Former Site of WJ Rutherford & Co Brickyard
Welcome! You’re now standing on the historic grounds of what was once the W.J. Rutherford & Company Brick Manufacturing Yard, established around 1895–1896 here in Hamburg, South Carolina.At its peak, this bustling industrial site produced high-quality bricks that helped shape the architectural identity of the Augusta area and beyond. But the company didn’t stop at bricks—they were also key suppliers of lime, cement, roofing materials, and other vital building components of the era.Take a moment to look just beyond this structure. Those ponds you see? They weren’t always there. Decades ago, this land held clay pits, where the rich, red clay was excavated to form the signature bricks of Rutherford & Co. Over time, nature reclaimed those pits, filling them with water and creating the quiet ponds you see today.This brick structure once housed a large motor, used to regulate the intense temperatures in the nearby kilns, where raw clay was fired into durable building blocks.Want to see the company’s craftsmanship in action? Head downtown to the corner of 13th and Greene Street in Augusta, where you’ll find the breathtaking Sacred Heart Church. Built with bricks from this very yard, Sacred Heart is not only an architectural marvel—it’s also proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places.This stop is more than just a remnant of industrial past—it’s a doorway into the story of how Hamburg’s clay helped build a city’s skyline.
Western Terminus South Carolina Railroad
Welcome to a landmark of American innovation. Just down the bluff before you, in the heart of the now-vanished town of Hamburg, once stood the western terminus of a transportation marvel—the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company.Launched in 1830, this line made history as the first steam-powered railroad in the United States to offer regular passenger service and carry the U.S. Mail. At the time, this was cutting-edge technology—paving the way for a new era of travel and commerce in a young nation hungry to grow.By 1833, the railroad stretched 136 miles from Charleston to Hamburg, making it the longest railroad in the world. Imagine it: a steam locomotive hissing and groaning its way across the Lowcountry to the very edge of this bluff—an industrial dragon forging connections across the South.Though little remains of the original terminus today, this quiet spot once pulsed with energy—passengers arriving, goods offloading, and mailbags exchanged as Hamburg became a vital link between inland South Carolina and the bustling port city of Charleston.This stop marks not just the end of the line—it marks the beginning of a transportation revolution.
Hamburg
As you stand here, try to picture a once-thriving town—bustling docks, cotton bales stacked high, and the sounds of riverboats unloading their cargo. This was Hamburg, South Carolina: a vibrant river port and trading hub, carved into the banks of the Savannah River.Founded in 1821 by an ambitious German immigrant named Henry Shultz, Hamburg quickly rose to prominence and was officially incorporated in 1827. At its peak, it was the most important interior port in South Carolina, serving as a vital artery for the shipment of cotton, tobacco, and other goods flowing through the region.Merchants, traders, and laborers filled the streets. The town hummed with life, fueled by its strategic location and access to river and rail.But like many great endeavors, Hamburg’s fortunes changed with time. Shifts in trade routes, economic pressures, and natural disasters gradually chipped away at its success. The final blow came in 1929, when a devastating flood swept through the area, destroying what little remained of the once-booming port town.Today, ruins and memories are all that remain—but the legacy of Hamburg endures. Its story is woven into the fabric of South Carolina’s history: a tale of ambition, prosperity, and the power—and fragility—of human enterprise.
First Providence Baptist Church
In 1929, disaster struck.A catastrophic flood surged through Hamburg, swallowing homes, businesses, and lives. The rising waters forced the remaining residents to flee to higher ground, leaving behind the ruins of a once-prosperous river town. It was a turning point—from which Hamburg would never recover.But out of the floodwaters, resilience took root.Determined not to lose everything, many families salvaged bricks, beams, and boards from the wreckage to rebuild their lives. One powerful symbol of that determination was Providence Baptist Church, a cornerstone of the community. The church was carefully dismantled and reconstructed atop the 75-foot bluff just behind the remains of old Hamburg—safe from the reach of future floods.The new settlement that emerged was officially named Carrsville, but to those who lived there, it was often simply known as “New Hamburg.”Though the name had changed, the spirit of the town endured—stronger, wiser, and forever shaped by the river that once gave life… and then took it away.
