by GAIL OUST
IF AFTER MONTHS of being coronavirus-careful, you’re tempted to do a bit of exploring and then consider a trip down a road less traveled. It’s easy peasy. Follow either Route 7 or SC Hwy 28 until it connects with SC Hwy 81, then turn left and drive along a scenic, winding road through the rural South Carolina countryside. Soon you will come upon Willington—a tiny town with a huge history. In the early 1800s, it was home to the prestigious Willington Academy which educated many of the South’s future leaders, including eleven governors, three vice-presidents, and eight college presidents. Dr. Moses Waddel, a Presbyterian minister and the school’s founder, was so impressed by the “willingness” of the Huguenots and Presbyterians to work together that the small settlement was later renamed Willington.
Fast forward to 1886. A railroad was constructed. Cotton crops flourished. Then disaster struck the fledgling community with the arrival of the boll weevil in the 1920s. The Great Depression dealt an even more devasting blow. Little by little, bit by bit, the once thriving town began a slow but steady slide into obscurity. Willington was left a shell of its former self with only a cluster of forlorn-looking brick buildings huddled by the side of the road as a reminder of a bygone era.
Inspiration comes in many guises. Upon her retirement, Sara Juengst returned to Willington, the place of her birth, after a lengthy absence. Sadly contemplating the abandoned buildings, she recalled reading about a “book town” in Wales--Hay on Wye. The rest as they say is history. “We haven’t quite equaled their forty-some book stores but have made a good start,” she said. Sara estimates the shops at Willington contain 50,000 books, making it one of the largest used bookstores in the upstate.
“Willington Bookshop” first opened its doors in September 2004 and then moved across Morrah Bridge Road in April 2005 to what had once been a storage building. The bookshop contains a diverse range of reading material, both fiction and nonfiction. One section is devoted exclusively to Southern writers, another to local history. There is even a children’s nook tucked into a back corner. All the books have been arranged alphabetically and organized by subject in order to facilitate browsing.
The Religious Annex, originally called “The Words of Life Bookshop,” followed in 2007. Housed in what had served as a general store/service station/convenience store until the mid 90s. It was first owned by Albert Gibert, one of first Huguenot settlers to this area. Here visitors can find books on such subjects as religion, psychology, and philosophy.
“Once Upon a Crime” had its grand opening in May 2018 in a store once owned by Bob and Sissy May Cowan Burnette. It’s devoted exclusively to readers who find murder and mayhem their cup of tea. Horror, thrillers, suspense, and spy novels by masters of the genre all vie for shelf space. Many customers come armed with a list of books by their favorite authors hoping to find a particular item.
Last, but by no means least, is the recently opened “Paperback Annex” in the former Bank of Willington. In addition to hundreds of paperback fiction, this building also contains a large selection of westerns, science fiction, and CDs.
Sara’s affinity for used bookstores began as a young woman. She remembers purchasing a .99 cent copy of Cyrano de Bergerac at a used bookstore in Greenville on her meager monthly salary.
“People love holding a book. A real book,” she said.
This sentiment is echoed by Beth Johnson, a resident of SLV and one of Willington Bookshop’s newest volunteers. Beth first took note of Willington on one of her many trips to SLV from Atlanta, where she worked as a pharmaceutical rep, to visit her parents, Sue and John Johnson, now deceased. Like all the volunteers, Beth loves books and is an avid reader. When asked, she confessed that her “favorite part of the job is the chance to meet and talk to all the customers.”
According to Sara, patrons have come from every county in South Carolina. One just has to glance at the guest register to see names of towns not only in South Carolina, but neighboring Georgia as well. Places such as Anderson, Aiken, Elberton, Dearing, and Johnston to name a few. Sara, who at ninety-one is as tireless as the energizer bunny and possesses more memory than an iPhone, has decided it’s time to step down from her role as President of Willington on the Way, the owner of the bookshops. Lana Snellgrove, a former language arts teacher and resident of SLV, has assumed the role of presidency while continuing to manage the bookshops.
Thanks to Sara’s tireless efforts and passionate love for the written word, a person doesn’t have to travel to a faraway “book town” in Wales, but can enjoy a similar experience (albeit on a much smaller scale) closer to home by taking the road less traveled.
Willington Bookshops are open Wednesday-Saturday from 11-3pm. With few exceptions, books are priced from .50 to $3.00. Donations are always welcome. Patrons are asked to wear masks and be mindful of social distancing while browsing. While book shopping, please drop by the History Center to discover many more fascinating facts about a place many of us
call home.