Local History Programs Return in August

There's no place better to cool off during the dog days of August than your local public library! We hope that you'll visit our Research Room to dig deeper into Beaufort District's long and storied past. We expect to operate our usual and customary hours of Mondays through Fridays, 9 AM to 5 PM during August though sometimes we experience unexpected staff shortages that require we close the Research Room. (Update 8/01/2019 - The Research Room will be closed at lunchtime on Tuesday, August 13th due to staff shortage. Visit us 9 AM to Noon and 1 PM to 5 PM that day).

Besides offering materials and services in the Research Room, the Beaufort District Collection sponsors programs for those who prefer to hear about history rather than do history (in the sense of enjoying the research process). We offer two such programs during August. One deals with an illicit behavior while the other tackles the topic of the biggest, baddest hurricane to ever hit Beaufort County.

"Bootlegging" means "to make, transport, or sell something, especially liquor, illegally or without registration of payment of taxes." Neil Baxley, who joined the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department in 1983 and is currently the Emergency Management Director, writes history on the side. During this lecture, he will share information about the long history of bootlegging in Beaufort County and South Carolina and key personalities on both sides of the law. You may be surprised by just how common the practice was (and perhaps still is). The BDC will have relevant items from our holdings on display during the lecture.

We observe the 126th Anniversary of the devastating Great Sea Island Hurricane with a reprise of the "Tide of Death" lecture on Wed., August 28th at Beaufort Branch. The storm struck in the overnight hours of August 27 - August 28, 1893, destroying property and killing over 1000 people. Though the base of the lecture is the same as in previous years, new tidbits have come to light since research is on-going. SO... even if you've heard the talk in the past, new information will be shared. We welcome newcomers to all BDC sponsored lectures. Please make plans to join us for this free, first come, first seated, local history lecture.

"'Tide of Death': The Hurricane of 1893" with Grace Cordial
Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at 5:30 PM
BDC@ Beaufort Branch Meeting Room, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, SC 29902
First come; First seated. No registration.

Dig deeper into the deep and storied history of Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties by attending one - or even both - of these free local history programs.

Reminder: July 31, 2019 is the final day you can turn in your completed Summer Reading Program game card to be eligible to compete in the Grand Prize drawings. Be sure to return your card to your favorite branch library. (By the way and just so you know: The BDC Research Room cannot accept your completed game card.)