Westminster, SC: 150 Years, and still on track
It’s exciting to hear about Westminster, SC celebrating its 150th anniversary, especially if you’re a native to the area like JDI is! Westminster turns one-hundred and fifty this year, and the main event took place on Saturday, March 15th at the Southern Railway Passenger Station, also known as the Railroad Depot.
The main event features a time capsule from 1976 being opened, revealing items that showcase the past, a history tour, and desserts. Westminster’s celebration also included festivities on Main Street, with live music and a community atmosphere.
To understand the significance of Westminster, SC’s 150th-anniversary celebration, it’s essential to delve into its history.
The power of the RAilroad
Westminster’s foundation is deeply intertwined with the arrival of the railroad. In the 1870s, the Atlanta and Charlotte Railroad’s expansion spurred the town’s growth, which began as a railroad water stop that helped evolve Westminster into a bustling town. This connection to the railroad shaped its early development and economy to be hospitable to business and future manufacturing needs.
Because of the railroad, Westminster saw growth in the manufacturing industries like the Beacon Manufacturing Company, which once upon a time made a significant impact in the local economy. The town’s railroad opens access to new industries, further allowing a diversification of industry, including sporting goods and other manufacturing.
Westminster has made efforts to preserve its historical character, with many late 19th and early 20th-century homes still standing. The restored Railroad Depot and the General Store Museum highlight the town’s commitment to its past. The City of Westminster also boasts over 100 original homes that maintain their late-1800s Antebellum architecture. Most of the homes are especially characterized by Georgian, Neo-classical, Greek Revival, and even some Carpenter Gothic styles.
The 150th-anniversary celebration is important because it allows the community to reflect on its history and heritage, celebrate its resilience and growth, strengthen community bonds, and allows the current residents to have a tangible connection to people of the past.
Westminster is also known for events like the South Carolina Apple Festival, which showcases the area’s agricultural heritage and contributes to the towns cultural identity. Many of the items present in the time capsule are from the Apple Festival, as well as from the businesses, churches, and overall community.
South Carolina Recognition
Highlighting the event importance, as well as Westminster SC as a continually historical and prestigious place, is the ceremony’s leadership. The City of Westminster is governed by Mayor Brian Ramey and a council of six members. Mayor Ramey has served the City of Westminster since 2015 with integrity and a strong drive to support the community.
Thomas Alexander, our Republican Senate President and District 1 South Carolina Senator, came to the event to present. His testimony includes being an Oconee County native who has proudly served the area, and continues to care for Westminster, Seneca, and Walhalla.
By noon, Mr. Alexander joins Mayor Bryan Ramey and the council to present to the town’s residents its recognition from the State Senate. Senator Alexander says of Westminster, “it is a town with a rich history of growth and preservation, one town that continues to bloom, just like its apple trees, and is rooted in being as strong as it is welcoming this fine spring day!”
The crowd smiles and cheers, feeling the truth of his words. Westminster’s residents are a proud, humble lot who care to show only that they care. Young and old alike, this fine city’s residents extol the virtues of Southern grace, godliness, and humility as a community.
In turn, Mayor Brian Ramey declared the official start of the Sesquicentennial celebration in the city of Westminster SC. The mayor so proclaimed and read a resolution in front of the standing-room crowd at the city’s Depot. “This day marks only the beginning of our next 50 years,” says Mayor Ramey. “Tomorrow we will continue to be what we are: good people who make a good town.”
The Capsule & Community
The Depot event hall also serves as a coming-out party for the time capsule buried since the country’s bicentennial year of 1976. The capsule contains the mid-21st-century Westminster community’s news, ideas, writings, and culture of the time.
Thereafter upon opening the capsule, Jennifer Moss, county history curator, emptied its contents. There were copies of newspapers along with city and county government documents that were in the capsule.
But other items drew oohs and ahs such as a Sears catalogue and a copy of a 1976 Westminster High School Football newsletter. Afterwards, she announces the items will be on display at the Westminster General Store Museum.
