Legendary Locals of Greer

Greer, an 1876 railroad town, was founded by people who moved from farms, the mountain region of the Dark Corner, and other small communities to the area around Greer's Depot with high expectations of prosperity promised by railroad commerce and, later, the cotton mills. Like a colorful quilt with its individual patches, the early population of Greer included farmers, store keepers, laborers skilled and unskilled, and their wives and
families. As the town grew, investors funded three local cotton mills; mill hands and supervisors arrived to operate them. The bankers, attorneys, physicians, teachers, and ministers followed. Eager to succeed, they all labored long and hard, some heroically like Officer William Foster and volunteer fireman Carl Miller, who died in the line of duty. Greer folk reared families, provided education, and imbued their children with strong moral and religious values. Their descendents continue to populate the city
today with a strong sense of community pride.

The authors themselves are legendary locals. Ray Belcher, a Greer native, has been an educator and local historian for 37 years. Joada P. Hiatt, retired from the Greer Branch Library, is known locally as an oral storyteller who has enchanted children and adults alike with tales. The authors have written two other books: Greer: From Cotton Town to Industrial Center and Greer, in the Then & Now series.