The Town of Reidville and nearby communities’ foundation was the beginnings in the early settlements of the white man along the three branches of Tyger River.  A group of Pennsylvania Irish settlers came down to the Piedmont area of South Carolina in 1761.  People came directly from Ireland and settled the same Tyger River highlands in the years of 1767-68 and immigrated through the sea port of Charleston.

The western edge of Spartanburg County were set up with farms and homesteads by these settlers.  Christian worship was very important so they banded together and formed meetings.  Two people were killed by Indians on their way to church.  In 1772, after holding worship meetings in private homes a brick building was erected and later known as the Nazareth Presbyterian Church, which is the oldest Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg County and is very active today.  Large parcels of land were owned by farmers that mainly made up the congregation.

 Reverend Robert H. Reid (Grandfather of Mrs. Julia Reid Burchstead) was called from the Anderson district to be the minister of the Nazareth Presbyterian Church in the year 1853.  Four years later, Rev. Reid on a New Year’s Day during a stewardship sermon, challenged the congregation the need for a facility for local education.   All aspects were researched in founding a school by three appointed study committees from the church. 

One hundred acres were donated by Abner Wakefield, James Wakefield and J.N. Gaston to build the school.  The original corporate limits were one mile radius of the center of Main Street.  The streets, except for College, Spring and Main Street were named after trees, Magnolia, which is now Reidville Road, Pine, Poplar, Chestnut, Willow.  This area is the existing nucleus of the town which was given the name of Reidville in honor of Rev. Reid.   

A coeducational institutional was started in 1857, but two years later the sexes were separated, making known the existing building as the Male Academy.  In 1871 the girl’s academy building reached college status and was known as the Reidville Female College.  In the up-country, it was one of the first facilities for higher education for women.  It is known that some 2,500 students received their education in these facilities.  

The schools were operated in two five month sessions each, and held on July 30 their examinations.  The examinations were held orally with the principal, teachers and the public were allowed to question the students.

The tuition rates were: Primary: $6.00; Geography and Arithmetic $10.00; Higher Branches; $16.00; Modern Languages $10.00; Art $10.00; and Music $2.50. 

During the Civil War the schools survived.  Lot of damage to the buildings created long and hard reconstruction and increases in tuition and boarding charges.  The cotton crops were hit hard by the boll weevil causing financial difficulty for the farming members of the Nazareth Church congregation making them unable to be sole financial providers for the school.  They reached out to the Presbytery, but were denied any financial help for the schools forcing them to reach a decision.

Rev. Reid officially closed the schools as a private operation in 1905, on the behalf of the board of trustees.  During the same year the two facilities were combined and became a public school.

Teacherage

In 1858 the female dormitory was built.  It no longer possesses its original balcony or outside stairway.  District 5 Schools owns this building and in the early 1900’s used it as a “teacherage” for female teachers.  No men were allowed to be on the female’s campus without the knowledge and permission of the school’s president except the students from the Male Academy were required to attend mid-week prayer service and Sabbath School that was held in the Female College Chapel.  The Charleston earthquake in 1886 left its scars on this building.

This house located on Main Street attracts you with its Charlestonian design and beautiful balcony.  This home built in 1860, by Leonard Wilson, teacher and store owner.  This home is presently owned and occupied by Ms. Catherine Hughes.

Leonard Wilson Store

Located on Main Street the store building that was owned and operated by Leonard Wilson. 
 

The Academy’s professors, built houses along the main streets.  Time has taken its toll, some still remain.  On Main Street stands the Wood House, built in 1858.  This antebellum house originally had a “mosquito basement.”  The second floor has an unusual doorway with sidelights and transom.  At this present day, local residents from the community purchased this home and formed the “Reidville Historical Society”.

Historical Society House Visit www.reidville.org to view the societies info.

Built in 1880 and located on College Street, this home was built by Rev. Reid for the Rev. William Cuttino Smith, who was a Presbyterian Preacher and a chaplain in Lee’s army, at a cost of $700.00.  His grave may be visited at the Town of Reidville Cemetery. The home is now owned and occupied by Roy and Kathy Harper.