SENIORS TOUR ABBEVILLE SC

We arrived at Mr. Z's RV Park on Wednesday and got settled in for a week or so.  This is a nice little park of eleven sites, nice and quiet.  I left that evening and went to, our friend, Sandy's home to go with her to Bible study and for dinner.  Gary opted out to rest up from the driving!! 
Thursday we met up with her again to go on a Senior Center bus tour of Abbeville, SC, stopping for dinner at Yoder's (Amish) restaurant.  It was a Great day!! 

Abbeville history stretches back into the early 1700's.  It was settled by a group of French Huguenots. It was incorporated in 1832, and later played a key role in the Civil War.  It is called the "Birthplace and Deathbed of the Confederacy".  It is located near the Georgia state line to the west.

We spotted the Trinity Episcopal Church first and trotted off to that.  It was built in 1842, with the cornerstone for the building being laid in 1859.  The cemetery on the grounds holds both Confederate and Union Soldiers.

You can definitely see a need for more restoration!!

Walking back from the church, we stopped to take pictures of a former Livery Stable.



It had a new roof, but the outer walls looked to be original.

 

Returning to the square of downtown, we stopped in the shops to check out the antiques and to see what we just might have to have???



Facing the square, we found what at one time was a municipal building, but is known historically to be the Opera House.  Traveling theater groups performed here in the early 1900's, with such stars as Sarah Bernhardt and Jimmy Durante.  After closing in the 1950's, it was completely restored in 1968 and now boasts live theater once again 

 

Gary standing with Sandy in front of the Opera House



Stage set for current play, "Pump Boys and Dinettes".

Private viewing boxes are located on both sides of the stage.

Viewing box on the left of stage

 

Viewing box at right side of stage,
with stairs to reach upper level boxes, behind entrance to box..

Sandy admiring flowers at the entry.

Leaving the Opera House, we checked the exterior of the 26-room historic hotel across the street.  We were running short on time for meeting back at the bus, so we did not go inside.  Next time through we will as we heard that it was lovely and has a wonderful restaurant in it.  It first opened for business in 1903, closing in 1972, and reopened in 1984 after a full restoration as the Belmont Inn. 



No, Gary, you can't ride!!

We picked up some rocky road fudge and peanut butter fudge to use for snacking at our card playing evening back at Sandy's house.

 

Now we are off to Yoder's (Amish) Restaurant for some fine family dining!!  Were we ever hungry!!

 

We had a fun night introducing Bo, our bus driver, to our Five Crowns card game, while Brenda, Edna and Gene visited.  Bo's hooked!!  So we are trying to find the two new games that we have somewhere here in the motorhome.  But where??

 

Friday night we got together again after we ran some errands and picked up groceries for our week here.  Edna decided that she really liked the game as well.  It will be interesting to get together again and try it with five or six of us playing!!

 

Not bad for a couple days of activities.  After church today, eight of us went to Grecian Gardens for dinner!!  Awesome food!!  I told you that we will not get any dieting done here!! 

 

Take care and stay tuned.