Tony Baughman 
Genealogical Society Settles In, Looks Ahead
Many of the folks who attended Saturday’s Southern Authors Expo had never set foot inside the new home of the Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society (OEDGS). They were there not just to buy books and meet writers; they came to help compose a new chapter in OEDGS history.
Writers and booksellers from across the Palmetto State gathered at the new Johnston Genealogical Research Center for a full day of celebrating the written word. Though the crowd moving through the space was not crushing, organizers say it was a successful first public offering since the Center’s grand opening in March.
“We could’ve had more foot traffic, but since this was the first time we’ve done it, we went in with realistic expectations,” said Tonya Browder Guy, director of the Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society. “We were very pleased with the people we did have come through, and the authors seemed happy. They all said they wanted to come back.”
The Johnston Genealogical Research Center opened its doors this past spring in a converted cotton warehouse renovated by the Town of Johnston. It’s a large space with exposed brick, wooden floors and industrial fixtures. It became the new home of the OEDGS after a fray with the Edgefield Civic League left the organization ousted from its longtime headquarters at the Tompkins Library in downtown Edgefield.
Mayor Thomas Holmes, who was among those strolling through the booths at the Southern Authors Expo, is pleased to have the venerable organization now based in Johnston.
“It brings foot traffic to downtown. It enhances the restaurants’ ability to sell food; everybody has to eat, you know,” Mayor Holmes said with a grin. “It also provides another activity for people that are home and just want to get out and walk the streets. It’s a good cultural event.”
Partnership With Town Adds To Cultural Scene
Those who did venture to downtown Johnston had the opportunity to meet and chat with a wide variety of writers. The selection of books spanned the literary landscape, from ghost stories to folk tales, from family histories to Revolutionary War and Civil War chronicles.
“We’re very pleased with the support the Town of Johnston has been giving us,” Mrs. Guy said. “This event really puts us anchored in, and now we can start planning all our future events.”
On Sunday, one of the authors, Alexia Jones Helsley, returned to the Johnston Genealogical Research Center for a presentation on folklore and legends on Edisto Island. On Saturday, she had sold copies of her book, Wicked Edisto: The Dark Side Of Eden. About 30 patrons attended her Sunday afternoon talk.
“Ms. Helsley was just as entertaining as she always is,” Mrs. Guy said. “It was really fascinating the stories she told about Edisto, and she told a few about Beaufort and some general history about South Carolina.”
Other authors in attendance Saturday included Karen Stokes, an archivist at the South Carolina Historical Society in Charleston; Dr. Walter Curry Jr., author-in-residence at the Aiken Center for the Arts; and Dr. Patricia G. McNeely, longtime journalist and professor emeritus at the University of South Carolina.
The Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society is now eyeing the resurrection of a two-day genealogical workshop called the Southern Studies Showcase. Before the feud with the Edgefield Civic League, that workshop was a signature event for the OEDGS, bringing researchers from across the Southeast to the community to study techniques, best practices, share stories and network with other genealogists.
“I think this is a really good working experience with the Town of Johnston,” Mrs. Guy said. “The great reaction was people coming in and saying, ‘I didn’t know this was here. Look at this facility. It’s so beautiful!’ That made us feel like we’ve really established ourselves in our home now.”
For the Town’s part, Mayor Holmes – who returned to the Center for Sunday’s presentation – looks for this and other events in the old cotton warehouse to be an engine for revitalization in downtown Johnston.
“We want to increase the cultural events here and the quality of life for people that’s moving in and people from the surrounding area, and it has been a blessing to Johnston to have events like this downtown,” he said. “We opened our arms up and said, ‘Welcome to Johnston!’ because we knew the advantage of having them here, and they do a great job with all the events they do.”
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