Moonville Mae says Thanks!
On Saturday, November 14th, the sun rose over Princeton at the southern tip of Greenville County and friends of Fork Shoals Historical Society began arriving at their 1812 historic McCullough House called Cedarhurst. Starting off early with a trickle of volunteers and ending up with over thirty helpers we were able to expand Durant Ashmore’s work into an amazing yard cleaning workday. We can now see the bases of those massive cedars the home is named for and there is a fence visible as well. This was more than I could have imagined! And McCullough family descendants joined the work. The Moodys flew in from Newnan, Georgia, and the Nifongs drove from Rock Hill!
I can not express how much we at Fork Shoals Historical Society appreciate all of those who participated! This work will allow us access to the house in order to begin restoring it to its original glory. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Jim Scott, thank you for organizing some of the hearty workers and providing massive amounts of food! WOW! You did a fantastic job! There are so many who contributed to this effort in so many ways that I can not name you all here, but know your efforts where not missed. This work is going to take more than a village. It will take a county and beyond!
McCullough House called Cedarhurst.
Winter of 2019 with the wisteria covering much of the house.
George Estes on his tractor 
Cathy Morton and Dot Moody working beside
a pile of wisteria roots.
Linda Hufstetler
The McCullough’s Cedarhurst was donated by the David McCullough family to the Fork Shoals Historical Society in the fall of 2019 after the family contacted the society six years ago asking for help saving the structure. It was built by Joseph McCullough in 1812 of solid brick interior and exterior walls. The original house was of Federal style popular during that period, but had two major remodels during the ownership of Col. James McCullough and Judge Joe McCullough. Colonel McCullough’s remodel was in the Greek Revival style, and Judge McCullough’s was in the Colonel Revival. Stucco was used in both of these and the original brick hasn’t been seen since the mid-1800s.
Cedarhurst was a major stop along the road to Augusta for over one hundred years being an inn and stop on the drover’s road from Tennessee and Kentucky to the port of Augusta. Many stories of this plantation have been passed down through the family and neighbors nearby. The Society plans to renovate and eventually open to the public.
Restoration will be our major effort in the coming years, so please consider joining us in this effort by following our Facebook page, our website, and our twitter posts.
I also want to commend two other historic groups in Greenville County for their work in saving our historic structures. Fountain Inn History Museum has acquired Jones Mill and is beginning that restoration, and Travelers Rest Historical Society has been given the Spring Park Inn in downtown Travelers Rest and they too are beginning work to stabilize this beautiful 1870s inn that was owned by relatives of the McCulloughs. Spring Park is also on the old road to Augusta.
Another effort for preservation in Greenville County is currently going through County Council vote to establish a Greenville County Historic and Land Preservation Trust similar to the ones in Charleston and Beaufort. They will provide funding for saving historic properties and greenspace in rural areas of the county. Please support this effort of the County Council by contacting you council member. We must save our history and our greenspace!■
Anne Peden, Phd.
Greenville County Historic Preservation Commission
Fork Shoals
Historical Society
Piedmont Historical Preservation Society