Carrsville
By 1930, the once-thriving town of Hamburg had been all but erased—twice—by the unforgiving floods of the Savannah River. In the aftermath, a new community began to rise on higher ground: Carrsville.This was more than a relocation—it was an act of preservation.Following the Civil War, Hamburg had become a predominantly African-American town, home to generations who built lives, businesses, and churches along the riverbanks. When disaster struck, those same families refused to let their roots wash away.The new community—Carrsville—was likely named for Charles W. Carr of the American Red Cross, or William Carpenter, a respected African-American businessman. Both men generously donated land for displaced residents to rebuild their homes and their lives.Carrsville became a place of resilience and renewal, where families carried forward the legacy of old Hamburg with pride and determination. Though born out of hardship, it stands today as a living testament to the strength, generosity, and enduring spirit of those who refused to be forgotten.
The Society Building
As you walk along Boylan Street, you’re following in the footsteps of a community that stood strong in the face of loss. This street was originally named Red Cross Street, a heartfelt tribute to the orginization, which provided critical aid to the African-American families who lost everything when the Savannah River flooded their homes.The beautifully restored white building you see has served as a pillar of community life for nearly a century: the Society Building, constructed in 1930 for the Young Men’s Union Society—a local African-American civic and mutual aid organization.The land on which it stands was later purchased from William Carpenter, the same businessman who helped found Carrsville. From its earliest days, the building became a hub for meetings, celebrations, and social gatherings, reflecting the heart and resilience of a people determined to reclaim their future.In 1988, the historic space found new life when it was acquired by Simmons Lodge No. 571, which has since continued the tradition of service and unity. More than just brick and mortar, this building is a testament to collective strength, shared purpose, and the enduring legacy of a community that refused to be erased.
The Hamburg Massacre
Just beyond this point lies the site of one of the darkest and most defining events of South Carolina’s Reconstruction era: the Hamburg Massacre, which occurred on July 8, 1876.In the tense and violent lead-up to the 1876 gubernatorial election, white Democrats across the state formed armed “rifle clubs”—paramilitary groups meant to intimidate and suppress Black citizens and their white Republican allies. These clashes were part of a broader campaign to dismantle the progress made during Reconstruction and restore white political control.The conflict in Hamburg began with a dispute between white townsmen and an African-American militia company. That tension escalated rapidly. Roughly 200 armed white men, many from local rifle clubs, surrounded a warehouse where 38 Black militiamen and others had barricaded themselves, refusing to surrender their arms.The standoff turned deadly. One white man was killed, and several were wounded on both sides before the Black defenders fled. In the chaos, two Black men were killed while trying to escape. But the violence didn’t end there.White aggressors captured 25 to 30 Black men, and in a brutal act of racial terror, executed four of them in cold blood.Though 87 white men were charged, none were ever brought to trial.The Hamburg Massacre was not an isolated incident—it was part of a wave of racially and politically motivated violence across the South, designed to suppress Black political power and reverse the gains of Reconstruction.This stop is a solemn reminder of the deep scars left by that era. It is a place to reflect on the resilience of those who fought for justice, and the importance of remembering hard truths, no matter how painful.
Pottery Production in North Augusta
Since the late 1700s, the Edgefield District—now part of Aiken and Edgefield Counties—has been celebrated for its unique contribution to Southern folk art: alkaline-glazed stoneware. Durable, practical, and often strikingly beautiful, this pottery became a defining feature of the region’s cultural and economic identity.The glaze, created by applying alkaline materials like ash or lime, gives the stoneware its distinctive sheen and remarkable hardness. While the forms vary, jugs and pitchers were especially common—and each manufacturer brought subtle differences to their work: a slight curve of a handle, a flare of the rim, a tilt of the neck.Among the most iconic and expressive creations are the face jugs—whimsical vessels adorned with eyes, ears, noses, and often mischievous or exaggerated facial expressions. Originally crafted for amusement or ceremonial purposes, these jugs have since become prized collector's items, with individual potters recognized for their personal style and flair.In the 1890s, potter Mark Baynham brought this storied tradition to North Augusta, founding the South Carolina Pottery just south of Georgia Avenue near the 13th Street Bridge. Following in the footsteps of his father—a successful potter in Trenton, Edgefield County—Baynham adapted his methods to modern markets, switching to Albany glaze and mass-producing thousands of jugs for the South Carolina Dispensary system, the state-run liquor monopoly.As the 20th century progressed, the pottery shifted toward more commercially viable items, like terra-cotta flower pots and other household goods. But the location proved vulnerable—floods in the 1920s repeatedly inundated the Georgia Avenue site. In response, Baynham moved the operation to Buena Vista Avenue, safely above the floodplain.In 1950, the property changed hands, and the pottery returned once more to the riverbottom, where it remained in operation until 1977.
