Hemingway's Beginnings, Pt. 1

Once again, we're going to ramble a bit outside Kingstree–this time to Hemingway. Information for this and the next post come from two newspaper articles–one by Laura C. Hemingway, published in The News & Courier on August 14, 1939, as part of the paper's "Do You Know Your South Carolina?" feature and the other, an article published in The Florence Morning News ten years later on July 31, 1949, written by Dess G. Creel. In 1949, Mrs. Creel was just beginning an 11-year tenure as Hemingway Town Clerk and Treasurer. Her article was part of celebrating Hemingway's return to the Pee Dee tobacco market.

Laura Hemingway begins her story noting that the origins of Hemingway are a part of the epic of the American railroad. She notes that prior to the railroad's coming through what would become Hemingway, there was only farmland, three houses and a country store. The post office was, as were many in rural America, located in the store. The post office carried the name of Lambert's, or Lambert's Crossroad, according to Dess Creel, for the man who owned much of the land around it.

"In 1908, the name of the post office was changed to Hemingway Station," Laura Hemingway writes. as William Capers Hemingway had purchased Lambert's land. Mr. Hemingway was a direct descendent of William Hemingway of Waccamaw, the surveyor mentioned by General Peter Horry in his journal. Laura Hemingway writes that W.C. Hemingway's sons J. Edward, George Stokes and Dr. William C. Hemingway set out to develop the property. Dess Creel adds that W.C. Hemingway's son-in-law Dr. H.L. Baker and W.C. Rollins were also a part of the development venture.

"Mr. Hemingway owned three other large plantations nearby, one at Outland, one at Rome, and one in the Black Mingo Creek section," Laura Hemingway notes. "On each of these he operated a general store that supplied not only his plantation, but the surrounding countryside as well. When he purchased the Lambert plantation, he acquired with it the fourth store, and these four mercantile establishments were operated under his management, being something of a forerunner of the chain store."

According to Laura Hemingway, the town grew up at the crossroads of the old stagecoach road between Georgetown and Cheraw that crossed Black Mingo Creek, which was then navigable, at the historic old Belin's Church (Black Mingo Baptist), and the old Johnsonville Road.

In 1911, The Atlantic Coast Lumber Corporation built a logging road, named the Marion Branch Road, through Hemingway. This road was later sold to the Seaboard Air Line Railroad.

Dess Creel notes that the Hemingway brothers and their partners incorporated under the name Lambert Land and Development Company for the land sales. They engaged Wilson R. Buie and a Mr. Kaminiski of Georgetown to survey the town, subdividing it into lots, giving sites for the Methodist and Baptist churches and for the school.

Hemingway First Baptist Church as it looks today.

The property was surveyed and divided into lots on what is now the west side of Main Street. The lots were sold at auction by Penny Brothers, auctioneers, with residential lots going for around $500.

Laura Hemingway writes, "An amusing incident is related even yet about a certain Negro who was determined to bid in one of the lots. The auctioneer sold the lots from a wagon that was drawn from one lot to the next by a pair of mules. When the Negro realized he was going to be out-bid by a white man, he became wildly excited, and, as the auctioneer's hammer was about to descend, he jumped upon the wagon, seized the hand of a white citizen who was standing beside the auctioneer and bit him on the finger."

She adds that people came from great distances to attend the auction. Capt. W.H. Andrews, for whom the Town of Andrews is named, persuaded the railroad to run a special train to Hemingway that day so that as many prospective buyers as possible could be present at the sale. Afterward, those in attendance were treated to a big barbecue dinner.

All of the lots offered for sale that day were sold. The following year, the land on the east side of Main Street was subdivided and sold as there was such a demand for lots.

Laura Hemingway notes that each of the Hemingway brothers reserved about four acres for his own use, on which each built a house. In 1939, only one brother, George S. Hemingway, was still living. J. Edward Hemingway had died several years before, and Dr. W. C. Hemingway had been the victim of a tragic accident, dying in an explosion in his laboratory.

Dess Creel writes, "In 1914, the town received its charter with a population of 50. Great interest centered in the churches and the school system. Business development was rapid. The completely agricultural surrounding section gave splendid support to a live tobacco market, which unfortunately was discontinued in 1926.

In 1939, when Laura Hemingway was writing, the town's population had grown to approximately 500. But it was still dependent on agriculture. "The town draws its support principally from the rich farming section that extends into Georgetown and Florence counties and includes a large section of Williamsburg County, in which the town is situated," she wrote.

The consolidated school system employed 20 teachers and was overseen by superintendent T.F. McTeer. The Baptist and Methodist churches were still a strong influence in town, with the Rev. J.B. Baker pastoring the Baptist Church, and the Rev. W.R. Way minister for the Methodists.

Hemingway United Methodist Church, January 2021

The town had an active Board of Trade in 1939. Boards of Trade were similar to today's chambers of commerce. E.W. Ingram was the board's secretary. Ingram was also cashier for the town's depository, similar to a bank. W.D. Harmon was president of the depository. In 1938, a modern motion picture theatre was built in Hemingway.

Laura Hemingway writes, "Within the last two years, 15 business houses and 12 residences have been built in Hemingway. Only brick buildings are permitted to be built now for places of business, and the residences all are attractive and modern."

Electric lights had come to Hemingway in 1933, with a water system installed in 1936. In 1939, Hemingway wrote that the town was in the process of installing a modern sewer system. At that time, T.E. Huggins was mayor of Hemingway, and W.T. Hemingway was postmaster.

Laura Hemingway concluded her article by noting that, "five miles from the town lies Snow's Island in the Pee Dee River. This had been made famous in history as the retreat of General Francis Marion and his men. It is a lovely nature spot, and Hemingway citizens drive there often to enjoy the birds and the flowers."

Next time we'll take a look at how much Heminway had grown between 1939 and 1949.