Interview: Olson, Edward S. and Mary L.
Item
Identifier
Mss-0279, Cassette 16-17
Title
Interview: Olson, Edward S. and Mary L.
Type
Sound
Format
.mp3
Language
English
Source
Town of Calhoun, South Carolina Oral History Collection
Rights
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives.
Date
1988-09-01
Description
There is much information provided in the interview. Edward S. Olson was born November 18, 1916 in Westchester County, NY. He was the son of Edward and Mathilda Anderson Olson. He was a 1938 Clemson graduate. He died on May 27, 2000. Mary Olson taught History and French at Daniel high school for 18 years. She, along with her husband were the original owners of "Calhoun Corner's" restaurant. They bought the old Boggs store in 1974 and had it refurbished for the establishment of the business. The Olson's had one son: Edward Olson, Jr.
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:07: By 1988, Edward and Mary Olson had lived in Clemson for 37 years. They arrived in February of 1951. Edward initially was employed as a Research and Development Chemist at the Milliken Excelsior Finishing Plant in Pendleton, SC. In 1959, he joined the Textile Research Department at Clemson as a Research Development Chemist. The department was headed at the time by Thomas Efland and Bill Rainey. Edward remained with the University from 1959-1983, upon which he retired. Mary Olson taught History and French for 18 years at Daniel high school. She retired in 1976.
1:50: The couple are the owners of the establishment known as "Calhoun Corner's." "Calhoun Corner's" was originally the Boggs store. They first purchased the building in 1974. The idea of buying the property had occurred to Mrs. Olson as early as the couple's first arrival to the area in 1951. While on sabbatical in Europe during the early 1970's, the couple was again inspired to purchase and preserve the old store. They had been exposed to cities where virtually every building was several hundred years old, and thought it would be a great shame if the Boggs store were allowed to fall into complete disrepair. When they returned to South Carolina they learned that the store was being sold by the Boggs family. They purchased the building in 1974, and enlisted the help of Clemson Architecture professor John Jacks to oversee the renovation project.
5:00: Megginson enquires if the couple knows when the building was built. It is believed that Dr. Doyle bought the land in 1892. Doyle commissioned John Wesley Cochran to build the store (this information was given to the Olson's by Mary Crawford, Mr. Cochran's daughter). John Wesley Cochran owned a brickyard near the Seneca River, where the railroad trestle is now. Mr. Cochran built the "old textile building" (Godfrey Hall) on the Clemson campus, the Trustee Building, a mill in Spartanburg, SC, and the Smith store in Calhoun, SC.
9:05: Mr. Olson states that there was a great variability in the consistency of the brick at "Calhoun Corners." He speculates that perhaps the bricks were fired at different temperatures.
9:50: The general layout and structure of the building is discussed. The foundation walls are 18 inches thick. A 90 foot deep well was found during renovations. It would have been located on the original back porch of the Boggs establishment.
13:23: Megginson traces the evolution of the establishment as he understands it. Dr. Doyle originally bought the land in 1892. The Doyle family continued to own the land from 1892-1940. Various individuals ran the store over the years. There was J.D. Morgan; Morgan and Boggs; the Holden's (1910?); and Norman Boggs. Two other families that were believed to have operated the store in later years were the Nichols's and the Carter's. No records from the early decades of the establishment have ever been found.
17:55: Mrs. Olson states that over the years the upstairs "hall" was used as a meeting place for the Woodmen of the World, magistrate court, the Presbyterian Church, the Freemasons, and for social events such as dances.
23:45: Voter registration took place at the Boggs establishment. The group tries to determine if the post office was ever located in the Boggs store.
25:17: Mrs. Olson begins reading from a Messenger news article dated August 14, 1974. Covered are the "prank" electric bench at Boggs's, and the original story behind the large stones at the front of the establishment.
28:00: Mrs. Olson reads from a couple of letters concerning the placement of bicentennial celebration markers at the establishment. The first letter is from Wright Bryan.
29:50: Audio ends.
Side 2
1:52: Mrs. Olson continues reading from the letter. Another letter is from sister's Nelly McHugh and Eloise McHugh Witherspoon. This letter also recommends that a marker be placed at the site. The letter contains a short historical timeline of the Boggs establishment.
3:41: Megginson enquires about the large tree at "Calhoun Corner's." It is the second oldest post oak in the area, and has been registered with the Forestry Department at Clemson. Its exact age is not known by the couple. It is believed by the two to have been there since at least 1926.
5:02: As of 1988, the building was not on the National Historic Register.
5:55: The group discusses the general floor plans and internal alterations that had to be made during refurbishment.
10:10: The group goes off subject and discusses the local Perry family home.
12:52: The discussion turns to the original lots were the property is located and how they were divided.
15:59: Mrs. Olson wishes that they had bought the store "as is." When the family came to clean out the store before the Olson's took ownership, many antique pieces were found lying about.
17:17: The attic--the supports are sturdy 3 x 5 rip-saw pine. It is the same kind of timber used in medieval European fortresses and parapets.
18:23: Megginson is interested in how many chimneys might have been located in the establishment. There were 5 in the store part. The residence had 4 fireplaces and two chimneys. The couple thinks that the pot bellied stove burned wood.
20:36: Megginson enquires about what utilities were available to the building. They don't know when electricity was provided to the building. There was one bathroom in the entire building located in the residential quarters just off the back porch. There is no evidence of a telephone in the store quarters, though there was apparently one in the residential part.
25:39: The Olson's found that the floors were initially in poor shape. They were sanded and coated with urethane. The group discusses the architectural aspects of the floors.
27:57: Megginson brings up an unusual architectural feature--a strip of pine along the downstairs south wall. This was retaining for the shelving supports. There was very little original shelving left by the time the Olson's bought the establishment.
30:00: Whatever scales that had been utilized over the years had been moved by the time the Olson's got the property.
31:34: Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:25: Mr. Olson was originally from Westchester, NY. He recalls his first trip to the Calhoun area in August of 1934 upon enrolling at Clemson College. From the Calhoun depot one had to walk to the College. Captain Clinkscales livery service moved the luggage. Mr. Olson believes the charge for the service was around $0.50.
3:09: Mr. Olson briefly discusses aspects of the "old carriage road" and the paving of old US 123 (now 93) in 1930.
6:40: Megginson asks the couple if they are aware of Cold Springs plantation. The Olson's state that the area they live in is called Cold Springs. The slave quarters for the plantation once stood about 100 yards from their residence. The Olson's found pottery and tools in that general area while digging a garden.
11:05: Mrs. Olson recalls conversations with Calhoun locals. Annie Leigh Boggs told her that John Wesley Cochran built the Pendleton Presbyterian Church in June of 1891. Eva Payne (longtime Boggs store bookkeeper) can remember that the Boggs store would stay open long after normal closing hours, especially in the summer in order to accommodate the crowds who would often gather there.
16:00: When the Olson's first opened up the refurbished establishment, they rented out space to both gardening and gift shops for a couple of years.
16:30: The Olson's explain how they came about the name "Calhoun Corner's" for the establishment. Initially they were going to call it "The Corner's", because the original thought was to have a different establishment located in each corner of the building. That plan didn't work out, so they settled with a restaurant that would be called "Calhoun Corner's."
19:09: Megginson thanks the Olson's for the interview and the audio ends.
Side 2
Blank
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:07: By 1988, Edward and Mary Olson had lived in Clemson for 37 years. They arrived in February of 1951. Edward initially was employed as a Research and Development Chemist at the Milliken Excelsior Finishing Plant in Pendleton, SC. In 1959, he joined the Textile Research Department at Clemson as a Research Development Chemist. The department was headed at the time by Thomas Efland and Bill Rainey. Edward remained with the University from 1959-1983, upon which he retired. Mary Olson taught History and French for 18 years at Daniel high school. She retired in 1976.
1:50: The couple are the owners of the establishment known as "Calhoun Corner's." "Calhoun Corner's" was originally the Boggs store. They first purchased the building in 1974. The idea of buying the property had occurred to Mrs. Olson as early as the couple's first arrival to the area in 1951. While on sabbatical in Europe during the early 1970's, the couple was again inspired to purchase and preserve the old store. They had been exposed to cities where virtually every building was several hundred years old, and thought it would be a great shame if the Boggs store were allowed to fall into complete disrepair. When they returned to South Carolina they learned that the store was being sold by the Boggs family. They purchased the building in 1974, and enlisted the help of Clemson Architecture professor John Jacks to oversee the renovation project.
5:00: Megginson enquires if the couple knows when the building was built. It is believed that Dr. Doyle bought the land in 1892. Doyle commissioned John Wesley Cochran to build the store (this information was given to the Olson's by Mary Crawford, Mr. Cochran's daughter). John Wesley Cochran owned a brickyard near the Seneca River, where the railroad trestle is now. Mr. Cochran built the "old textile building" (Godfrey Hall) on the Clemson campus, the Trustee Building, a mill in Spartanburg, SC, and the Smith store in Calhoun, SC.
9:05: Mr. Olson states that there was a great variability in the consistency of the brick at "Calhoun Corners." He speculates that perhaps the bricks were fired at different temperatures.
9:50: The general layout and structure of the building is discussed. The foundation walls are 18 inches thick. A 90 foot deep well was found during renovations. It would have been located on the original back porch of the Boggs establishment.
13:23: Megginson traces the evolution of the establishment as he understands it. Dr. Doyle originally bought the land in 1892. The Doyle family continued to own the land from 1892-1940. Various individuals ran the store over the years. There was J.D. Morgan; Morgan and Boggs; the Holden's (1910?); and Norman Boggs. Two other families that were believed to have operated the store in later years were the Nichols's and the Carter's. No records from the early decades of the establishment have ever been found.
17:55: Mrs. Olson states that over the years the upstairs "hall" was used as a meeting place for the Woodmen of the World, magistrate court, the Presbyterian Church, the Freemasons, and for social events such as dances.
23:45: Voter registration took place at the Boggs establishment. The group tries to determine if the post office was ever located in the Boggs store.
25:17: Mrs. Olson begins reading from a Messenger news article dated August 14, 1974. Covered are the "prank" electric bench at Boggs's, and the original story behind the large stones at the front of the establishment.
28:00: Mrs. Olson reads from a couple of letters concerning the placement of bicentennial celebration markers at the establishment. The first letter is from Wright Bryan.
29:50: Audio ends.
Side 2
1:52: Mrs. Olson continues reading from the letter. Another letter is from sister's Nelly McHugh and Eloise McHugh Witherspoon. This letter also recommends that a marker be placed at the site. The letter contains a short historical timeline of the Boggs establishment.
3:41: Megginson enquires about the large tree at "Calhoun Corner's." It is the second oldest post oak in the area, and has been registered with the Forestry Department at Clemson. Its exact age is not known by the couple. It is believed by the two to have been there since at least 1926.
5:02: As of 1988, the building was not on the National Historic Register.
5:55: The group discusses the general floor plans and internal alterations that had to be made during refurbishment.
10:10: The group goes off subject and discusses the local Perry family home.
12:52: The discussion turns to the original lots were the property is located and how they were divided.
15:59: Mrs. Olson wishes that they had bought the store "as is." When the family came to clean out the store before the Olson's took ownership, many antique pieces were found lying about.
17:17: The attic--the supports are sturdy 3 x 5 rip-saw pine. It is the same kind of timber used in medieval European fortresses and parapets.
18:23: Megginson is interested in how many chimneys might have been located in the establishment. There were 5 in the store part. The residence had 4 fireplaces and two chimneys. The couple thinks that the pot bellied stove burned wood.
20:36: Megginson enquires about what utilities were available to the building. They don't know when electricity was provided to the building. There was one bathroom in the entire building located in the residential quarters just off the back porch. There is no evidence of a telephone in the store quarters, though there was apparently one in the residential part.
25:39: The Olson's found that the floors were initially in poor shape. They were sanded and coated with urethane. The group discusses the architectural aspects of the floors.
27:57: Megginson brings up an unusual architectural feature--a strip of pine along the downstairs south wall. This was retaining for the shelving supports. There was very little original shelving left by the time the Olson's bought the establishment.
30:00: Whatever scales that had been utilized over the years had been moved by the time the Olson's got the property.
31:34: Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:25: Mr. Olson was originally from Westchester, NY. He recalls his first trip to the Calhoun area in August of 1934 upon enrolling at Clemson College. From the Calhoun depot one had to walk to the College. Captain Clinkscales livery service moved the luggage. Mr. Olson believes the charge for the service was around $0.50.
3:09: Mr. Olson briefly discusses aspects of the "old carriage road" and the paving of old US 123 (now 93) in 1930.
6:40: Megginson asks the couple if they are aware of Cold Springs plantation. The Olson's state that the area they live in is called Cold Springs. The slave quarters for the plantation once stood about 100 yards from their residence. The Olson's found pottery and tools in that general area while digging a garden.
11:05: Mrs. Olson recalls conversations with Calhoun locals. Annie Leigh Boggs told her that John Wesley Cochran built the Pendleton Presbyterian Church in June of 1891. Eva Payne (longtime Boggs store bookkeeper) can remember that the Boggs store would stay open long after normal closing hours, especially in the summer in order to accommodate the crowds who would often gather there.
16:00: When the Olson's first opened up the refurbished establishment, they rented out space to both gardening and gift shops for a couple of years.
16:30: The Olson's explain how they came about the name "Calhoun Corner's" for the establishment. Initially they were going to call it "The Corner's", because the original thought was to have a different establishment located in each corner of the building. That plan didn't work out, so they settled with a restaurant that would be called "Calhoun Corner's."
19:09: Megginson thanks the Olson's for the interview and the audio ends.
Side 2
Blank
Subject
South Carolina -- Pickens County
Interviewer
Megginson, W. J.
Interviewee
Olson, Edward S. and Mary L.
Publisher
Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository
