt.
One never knows what they might find at a Hagood Mill event. From time to time, the site plays host to military and living history re-enactors, nature specialists such as the Carolina Raptor Society, primitive technology experts, crafts guilds and other special presentations. Often filmmakers might be seen on site as two short films have been shot on site.
In July educational programs are expanded to include traditional arts Folk Camps for children to learn pioneer skills. The one thing that makes these events possible is the wonderful community of volunteers who call the mill site home. Hagood Mill is always ready to adopt a new “son or daughter” into its family of volunteers. If you think you could help and wouild want to join us doing anything from helping with events to working after-hours with one of our many projects or demonstrating a traditional skill that isn’t already being shared, please talk to the Mill Site Manager, Ed Bolt, about your interest.
One of the mill site’s strongest suits is the music, and other entertainment, offered at the monthly Third Saturday events. Many of this regions best bluegrass, old time, and blues musicians have performed at the Mill, including many SC Folk Heritage Award winners. A list of just a few of the past performers that have graced Hagood Mill’s Family Farm Stage would include National Banjo Champion, Charles Wood; National Pedal Steel Champion, Joe Turner; Grammy winner, Otis Forrest; Billy Graham Crusade singer, Myrtle Hall Smith; and the fabulous old time string band now taking the world by storm, the Carolina Chocolate Drops.
Autumn offerings at Hagood Mill have fast become local tradition. In September, the last “Ol’ Time Fiddler’s Convention” in South Carolina is held on site with prize money for the best fiddler, guitarist, banjoist and old time string band. In October the mill becomes the site for the annual Hagood Mill Storytelling Festival, hosted by musician, storyteller and WNCW radio personality, John Fowler. Capping off the Fall Season in November is what is possibly the Mill’s most popular event, “Selugadu: A Native American Celebration” featuring Cherokee and intertribal dance, drumming, storytelling, crafts, primitive skills and other demonstrations.
Springtime also offers a variety of entertainment, skills and theme days at the mill. One event that has fast grown popular is “Kidsfest,” held the third Saturday in March. Hosted by Buffalo Barfield and P. Doodle Possum, and featuring the Young Appalachian Musicians (Y.A.M.s), who learn traditional mountain music in five of Pickens County Schools, this is an event with music and workshops by and for children and has been called by many, “a super-fun day”. Other months feature a “Blues Day,” Gospel Day,” Songwriter Day,” and a variety of other quality stage shows. Hagood Mill’s Third Saturdays’ entertainment is sponsored by an anonymous benefactor so that you can come out, enjoy the show, or even join in one of the “jams” at the site.