The Fairfield County Museum is housed in an elegantly simple Federal style house built for Richard Cathcart in the early 19th century. A three-story brick structure, the house retains its original heart pine floors and hand-carved woodwork.
In 1852, artist George Ladd and his wife Catherine acquired the building to operate a girls' school. Enrollment reached 100 young ladies before the school was forced to close by the War Between the States.
Priscilla Ketchin and her family made their home here from the l870's until Mrs. Ketchin's death in 1911.
Subsequently, the building became rental property, a public school, a hotel and a boarding house In 1969, the property was deeded to Fairfield County to be restored. Restoration was completed in 1974 under the auspices of the Fairfield County Historical Commission and Fairfield County Historical Society, using government and private funds. The landmark Cathcart - Ketchin building. opened its doors on March 15, 1976, as the Fairfield County Museum.
The ground floor of the rooms is set up as a historical house museum with furnishings donated by Fairfield families. There are standing exhibits located on the second floor, as well as a genealogy research facility. Traditional events at the museum include a yearly Fairfield County Historical Society event and the Candlelight Open House in December. Special exhibitions fill out the museum calendar each year.
The Mission of the Museum is four fold:
To stimulate interest in the role of Fairfield County in the development of South Carolina and the nation To preserve the history of the county through the collection of significant artifacts and interpretation of the personal stories of its citizens.
To identify and document historic properties and sites within the county.
To educate citizens and visitors about the heritage of Fairfield County.
FAIRFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Established in 1949, the Historical Society is responsible to collect, catalog, preserve & display artifacts pertaining to the history and heritage of the county. Housed in the Museum since 1974., the Society’s collection includes over 4,000 items including antique furnishings, 19th Century clothing and quilts, Victorian accessories, toys, Indian artifacts, tools, kitchen and sewing implements, farming and commerce displays and items dedicated to Fairfield’s military history.
PROGRAMS AND EXHBITS
The mission of the museum is not only to serve as a repository of the county's rich heritage, but also as an active resource for the education and cultural enrichment of our county's citizens, both young and old, representing our diverse cultural backgrounds.
As with all small establishments, there is always room for needed volunteers. The Museum has several on-going archaeological weekend projects. Some recent ones have been archaeological scouting to find Revolutionary battle sites for National Park Service surveys, the identification of a section of the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road that had been forgotten by time in dense forest cover, the discovery of an eighteenth century riverboat canal, and the locating and documenting of old graveyards.
Other ongoing projects are the moving and reconstruction of an eighteenth century log barn in the museum’s backyard, the reenactment of a local Revolutionary battle, the involvement of school children in learning about history, and an expansive oral history project. In the museum, volunteers are needed to help with exhibit receptions, office work, collections, and research.
The museum hosted the Smithsonian exhibit “New Harmonies” in April - June 2012.
The Museum and the Historical Society annually host a Christmas open House in early December.
Fairfield County Genealogical Society
Located on the second floor of the museum, researchers can find genealogy records for Fairfield County families and those that have passed through over the centuries. It is necessary to call or write before coming to do research to ensure that an assistant will be available. The volunteer genealogy staff receive requests for information at email address: [email protected] or at Fairfield County Genealogy, PO Box 6, Winnsboro, SC 29180. There is a small fee for copying and research. Open the same hours as the museum. Web site: fairfield.scgen.org
Some books of Interest that are also for sale:
Cemetery Books - listing of persons buried in local cemeteries. Copies available at the Museum. History of Fairfield County SC, by Hugh McMaster. Currently in print. Copies available at the Museum A Fairfield Sketchbook Julian S. Bolick, Currently in print. Available at the Museum Pictorial History of Fairfield County. Crosby Rice. Currently in print. Available at Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce.
Through the Years in Old Winnsboro by Kate Obear. Currently in print. Available at the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce.
History of St. John’s Episcopal Church 1839-1989 by Sharon Goff Avery. Currently in print. Available at Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce.
The Fairfield County Museum
231 S. Congress St.
PO Box 6
Winnsboro, SC 29180
Phone: 803-635-9811
Fax: 803-815-9811
Website: Fairfield County Historical Museum
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 10AM-5PM
Saturday 10AM - 2PM
Closed for lunch 12:30PM - 1:30PM
Closed Sunday
FREE ADMISSION
Genealogy Room : Research assistance available Mon - Friday 10 AM - 5 PM, excluding lunch. Saturday 10 AM - 2 PM. Please call ahead to ensure someone will be available to assist.
Other Genealogy Resources:
Fairfield County Library is located at 300 W Washington St Winnsboro, SC 29180
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9AM - 6PM, Thursday 9AM - 9PM, Saturday 9AM - 1PM
(803) 635-4971
Fairfield County Court House
Deed Room
115 Congress Street
Winnsboro, SC 29180
Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
803-712-6526
Closed all legal holidays
Pelham Lyles, Director
231 South Congress Street
Winnsboro, SC 29180
Free Admission
Home of the Fairfield County
Genealogy Research Room