Ware Shoals to Shoals Jct - Ware Shoals Railroad
Here is information from Peter Stabovitz on this line:
"I had seen years ago some articles and pictures about it. It's prime purpose
was for coal and other goods to and from the textile mill in Ware Shoals. I
had seen a picture of one steam engine they had. I don't remember what
articles or where the pictures were. But after the mill closed down, they
were looking for a use for the railroad, but I don't think they found it.
All of this is from memory. It must have been in the 60's or early 70's when
it shut down. I have a 1956 Atlas that shows railroads, and it shows it
there. It shows it connecting to the P&N at Shoals JCT, which is about 1/2
way between Greenwood and Belton. I don't think it connected with the
Southern which was also close by Shoals Jct. By the map, Shoals Jct. is
just a few miles Southeast of Donalds. I don't know exactly when the road
was built, but it was at the same time as the Mill, which was probably in
the early 1900's, after when the P&N built through there."
The following is information from the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor
web site:
web site:
"On the northern border of the county another textile center developed at Saluda River shoals. Nathaniel Dial of Laurens County and six other investors began construction of a textile mill to be operated by a hydroelectric power station, but they soon encountered financial difficulties. They persuaded Benjamin Riegel of New York to invest in the project. Riegel moved to South Carolina, completed the mill, and built the model town of Ware Shoals for his operatives."
The following is from an EPA Brownfield's web site:
"WARE SHOALS, SC Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot $200,000
Ware Shoals' goal is to resurrect the heart of the Ware Shoals community by capitalizing on the natural beauty of the nearby Saluda River. The Pilot will target the 27-acre former Riegel Textile Corporation Mill site and provide the resources to perform environmental site assessments, encourage public involvement and stakeholder participation, and develop an ongoing monitoring plan. "
The railroad was apparently finally abandoned in 1985. Here are web sites with additional information:
