On Thursday May 12th at 6:30 pm at the McCormick County Library, local author Bob Edmonds, recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian award for publishing local history, will talk about his new book: Building Railroads: The Greenwood and Augusta Railroad and The Savannah Valley Railroad. The book chronicles the determination of the communities and, in turn, the awesome results accomplished with the completion of two railroads in western South Carolina. The story includes the tremendous toil, sweat, and blood endured by convicts who graded roadbed using only picks, shovels and mule carts as if in ancient times. A great number of men lost their lives as a result. Detailed research also reveals the changes to villages and towns along the railroad tracks, located between Greenwood and Augusta and between McCormick and Anderson.
Books will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation. Light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the McCormick Library. Books may also be purchased for $25 at Strom Drug Store, Books on Main, the Chamber of Commerce, the McCormick Messenger, the Willington Book Store, McCaslan’s in Greenwood, or from the author via email at cedarhill@wctel.net.