Gaffney in Cherokee County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Michael Gaffney Home

* 1804 *

Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 2008

1. Michael Gaffney Home Marker

Inscription. Michael Gaffney was born in Granard Ireland and immigrated to the United States in 1797. After a short period in New York, he set sail for Charleston, South Carolina. He departed Charleston for the upstate and arrived at Smith's Ford on the Broad River on December 17, 1800. There he met and married Mary "Polly" Smith, daughter of John Smith on July 21, 1803.

Gaffney purchased 805 acres of land from John McKie on January 20, 1804 for $600.00. He then constructed this home, store and trading post at the corner of present day N.Granard Street and Baker Boulevard. This intersection was a Native American trail and wagon road. It became known as Gaffney's Crossroads later Gaffney Old Field.

Michael and Polly's first child was born June 1, 1804, most likely in this log home.

This hand hewed log home is donated to the City of Gaffney by the Gaffney Bicentennial Commission and Committees on this day June 23, 2006.

Erected 2006 by Gaffney Bicentennial Commission and Committees.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Native Americans • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1862.

Location. 35° 4.431′ N, 81°

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

38.908′ W. Marker is in Gaffney, South Carolina, in Cherokee County. Marker is at the intersection of N. Limestone Street (State Highway 150) and W. Meadow Street, on the right when traveling north on N. Limestone Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gaffney SC 29340, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 09.11.2001 (within shouting distance of this marker); Cherokee County Veterans Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Cherokee County WW I Rememberence (within shouting distance of this marker); Carnegie Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Col. James Williams (within shouting distance of this marker); Capri Theater (within shouting distance of this marker); First Baptist Church (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Star Theatre (about 500 feet away); Gaffney (about 600 feet away); Sinkoe Building (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gaffney.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Gaffney Historical Marker stands where Tavern was located

Also see . . . Gaffney, South Carolina. Gaffney is a city located in the Upstate of South Carolina. (Submitted on November 1, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008

2. Michael Gaffney Home Marker

1. History of Gaffney - Michael Gaffney
"In his journal, Michael Gaffney records the following remarks about this settlement: I expected to see a fine country, but was surprised to find it poor, sandy, rocky and hilly. The people are poor. Their dress generally is a hunting shirt and trousers of coarse cotton yarn. Every farmer or planter is his own shoemaker, tanner, tailor, carpenter, brassier, and in fact, everything else. Everything comes by the farmer or his family. It is the business of the wife and daughter to pick cotton and have it brought home, pick it from the seed, spin it, weave it, and make it ready for your back. Some of the girls make very handsome cloth. He further says, any people in the world. Here they must do everything from cooking to plowing, and after that they have no more life than Indian squaws. They hardly ever sit down to the table with there husbands, but wait on them like menial servants." (From the History of Gaffney web site, now shut down.)

— Submitted June 20, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

2. Michael Gaffney Day
The city of Gaffney celebrates her founder on the fourth Saturday of September. The celebretation takes place at the Gaffney Cabin from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008

3. Michael Gaffney Home back view
— Submitted November 1, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.

3. Gaffney
Gaffney, seat of Cherokee County, is a textile manufacturing town and marketing center for farmers. On "Sales Monday" the town resembles an Eastern bazaar; people gather from the surrounding countryside to trade eggs, butter, and livestock for brogans, coffee, and snuff. Held the first Monday in each month, the occasion was known for years as "swap day," "trade day," or "bone yard day." Like poor Jack in the old fairy story, some farmers bring a cow to the market and go home with things less useful than a handful of beans.

Previously called Gaffney's Old Field, the town was named for an Irishman, Michael Gaffney, who settled here in 1804. Hardly had the first little frame shacks been grouped together around the crossroads, than promoters took over Limestone Springs, which they ballyhooed as the South's Saratoga. It was the heyday of mineral therapeutic treatment and plantation owners in the Low Country, plagued every summer by malaria, which they called "country fever" and believed was caused by "miasmas," flocked here to drink the water. A $75,000 hotel was built in 1835, and the town assumed the characteristics of a gay resort. Wealthy patients paid through the nose for the sumptuousness to which they were accustomed at home; the