Historic Katherine Hall

18/01/2025

Research about Benjamin D. Riegel and his actions for the people of Ware Shoals:

November 1, 1913, The Count of Monte Cristo premiered.
November 3, 1913. Katherine Hall officially opened.
February 3, 1914. A "Moving Picture Machine" was used for the first time in Katherine Hall.

Question:
Two days before Katherine Hall opened, the first feature film in the United States premiered. Three months after the opening of Katherine Hall, a movie projector was added to the Katherine Hall Theatre. From the information printed in the early 1900s, Mr. Riegel did a lot for the workers of the Ware Shoals Manufacturing Company and the people of Ware Shoals. Was this another show of the benevolence of Benjamin D. Riegel? Was this done as a desire by Mr. Riegel to have the most modern, up-to-date things for the people of Ware Shoals?

Wikipedia stated the following about the movie:

The Count of Monte Cristo, at one hour and nine minutes long the first feature film in the United States (at a time when most films ran for one or two reels for a few minutes) premiered.

12/01/2025

The Ware Shoals History & Tourism Committee will be recording video interviews to document your experiences in and around Katherine Hall. These recordings help us tell the story of Katherine Hall up to the beginning of the rehabilitation project for the facility. Our next recording day will be on Saturday, January 25 from 11:00 - 4:00 at the Ware Shoals Museum at 38 East Main St, Ware Shoals, SC.

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas from Historic Katherine Hall.

07/12/2024

I will be going through photos today at the Ware Shoals Museum. Preservation South is in need of photos of Katherine Hall to present to the architectural firm that will be preparing the plans for Katherine Hall. Please contact me if you have any photos from the inside or outside of the building.

The two photos shows the door at the stage that will be recreated. One photo shows the exterior of the door on the present fountain side. The house on the right, in the background, is the house now owned by the Catfish Board. The middle building is the first Ware Shoals Inn. The second photo, the photo with Santa, shows the inside of the door at the stage on the post office side of the building.

04/12/2024

Here is a beautiful shot of the side of Katherine Hall. This was taken last night at the lighting of the town's Christmas Tree. Merry Christmas!!!

09/11/2024

The Ware Shoals History & Tourism Committe has contracted for a video documentary to be created to tell and preserve the history of Katherine Hall up to the start of the Katherine Hall Rehabilitation Project. We request your assistance in this project. Please contact us to make an appointment so we can video record you for our project.

This photo is of Betty Sligh Chapman being videoed during the Katherine Hall 111th Birthday Celebration.

04/11/2024

The Katherine Hall 111th Birthday Celebration was a huge success. The weather was pleasant and we had a great turnout. We were able to video some people for our documentary we are doing about Katherine Hall.

03/11/2024

Happy 111th Birthday, Katherine Hall. Come celebrate with us from 1:00 - 6:00 today.

24/10/2024

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture is the architectural company for the Katherine Hall Rehabilitation Project. I have attached their webpage so you can see some of their other projects.

Professional services offered and performed by McMillan Pazdan Smith’s exclusive affiliate, MPS Architects, P.C., in AL, AR, CA, CO, GA, IL, MA, MD, MI, NC, NY, OH, OK, PA, and RI.

24/10/2024

Preservation South is the project manager for the Katherine Hall Rehabilitation Project. I have attached the webpage for you to view some of the other projects this company has managed.

Historical Structure Restoration & Preservation