Echoes & Insights: The Laurens County Series
September 29, 2025
SEPTEMBER 2025 COLUMN
Echoes & Insights: The Laurens County Series. Readers are invited to journey through the history of Laurens County, uncovering the stories, places, and people that have shaped our community.
From pivotal moments and forgotten landmarks to remarkable individuals whose legacies continue to inspire, each article will blend reflection from the past with perspective for the future. This series is designed to preserve history while sparking conversation about how it continues to guide us today.
We’d like to thank our Founding Sponsors for making this series possible. Their support ensures that the stories of our county are remembered, celebrated, and passed on to future generations.
Thornwell at 150: Honoring the Past, Serving the Present
In Clinton, South Carolina, a bold mission began with just ten orphaned children and a powerful act of compassion. As Thornwell approaches its 150th anniversary, that humble beginning continues to move hearts, spark innovation, and shape community life throughout Laurens County and beyond.
A Mission Born of Loss and Hope
Founded on October 1, 1875, by Rev. William Plumer Jacobs, Thornwell was created in the wake of the Civil War to offer refuge and love to children who had lost everything. The very first donation came from a 10-year-old boy named Willie Anderson, who offered 50 cents with the words, “This is to help build your orphanage.” From that simple gesture, Thornwell opened its doors to ten children, carried forward by a vision rooted in Christian faith, service, and the support of the local community.
Unlike many institutions of the time, Thornwell pioneered what became known as the cottage system, housing children in small, home-like settings with dedicated matrons rather than large, impersonal dormitories. It was a revolutionary approach that placed dignity and relational care at the center of child welfare—long before such practices were widely adopted.
More Than an Orphanage
Over the past century and a half, Thornwell has grown into a comprehensive, trauma-informed ministry serving children and families across South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Its programs now include residential care, foster care licensing and support, family preservation services, and community-based outreach—all grounded in nationally recognized, evidence-based models that prioritize healing, trust, and long-term support.
In celebration of its milestone anniversary, Thornwell recently launched a new strategic plan titled “Tomorrow Starts Today.” Built collaboratively with input from staff, board members, and community stakeholders, the plan outlines a renewed commitment to excellence, equity, and expanded impact.
Growing Again—On the Farm
Among the most visible signs of Thornwell’s revitalization is the renewed energy around its historic working farm. Once a staple of life on campus, LushAcres Farm at Thornwell has been reimagined as a modern community asset. Today, the LushAcres Farm Store offers fresh produce, pasture-raised meats, and poultry to the local community—providing access to nutritious food while creating learning and engagement opportunities for youth and visitors alike.
The farm also serves as the heart of growing seasonal traditions. LushAcres Farm at Thornwell now hosts Spring and Fall Community Festivals, inviting families from across the region for live music, food trucks, crafts, games, and fellowship. These festivals are fast becoming favorite annual events for Laurens County families.
In addition to festivals, school field trips to the farm allow students to engage in hands-on lessons in agriculture, sustainability, and healthy eating. Through these programs, the farm is once again a place of growth, connection, and purpose—a reflection of Thornwell’s ongoing mission to serve, educate, and empower.
A Legacy That Lasts
While Thornwell’s programs have adapted with the times, its mission remains constant: to build up children and families so they can thrive. From a single coin given by a child to a regional ministry rooted in compassion, Thornwell’s 150-year story is one of resilience, innovation, and faithful service.
As it prepares to mark this incredible milestone, Thornwell is not simply looking back—it is looking ahead, sowing seeds for a new generation, and continuing to serve as a beacon of hope for children and families in Laurens County and across the Southeast.
Here’s to Thornwell—150 years strong and still planting seeds of hope!