North Augusta's Historic Industrial Area
Though the City of North Augusta was officially commissioned in 1906, the groundwork for its industrial future was already being laid in the 1890s. Factories and industrial sites sprang up in the bottomlands near the river, while residential neighborhoods were established along the hillsides above, offering sweeping views of the Savannah River Valley.Right here, at the intersection of Georgia and Railroad Avenues, stood the beating heart of the city’s early industrial and manufacturing district.Among the most notable structures was the North Augusta Dispensary—the only legal source of liquor from 1907 until Prohibition. Though a community fixture for years, the building was lost to fire in 1995.The south side of Georgia Avenue housed a cluster of thriving businesses, including the South Carolina Pottery, a coal and wood distributor, and a veneer factory, among others. Across the street on the north side stood another local producer—Wood Pottery.Over time, the area evolved, with a rotating cast of businesses setting up shop in the same spaces: a grocery, a furniture factory, a photography studio, a blacksmith, multiple brick manufacturers, and one of the first independent oil companies in the South. Meanwhile, the east side of Railroad Avenue became home to a cotton warehouse and a lumber company, adding to the district’s commercial momentum.But by the late 1920s, the lower terrace of the Savannah River became increasingly prone to flooding. Frequent inundation made operations costly, and many businesses either closed or relocated to higher ground—settling at the upper end of Georgia Avenue, where the modern heart of North Augusta now stands.
James U. Jackson Memorial Bridge
Standing before the James U. Jackson Memorial Bridge, you're looking at more than just a way across the river—you're looking at the legacy of a man who imagined a city, then built it.The first bridge at this site was constructed in 1891 by James U. Jackson, a visionary developer whose ambitious projects laid the foundation for what would become North Augusta. That original span connected more than just land—it connected ideas, industries, and communities.In 1939, the present bridge was completed and formally dedicated in Jackson’s honor, a lasting tribute to the man hailed as the “Founder of North Augusta.” His impact was profound. In addition to the bridge, Jackson spearheaded the construction of the Augusta–Aiken streetcar line and the grand Hampton Terrace Hotel, once a beacon of luxury in the South.James U. Jackson (1856–1925) was born in Augusta, Georgia. A graduate of Richmond Academy and the University of Georgia, he returned home with bold plans. In 1889, he founded the North Augusta Land Company, which went on to build the original 13th Street Bridge. His efforts were the driving force behind the development of North Augusta as a thriving residential and resort destination.A prominent railroad executive, Jackson also played a major role in regional transportation, securing the Union Railway Station for Augusta and championing infrastructure that would serve the area for generations.Today, the bridge that bears his name stands as both a gateway and a monument—to the man whose vision transformed riverbanks into a city.
Sharon Lafaye Jones
The unforgettable story of Sharon Jones—soul music powerhouse and global sensation—begins and ends in North Augusta.Born on May 4, 1956, Sharon spent her early childhood right here. Her first public performance was as a young girl playing an angel in a Christmas pageant at North Augusta Baptist Church. In the early 1960s, she and her siblings moved with their mother to New York City, but Sharon never left North Augusta behind—she returned often, spending many summers here, close to the riverbanks and the roots that shaped her.With her band, The Dap-Kings, Sharon Jones went on to ignite stages around the world—from Harlem’s Apollo Theater to the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Her magnetic energy and voice filled Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center, captivating sold-out crowds and breathing new life into classic soul.Her rise was far from easy. Music executives once told her she was “too fat, too short, too Black, and too old.” But Sharon defied them all. In 2002, she released her debut album, Dap Dippin’ with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings—a global hit and the first of six acclaimed albums. In time, she and the band would earn a Grammy nomination for Give the People What They Want.Her talent reached far beyond the stage—films, major talk shows, national commercials—and always, that unmistakable voice.In 2011, Sharon returned to North Augusta once more—this time to stay. She spent the final five years of her life in her beloved yellow brick house on Jackson Avenue. She sang at community gatherings, worked out at local gyms, and strolled this very riverbank and greenway. In the 2014 North Augusta Christmas Parade, the crowd’s reaction to her joyful march down Georgia Avenue made it clear: North Augusta loved her every bit as much as she loved it.On November 18, 2016, Sharon passed away at age 60, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer—a journey documented with deep honesty and spirit in the acclaimed film Miss Sharon Jones!, directed by Barbara Kopple.In honor of her extraordinary legacy, boundless optimism, and enduring love for her hometown, the city proudly named this venue the Sharon Jones Amphitheater—by a unanimous vote of the North Augusta City Council.Her voice may be gone, but her soul still sings here.
