Aiken County · Marker 02-54
Graniteville Academy
Canal St. and the Gregg Hwy., Graniteville
Front inscription
This Carpenter Gothic school was built in 1848 by the Graniteville Mill, then the largest textile mill in S.C. William Gregg (1800-1867), who opened the mill in 1847, created a model mill village here. This academy, with five classrooms and a bell tower, opened with local ministers as teachers for students in grades 1-6. Gregg made attendance compulsory for all mill village children between ages 6 and 12.
Reverse inscription
Wings were added to this building in 1853; a second building was added to the campus later. The academy added grades 7-11 in 1898, with its first high school graduating class in 1899. Leavelle McCampbell School, 4/10 mi. S on Canal St., opened in 1922 and replaced Graniteville Academy. The old academy was converted into houses, with the wings detached and moved. The original 1848 academy here was a residence 1922-1969.