Leadership group goes back in time

From Henry Schultz to James U. Jackson, from Hamburg to J.C. Calhoun Park, the first class of Leadership North Augusta was immersed in the history, art and culture of North Augusta during the second session of the nine-month class.

The group of 12 emerging leaders of North Augusta were guided through the local history by Brenda Baratto, assistant director of the Aiken County Historical Museum and president of the Heritage Council of North Augusta.

The group was visited by Herr Henry Schultz, founder of Hamburg, one of the towns that preceded North Augusta. Schultz, performed by Peter Hughes, detailed his era, explaining his financial difficulties with a failed bridge project (at what is now the Fifth Street Bridge) and his efforts to start over in South Carolina.

He pointed out that the longest railroad line in the world at the time extended from Charleston to Hamburg. Unfortunately, Hughes noted, the railroad also played a part in the demise of Hamburg, which was declared "dead" by The New York Times in October 1903.

Local historian Wayne O'Bryant likewise presented a portion of the city's history, detailing the Hamburg Incident of July 4, 1876, when events occurred that led to the murder of six black men by a mob and contributed to the formation of the Red Shirts and the end of Reconstruction in South Carolina.

Jean McDaniel discussed North Augusta's founder, James U. Jackson, while Tony Riley gave details of the Hampton Terrace Inn that brought North Augusta into being in the early 1900s but then burned on New Year's Eve of 1916.

The gathering trekked forth to check out John Gardner's house in Hamburg and then stopped at the Living History Park for lunch and a tour (guided by Lynn Thompson and Elliott Levy).

They visited Rosemary Hall and walked across the street for a first-hand look at the monument to the memory of McKie Merriwether, the first person - and the only white man - killed at the Hamburg Massacre.

They traveled past the Star of Edgefield and made a stop at Enterprise Mill for a discussion of Edgefield and North Augusta pottery, led by Gary Dexter and Riley.

The day ended back at the Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta with an overview of the Heritage Corridor of South Carolina, described by Elizabeth Harm, and a tour of the Center led by director Lauren Virgo.