Riverfront Village
Long before North Augusta took shape, this land was home to another thriving community. Around 1,000 years ago, Native Americans of the Mississippian culture settled at this very location, drawn—as so many have been—to the life-giving waters of the Savannah River.The Mississippians lived throughout the Southeast and along the Mississippi Valley, building large villages and ceremonial earthworks along major rivers. Their settlements are recognized today by their distinctive pottery, and by the traces of complex political structures—with larger villages often dominating entire river valleys and influencing neighboring communities.Fast forward to 2004, when the City of North Augusta launched a project to revitalize this portion of the riverfront. Before development began, an archaeological survey was conducted to ensure that no significant cultural or historical sites would be disturbed.What they found was extraordinary.Just above the Greeneway, on the natural terrace, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a major Mississippian village. Named Riverfront Village after the planned development, it became the focus of full-scale excavations in 2005 and 2006.The findings were staggering: over 100,000 artifacts recovered from nearly 5,000 features, including the remains of around 80 houses and surrounding activity areas. Six palisade walls—protective enclosures—were identified, revealing that the village expanded multiple times throughout its occupation.Radiocarbon dating suggests the site was inhabited from about 1,000 to 600 years ago, with a brief reoccupation in the late 1600s. Among the artifacts were broken pottery, stone tools, food remains, and even European trade items, including glass beads and small brass “tinkler cones”—tiny bells used to decorate clothing or regalia.This ancient village, now buried beneath your feet, stands as a powerful reminder: this riverfront has always been a place of gathering, of culture, and of life.
Boeckh Park
This park stands in honor of Charles Boeckh, a skilled civil engineer whose work helped shape the very foundations of North Augusta.In 1891, Boeckh was commissioned by city founder James U. Jackson to design the original town plan. With care and precision, Boeckh laid out the streets, infrastructure, and layout that would guide North Augusta’s early development.Today, this space not only celebrates a visionary engineer, but also honors the thoughtful planning that helped transform Jackson’s dream into a lasting community.
The Power of the Savannah River
By the time the first European settlers arrived in the North Augusta area in the early 1700s, one truth was already clear: the Savannah River was not just a backdrop to life—it was life itself.Much like their Native American neighbors, these settlers fished its waters, navigated its currents, and relied on it for both survival and connection. The river linked them to hunting grounds, trading communities, and the wider world beyond the frontier.As generations passed and settlements grew, communities pushed farther upriver—but nature posed a challenge. Large trading vessels couldn’t pass the shoals upstream. The solution came in 1845, with the construction of the Augusta Canal, a vital link in the commercial chain between South Carolina and Georgia.But crossing the river was no easy task in the early days. Settlers on the South Carolina side had to paddle, row, or sail across the water. Over time, ferries were established to carry people, goods, and livestock. Then in 1814, the region saw its first permanent bridge, near what is now Fifth Street in Augusta—a landmark of progress and permanence.Yet as cotton farming expanded, so did its consequences. Land was cleared, and the resulting soil erosion meant rainwater no longer soaked into the earth—it surged toward the rivers instead. Starting in the 1800s, the region experienced massive, regular floods, prompting residents to build levees for protection.From the 1880s to the 1930s, each major flood left a deeper impact, leading to the construction of taller, stronger bridges and the relocation of North Augusta’s industrial district to higher ground—where it still remains today.Eventually, the Savannah River was dammed, its destructive force finally harnessed—but never forgotten.This river has always been more than a feature of the landscape. It has been a source of sustenance, a pathway for progress, and a formidable force of nature—shaping every chapter of the region’s story.