“No one had a record of the contents we just found in the capsule, so it was a complete surprise for us and the folks here,” Reagan Osbon, assistant city administrator, said of the capsule. “ Jennifer Moss from the history museum will begin archiving that information now that we have unsealed it.”
Mr. Osbon told us that as of now the city has no plans to bury a new time capsule, but said Moss will be preserving the contents of the current one after Saturday’s celebration. “Mrs. Moss will be archiving that, and we’ll have it on display at least for the next year at the Westminster branch of the Oconee History Museum,” he said. “They’ll still be available, and they’ll have operating hours where it will be available for public viewing.”
Expanding Westminster SC
The City of Westminster is proud to announce a transformative investment in the local community by Horton, the world’s leading provider of premium thermal control solutions for industry. Horton, a local manufacturer, is committing a multi-million-dollar donation to fund the construction of a modern, world-class recreation complex.
This initiative underscores the company’s deep commitment to fostering health, wellness, and community building. The new facility, to be named the Horton Outdoor Recreational Area, will feature outdoor recreation amenities in its inaugural phase, with plans for an indoor facility in a future phase, making it a hub for residents of all ages and abilities to gather, stay active, and build connections.
“We have a long history of contributing to regions that we operate in,” said Terry Gilberstadt, Vice Chair of Horton. “Funding this recreation complex continues our legacy of support for more vibrant, healthier, and happier communities!” The project is a collaboration between Horton, the State of South Carolina, and the City of Westminster, ensuring the facility meets the unique needs of the area.
Construction has already begun, with an expected completion date of May 2025. Mayor Brian Ramey said, “This incredible donation from Horton Industries is a testament to their commitment to our community. The complex will enhance outdoor recreation opportunities for all of our citizens, while also boosting residential growth and helping to grow our local economy. We greatly appreciate their investment in Westminster.”
The hometown contractor
JDI Industrial Services turn-key mechanical contractors play a critical role in the surrounding manufacturing industries in Westminster SC. They ensure the seamless integration of mechanical systems within buildings, connect the various electrical systems and production lines, and fabricate the process piping for their plants.
These professionals’ mostly hail from Oconee County, and particularly Westminster. Our expertise extends beyond installations, piping, and projects. We are fathers and mothers, church-goers, and doers. That humble pride we were born and raised with that so many people at the 150th anniversary event share, is what we share with manufacturers. It is our pride and joy to deliver what people expect of us.
Why? Because what we do when no one is watching, is important to JDI. Our reputation for giving our best, brightest, and most determined service reverberates in our churches, schools, and throughout Westminster SC.
We contribute significantly to the functionality and safety of local facilities and their production lines. This impact is felt in both new constructions and retrofit projects. We are also able to connect clients with the right supplier network to get their project correct and properly underway.
a good Mechanical Contractor: Proven results
Choosing the right contractor is crucial for project success. Start by evaluating their experience and past projects; talk to past clients and ask for referrals. A proven track record with industrial mechanical work, piping, fabrication, and project management is indicative of success. Related industries projects often indicates reliability and expertise.
We are a licensed mechanical contractor that can operate across the Southeast, and we particularly have served the Oconee County area for over 25 years. The ability to get the right people can give you the results you’re looking for, and therefore that is just what we do. Westminster, Seneca, the whole of Oconee produces good working-class people to serve the clients we care for.
JDI has a mechanical license in the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Due to our unlimited licensure, this allows us to work on mechanical projects up to $100 mm.
Communication skills and customer service are important. As a contractor who communicates effectively, we can address concerns promptly. This helps in maintaining a clear and quicker process, and keeps everyone safe on our jobsites.
Additionally, seek references or reviews from our past clients. Honest feedback can offer insights into JDI’s professionalism and work quality. Randy Blackston from Glen Raven is a wonderful example of the kind of relationships we build with leaders in local communities.
We at JDI look forward to being a part of the next 50 years here in Westminster and Oconee, and beyond.
