On the Road in South Carolina: Lenoir Country Store & Post Office
Last November Chuck and I took a ride to Horatio, South Carolina. I had read about this store being one of the oldest in South Carolina and if some records are true the oldest in the nation
Lenoir Country Store Post Office
Horatio, South Carolina
Historical Marker
The Historical Marker reads:
South Carolina
Lenoir Store
Since before 1808, the Lenoir family have operated a general store at the site of Horatio, S. C.
Lenoir's store is mentioned in the 1808 will of Isaac Lenoir, and later appears on Mill's 1825 map of Sumter County.
The present structure was erected prior to 1878 and is maintained by Lenoir Descendents as a traditional county store.
Some records claim that it has been there since 1765. If that is so it is one of the oldest continuously running businesses in the nation. Original owner Isaac Lenoir was an Adjutant of Sumter's Brigade during the Revolutionary War as well as 1775 signer of the South Carolina Declaration of Rights. His will read upon his death in 1808 requested his land be divided equally among his four sons. Lenoir Specified this property to include his "Store House".
The post office opened within the store in 1900..credit
Chuck sanding under the front and a shot of the little building across the road.
We met and talked with Beverly about her family and history. She was a dear, sweet, loving lady and we thoroughly enjoying talking with her. She was telling us of the economy and that the store wasn't doing so well. The post office was in danger of being closed down as well. I think presently it is still running but I'm not sure. I hope it is. The history of this place would be enough to keep it up and running!
Stop in visit with Ms. Beverly buy yourself a soda walk around and look at the memorabilia I assure you it is worth looking at and if we'd had more time I could have stayed and read all day myself.
Beverly had lovingly made some pretty book marks and embellished some cards into framed pictures, I of course had to have one of each.
Products are dispersed among the historical items
I leave you today with some thoughts. This is the place to visit if you want to go back in time. A quiet, slower, peaceful and more simple time. You would think right? I've found some very interesting things out about this family that has stood the test of time and still fighting to keep going. The store is having a difficult time as well as the USPS. This is not only a dying business for this family but a way of life so I hope they can build it up and continue on.
Click the link below for the rest of the story...and a connection to two serial killers...
I love antiques, older memorabilia. I really do and love history, who knew? I do think we need to look back to understand why and how we are what we are today. You now I love simple although it is getting harder and harder to find that simple, peaceful life. I hope we can find it and hold onto it.
Have a great weekend!
............................and I only thought we were visiting maybe the oldest running business possibly in our nation......................
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Oh Elaine, how touching! I'm so glad you did that and it would be a dream for me to do that more often too! That is how you see America isn't it? That is how it truly is on the backroads..I'll bet you could write a book. I hope you get to come back through again!
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I have been there too! Love the back roads of our wonderful country! Thanks for posting this, brings back a great memory! ☺
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