Crossroads of the Southeast
For more than 10,000 years, people have been drawn to the easiest places to cross big rivers — those rare wide, shallow stretches where the water slows and the path is clear.Here on the Savannah River, those shallows are found mainly at the Fall Line, where the rolling hills of the Piedmont meet the flat expanse of the Coastal Plain. This natural crossing point has been a gathering place for countless generations. Along both the South Carolina and Georgia shores, archaeologists have discovered stone spear points and tools — silent proof of an ancient hunting and gathering life.Just eight miles upriver from here, on Stallings Island, researchers uncovered something extraordinary: the earliest pottery ever found in North America, dating back at least 4,500 years. Imagine the fires flickering on that island at night, the river reflecting orange light, as families shaped clay into vessels they would use for years to come.For centuries, small camps and bustling villages dotted this stretch of river. Between the 1650s and 1830s, at least ten Native American tribes called this area home. The Savannah was their highway — a north-south waterway perfect for canoe travel. East-west journeys were far harder, made entirely on foot until horses arrived with European contact around 500 years ago. Crossing dense forests, deep ravines, and broad river valleys could take days.When European settlers arrived, they too recognized the strategic value of this place. North Augusta and Augusta were founded right here — the farthest point upstream that large boats could navigate.Today, the river’s shallows are mostly hidden under high water, but the routes carved out by prehistoric travelers still shape our world. Interstate 20, just upriver, follows much the same path that people walked thousands of years ago — proof that geography still guides us, just as it did our earliest ancestors.
Samuel Hammond
Born in 1757 in Virginia, this remarkable frontiersman and soldier carved his name into the history of a young America.As a young man, he moved to the Edgefield District of South Carolina — just in time to take up arms in the fight for independence. During the American Revolution, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the state troops, battling through some of the war’s fiercest engagements: Hanging Rock, Musgrove’s Mill, King’s Mountain, Blackstock’s, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse, the Siege of Augusta, and Eutaw Springs.His courage on the battlefield was matched by his service in the halls of government. After the war, Hammond served in the United States Congress. When America’s borders expanded with the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, President Thomas Jefferson appointed him Colonel-Commandant of the St. Louis District — placing him at the edge of the nation’s new western frontier.He didn’t just command troops; he shaped new territory. Hammond was elected to the Missouri Territory Council and, in 1813, became its very first president.In the 1820s, he returned to South Carolina, where his leadership continued. He served as Surveyor General in 1826 and was elected Secretary of State in 1830.Hammond’s extraordinary life came to a close in 1842. He was buried nearby, and in 1991, his grave was moved about 1.6 miles north to its present location — but his story remains here, woven into the history of the region he served so boldly.
Hammond Memorial
This memorial honors members of the Hammond family, early settlers and Revolutionary War heroes whose legacy helped shape the region’s earliest foundations.Col. LeRoy Hammond (1728–1790) and Col. Samuel Hammond (1757–1842) both served with distinction during the American Revolution, their contributions remembered as part of the fight for independence in South Carolina and beyond.Also memorialized here are their kinsmen: Paul Charles Hammond (1765–1832) John Hammond of Campbelltown (1745–1800) Together, these men represent a patriotic lineage rooted in service, leadership, and the pioneering spirit of those who helped settle the lands that would become North Augusta.Their memory endures—etched not just in stone, but in the story of the land they helped defend and develop.
The Martintown Road
In the 1730s, long before paved streets and modern highways, an Indian path wound its way from Fort Moore to the Saluda Ridge. This ancient trail was used by traders journeying to the Cherokee Nation, carrying goods and stories deep into the Carolina backcountry.As time passed, the path evolved into a wagon road, connecting Ninety Six to Augusta—a vital route for commerce, travel, and, eventually, war.The road became known as Martin Town Road, named for the Martin family who lived nearby and served the Patriot cause during the American Revolution. During that turbulent time, the road saw constant use by Patriots, Tories, and British forces alike, each side moving troops and supplies through the same terrain—sometimes only hours apart.More than a passage, Martin Town Road was a silent witness to a nation’s birth, trodden by the feet of soldiers, settlers, and Native peoples alike.
North Augusta Trolley Station
Picture this hilltop in 1902. Instead of cars on the road below, imagine the quiet hum of an electric railway car pulling into the North Augusta–Aiken Railway station. This was one of only three “interurban” lines in all of South Carolina — a 26-mile electrified route linking Augusta, Georgia, to Aiken, South Carolina, winding through the mill towns of Horse Creek Valley.The station here wasn’t just for locals. A wooden walkway led straight to the nearby Hampton Terrace Hotel, the grand winter resort that crowned the hill from 1903 to 1916. Both the hotel and the railway were the brainchild of James U. Jackson, founder of North Augusta, who dreamed of making this place a world-class destination.These cars carried more than just passengers. Freight rolled along the line too. In 1912, tensions boiled over when Augusta streetcar workers went on strike — and one of these interurban cars was attacked. At the time, the line was racially integrated, a rarity in the South, until state law imposed “Jim Crow” segregation in 1913.But progress was catching up. As automobiles grew common, ridership dropped. By 1929, the line closed, and the North Augusta station vanished from the landscape.Today, nothing remains of the platform, the rails, or the humming cars — but if you listen closely, you might still imagine the faint buzz of the electric line making its way up the hill, carrying travelers toward luxury, industry, and adventure.
Hampton Terrace Hotel
Imagine it: the year is 1903.High on this hill, a grand white palace of a hotel rises above the pines — five stories tall, with more than 300 elegant rooms. This was the Hampton Terrace Hotel, the dream of visionary James U. Jackson, founder of North Augusta. Built for the astonishing sum of $536,000, it was designed to be the South’s premier winter resort.A private railway brought guests directly from major rail lines to the hotel’s doors. And what guests they were — some of the most famous names in America: Marshall Field, Harvey Firestone, John D. Rockefeller. In 1909, President-elect William Howard Taft himself sat in the ballroom as guest of honor at a glittering banquet.Life at the Hampton Terrace was one long season of luxury. Guests strolled manicured grounds, rode horseback, hunted, played tennis, golfed on a lush 18-hole course, or lingered over billiards and shuffleboard. Evenings brought orchestra concerts in the music room and elegant dances beneath sparkling chandeliers in the magnificent ballroom.For thirteen seasons, it was the jewel of the South’s winter playgrounds. But on New Year’s Eve, 1916, tragedy struck. As midnight approached, fire swept through the wooden structure. In just hours, the grand hotel was reduced to smoking ruins — and the hilltop has been quiet ever since.
North Augusta
Long before its charter in 1906, this land was home to two early towns. Campbell Town, a bustling trading post on the Savannah River, was here before independence was even declared. Later came Hamburg, founded in 1821 as a busy river port and the western terminus of the South Carolina Rail Road. When the line from Charleston to Hamburg was completed in 1833, it was the longest railroad in the world — a marvel of its time.By the late 1800s, one man would reshape this landscape entirely. James U. Jackson — visionary, entrepreneur, and founder of North Augusta — bought 5,600 acres here in 1890 under the North Augusta Land Company. His dream? To create a thriving new community linked to the wider world.He started by building a bridge over the Savannah River in 1891. Then, in 1897, he brought the future to North Augusta with a trolley line. By 1902, that electric trolley ran from Augusta, Georgia, right through North Augusta and on to Aiken. That same year, high on a hill nearby, Jackson opened the Hampton Terrace Hotel — a grand winter resort that drew wealthy visitors from across the country. Between the hotel, the trolley, and Jackson’s ambitious vision, the town’s population swelled to 1,500 by 1913.Decades later, another wave of change arrived. In 1950, the opening of the Savannah River Plant brought thousands of new residents and fueled explosive growth. Within a few short years, North Augusta’s population passed 10,000, setting the stage for the city you see today.
Lookaway Hall
Standing proudly since around 1900, Lookaway Hall is one of North Augusta’s finest examples of the grand Beaux Arts style.Built for Walter Mixer Jackson, its striking white columns frame a sweeping two-story wraparound portico. Perched on a prominent site, the mansion commands a view so wide and beautiful that, according to family tradition, it inspired the name — Lookaway. From the porch, guests could take in the full expanse of the surrounding hills, the distant river, and the growing community below.In 1936, the estate passed to Dr. Henry G. and Lillie Mealing, respected horticulturalists whose love of plants transformed the grounds into Lookaway Gardens. They built greenhouses, nurtured delicate orchids, and developed prize-winning camellias that earned admiration far beyond the city.The home’s original owner, Walter Mixer Jackson, was born in Augusta, Georgia, in 1851 and played a central role in shaping North Augusta’s future. As general manager of the North Augusta Land Company—founded in 1890 to develop the “Carolina hills” just across the Savannah River—he oversaw the layout of the town’s roads and supervised the construction of the Hampton Terrace Hotel, the crown jewel of the city’s early years.Jackson and his family lived here after Lookaway Hall’s completion, but by the 1910s he returned to Augusta, where he died in 1922. The mansion remains a proud sentinel of that era—its columns and portico a reminder of both the vision that built North Augusta and the elegance that drew people here more than a century ago.
Educational Signage
Here in Calhoun Park, the Hamburg Educational Panels tell the story of a place that shaped our region — and our nation.After the Civil War, the nearby town of Hamburg, South Carolina became a thriving community where free Black citizens and formerly enslaved people could build new lives. African-American leaders like Prince Rivers, Samuel Lee, and John Gardner held important local offices, and in 1868, South Carolina elected the first majority Black state legislature in U.S. history. That same year, the state drafted a new constitution and created Aiken County — the only county formed during Reconstruction.But Hamburg is also remembered for one of the darkest chapters in our past. On July 8, 1876, tensions between white rifle clubs and Black members of the South Carolina National Guard erupted into the Hamburg Massacre. About 200 armed white men surrounded African-Americans barricaded in a warehouse. By the end, seven Black men were dead — four of them executed after capture. Their names were Allen Attaway, John Parker, James Cook, David Phillips, Albert Myniart, Moses Parks, and Hampton Stephens. The sole white casualty was Thomas McKie Meriwether.This tragedy rippled far beyond Hamburg. It became a key political flashpoint in the disputed presidential election of 1876. In the Compromise of 1877, federal troops were withdrawn from the South — effectively ending Reconstruction and opening the door for decades of voter suppression and segregation.In 1914, the S.C. Legislature approved $400 for a monument to Meriwether, later moved to this prominent location. The inscriptions reflect the racial attitudes of that era, not those of North Augusta today. Our city embraces people of all races and backgrounds, united in common rights of citizenship.The events of Hamburg do not define us — but we choose to remember them, to learn from them, and to ensure our future reflects equality, dignity, and justice for all.
James Urquhart Jackson
James Urquhart Jackson — the man with the vision that built North Augusta.Born on June 24, 1856, in the little village of Harrisonville, Georgia, just outside Augusta, Jackson grew up gazing across the Savannah River at a stretch of rolling South Carolina hills. By 1890, he turned that view into opportunity, purchasing 5,600 acres on the far shore with one bold idea — to create a new city.The next year, he built a bridge across the Savannah at 13th Street, linking his new land directly to Augusta. He knew that to thrive, the city needed more than land and a bridge — it needed connection. So in 1897, Jackson brought in a trolley line from Augusta to North Augusta, and by 1902, he had created the first interurban railway in the South, carrying guests in comfort between resort hotels in Augusta, North Augusta, and Aiken.At the heart of it all stood his crown jewel — the Hampton Terrace Hotel, opened in 1903. Perched high on the hill, it welcomed some of the most influential figures of the age, drawn by its luxury, its views, and the ease with which Jackson’s rail line delivered them.James U. Jackson died at Rosemary Hall, his North Augusta home, on October 15, 1925. But his dream lives on. The tree-lined streets, small parks, and graceful homes you see today are part of the legacy he imagined more than a century ago — a community built for beauty, connection, and a sense of place.
Wade Hampton Veterans Park
Wade Hampton Veterans Park, located in North Augusta, South Carolina, is a memorial dedicated to honoring veterans of all wars. Established on July 4, 1993, the park is named after Wade Hampton III — a Confederate general, Governor of South Carolina, and U.S. Senator.The park is a place for reflection and remembrance, honoring the sacrifices of men and women who served in conflicts across more than two centuries of American history. Monuments and markers pay tribute to veterans of: The Revolutionary War The War of 1812 The Mexican War The War Between the States The Spanish-American War World War I World War II The Korean War The Vietnam War The Persian Gulf War The Panama conflict The Grenada conflict Here, surrounded by the beauty of North Augusta, visitors can pause, reflect, and remember the courage and dedication of those who served. The park stands as a permanent reminder that the freedoms we enjoy today were secured at great cost — and must never be forgotten.
