FORESTRY is huge

In Chesterfield, Marlboro, Darlington Counties

By Alexandria Swain

Forestry in South Carolina is a pretty big deal. Today, forestry products are the largest manufacturing industry in South Carolina. The South Carolina Forestry Commission was established on April 26, 1927 with three major goals: to protect the forest, to promote the benefits of forest management, and to monitor the forests’ condition. A large number of bills passed for forestry were those based on protecting the forest from fires. With the growth of forest fire protection, reforestation of cutover and idle land started demanding increased emphasis.

Chesterfield, Darlington & Marlboro Counties

In the 1700s, Chesterfield had become a major producer of naval stores. The first product was pine tar which was produced in large pits. These pits were known as tar kilns. The tar kiln was in Sand Hills State Forest located between the piedmont and coastal plain of South Carolina. It’s partially in Darlington County as well. The tar kilns were described as being 19 feet wide and 48 feet long! They produced about 45-50 barrels of tar. There are still remains of tar kilns in the area.

In the 1800s, the Great Pee Dee River was an important trade route in colonial times. The largest lumber company in the world existed at the river’s mouth in Georgetown. Pine trees of the Pee Dee region, which was also in Marlboro County, were cut and logs floated in rafts along the river to become lumber then exported to northern parts of the U.S. and Europe. Now, the river is not used much for navigational purposes.

The federal government purchased the area in Sand Hills State Forest in 1935 – 1939 from local landowners to relieve them of land that was not as fertile as they needed under the Resettlement Administration. From 1939 – 1991 the South Carolina Forestry Commission managed the land. A reforestation project was initiated to lower and prevent wildfires, improper logging and poor farming practices that almost eliminated timber production.

Sonoco Products Company

James Coker, son of Major Coker, was on a quest in 1890 to turn Southern pine trees into pulp for paper making. He soon perfected the process and thus Sonoco Products Company was born. They are South Carolina’s largest corporation in terms of sales. Today, they are an international provider of diversified consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and the largest producer of composite cans, tubes and cores.

More History & Fun Facts

1930s
Early Fire Towers, Division of Parks and Early Forest Law Enforcement were all introduced.

1940s
County Rangers and Fire Wardens were introduced to regulate the safety of the forests.

1950s
Smokey the Bear was brought to South Carolina in 1951 by artist Jack Smyrl who was hired to produce 3 fire prevention posters. These posters had national impact. “Smokey’s cousin” Charcoal was introduced in 1956 and appeared in parades and other fire prevention events. He was around for 2 weeks and made 42 visits to South Carolina schools.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pee_Dee_River
https://www.state.sc.us/forest/scindust.htm
http://www.state.sc.us/forest/refshill.htm
https://www.state.sc.us/forest/scpast.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonoco
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lide_Coker

Photo Credit: https://www.state.sc.us/forest/scindust.htm

Got a story? Share it with us at https://www.county.cool/whats-your-story/