Editing Theatre Exhibit (section)

=== '''RECREATION''' ===
'''GOING OUT:'''

Chick Springs was a very popular picnic and swimming destination for Greer’s middle and upper class at the end of the 1800s and early 1900s. Camping was also popular around the turn of the 20th century, particularly among more well-to-do families. It was common for young men to go on week-long camping or hunting/fishing trips around Caesar’s Head or into North Carolina. Note the phrase: “hunting and fishing became recreational activities.” For most of the 19th century, these were essential for survival.

'''AMERICA’S GAME:'''

Baseball was incredibly popular in Greer for decades, starting even before the mill teams and continuing on through the American Legion teams recently. This photograph is amazing, and features the only known photos of many Greer leaders. Connection to another photo: note the baseball bats weighing down the car-race banner on “Entertaining Events.”

'''TEXTILE BASEBALL:'''

Shoeless Joe Jackson played for Victor in 1907. Our research identified the field he played on: what is now the small “Victor Park” right beside the railroad tracks. The large American Legion stadium was not yet built in 1907.

'''NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL:'''

Like a phantom in history — we can find almost no information. From about 1910-1920, Greenville had a superb negro team that drew huge mixed crowds. In April of 1915, the Greenville team beat the “Greer nine” 13-1. In June of 1919, the Piedmont colored team beat the Greer negro team; the large crowd “included a lot of whites.”

Their most notable game was June 25, 1917. Greer played Greenville in a game to benefit the Red Cross Fund for World War 1 soldiers; a large crowd turned out including “whites in their own section.”

It’s possible that the Greer team only played in those years from 1915-1919. However, Greer Mill had a team at least in 1935. On May 12th of that year, the “Southern Bleachery colored team” beat the “Greer Negro Nine.”

With so little information, the photograph of Holmes Thompson is intriguing. He was the first principal of Lincoln High School when it opened in ’54; this photo looks to be in the 20s or 30s. Perhaps he played on one of these teams? The timing is about right. More research is needed on this topic.

'''MILL RECREATION:'''

While all the mills provided recreation opportunities, it appears that Victor excelled them all; the list of activities in this description were all offered at Victor, while other mills offered a more limited selection.

'''HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS:'''

This panel does a disservice to this topic; high school sports have been a huge cultural component of our community for a hundred years. However, the exhibit plan is to address it in more depth in a future exhibit section on education.

'''A NOTE ON SEGREGATION:''' 

This panel references segregation multiple times; we cannot hide that Black residents were segregated in most entertainment facilities and were not even allowed in others, like the community swimming pools.