South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004

Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

H. 5384

STATUS INFORMATION

Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Whitmire and Sandifer
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\6109cm04.doc

Introduced in the House on May 26, 2004
Introduced in the Senate on May 27, 2004
Last Amended on June 2, 2004
Adopted by the General Assembly on June 3, 2004

Summary: Oconee County, Matheson Memorial Highway

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5/26/2004  House   Introduced HJ-302
   5/26/2004  House   Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial 
                        Resolutions HJ-303
   5/27/2004  House   Committee report: Favorable Invitations and Memorial 
                        Resolutions
   5/27/2004  House   Adopted, sent to Senate
   5/27/2004  Senate  Introduced SJ-7
   5/27/2004  Senate  Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-7
    6/1/2004  Senate  Recalled from Committee on Transportation SJ-8
    6/2/2004          Scrivener's error corrected
    6/2/2004  Senate  Amended SJ-138
    6/2/2004  Senate  Adopted SJ-138
    6/2/2004  Senate  Returned to House with amendments SJ-138
    6/3/2004  House   Concurred in amendment HJ-51

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

5/26/2004
6/1/2004
6/2/2004
6/2/2004-A

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

AS ADOPTED BY THE SENATE

June 2, 2004

H. 5384

Introduced by Reps. Whitmire, Sandifer and Martin

S. Printed 6/2/04--S.

Read the first time May 27, 2004.

            

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 76 IN OCONEE COUNTY FROM THE VILLAGE OF LONG CREEK TO THE CHATTOOGA RIVER THE "MATHESON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY" AND INSTALL APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS PORTION OF HIGHWAY THAT CONTAIN THE WORDS "MATHESON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY".

Amend Title To Conform

Whereas, George Matheson came to Long Creek from North Shields, England, prior to 1885. An adventurer, he dared to leave England, the home of his birth, and depart for an area in America which was lovely with its virgin forests, mountains, and streams, but remote, with poor mountain roads, few or no schools, where scratching out a living was difficult; and

Whereas, George and his father, Thomas, who accompanied him on his adventure to the new world purchased 250 acres of the 288 acre Jeremiah Roach land grant property in Long Creek in 1885 for three hundred dollars. Thomas returned to England where he died in 1901, leaving the land to George; and

Whereas, this land is the center of Long Creek today, around which the community is formed. Most of the acreage remains in the Matheson family of descendants up to the great, great, great descendants of the Oconee County pioneer; and

Whereas, the Long Creek fire station and community building rest on five acres that the Matheson children sold to Oconee County for the erection of the Long Creek Elementary School. When school consolidation made the building obsolete, it was converted to its present use; and

Whereas, George built Matheson's Store in the heart of Long Creek in the late 1890's or early 1900's. He was a gentleman whose appearance one never forgot. With his full-face beard, English accent, English plaid cap and unpressed pants, he spoke in a gentle manner, always with grace and integrity. With a cigar held firmly between his teeth, he spread his influence near and far; and

Whereas, his store was the only general store-gasoline station between Westminster and Clayton, Georgia, for many years. It enabled residents to purchase essential goods and gasoline without the time and expense of travel; and

Whereas, George was named Long Creek postmaster in 1920 and served for 17 years, until 1937, when he suffered a stroke and was forced to retire. The position of postmaster stayed in the Matheson family, when son, Charles, was named to the post. When Charles retired, his brother, Nelson Matheson, was named postmaster. He served until 1964. For 44 years, a Matheson was postmaster; and

Whereas, the first telephone in the Long Creek area was in Matheson's Store and served as the community phone; and

Whereas, George first taught students of all ages in a small school in Long Creek. Educated in England, it was said that he was the most educated man in those mountains; and

Whereas, George was Justice of the Peace, whether he was meting out justice or marring local couples, he gave out advice, filled out legal papers, and gave assistance in a community where many were unable to read or write; and

Whereas, George not only taught in a small Long Creek school, but he was a part of the effort to bring education to mountain children when he joined the Reverend L. H. Raines in founding Long Creek Academy. He was the first secretary of the founding organization according to a story in the archives of the Keowee Courier, a newspaper published in Walhalla since the 1850's. Several of the Matheson siblings graduated from this school before furthering their education at Furman University; and

Whereas, this man of the mountains, and English immigrant, was a pioneer in making Long Creek an apple-growing region in South Carolina. He and his father-in-law, Nathaniel Shedd, whose farm joined the Matheson's on the west, were leaders in this movement and for many years, the Matheson-Shedd apple orchards were the first thing one saw surrounding Matheson's Store on all sides as one drove into Long Creek; and

Whereas, descendants of this remarkable man and his wife, Mary Ann, have enriched Oconee County, the State, and our country. There are doctors, lawyers, educators, business owners, government officials and employees, firemen, police officers, mill workers, farmers, orchardists, career military, and others who claim the Matheson legacy; and

Whereas, given the profound impact the Matheson family has had throughout our state's history, it is fitting and proper to name a portion of United States Highway 76 in Oconee County in their honor. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of South Carolina, by this resolution, request that the Department of Transportation name the portion of United States Highway 76 in Oconee County from the village of Long Creek to the Chattooga River the "Matheson Memorial Highway" and install appropriate markers or signs along this portion of highway that contain the words "Matheson Memorial Highway".

Be it further resolved that neither the naming of the portion of United States Highway 76, nor the installation of markers or signs, shall effect the emergency medical services addressing system.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on Monday, December 7, 2009 at 10:44 A.M.