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History of the Oates Community The following article
was written by Nancy Burch Bunch for a local newspaper a number of years
ago. (EDITOR'S NOTE- The following article was written for The Tribune by Mrs. Nancy Burch Bunch, a native of Oates who now lives in Columbia. Mrs. Bunch is the daughter of Mrs. Louise Oates Burch, a granddaughter of William James (Bill) Oates who is regarded as the founder of the community of Oates. Mrs. Bunch still lives in the home of her father which was built in the early 1890's and one of the oldest in the community). By Nancy Burch Bunch
On a brisk, early morn one may hear the crackle of leaves as the hunters tromp through the game-filled woodlands. One may even hear their voices cut through the stillness. "Let's circle 'round to the Becky Becky field by way of the Seebe Ditch. If there aren't any there we'll go over the gully." Such sporting sites may be familiar to the native of Oates who lived in the village nestled between "Punknot" and "Boggy Gully," or more specifically halfway between Hartsville and Lamar. The crossroads is presently famous as a seafood mecca--the home of Beckham's Seafood Restaurant. In November, 1824, when James Oates (1786-1873) purchased land on the sides of "Boggy Gully," the recorded history the community began. +++ William James ("Bill") Oates (1826-1897) is honored as the actual founder of Oates. Son of James, he lived in Oates until the 1850's when he moved to Columbia County, Florida. He fought in the Civil War with a Florida unit until taken prisoner. Following the war he moved back to Oates and tended his aged father's plantation. +++ Soon after his father's
death he opened a general store at the main crossroads of his inherited
estate. It was then that the village began to prosper. Oates was officially
named for the family in 1880 when a U.S. Post Office was opened there.
Henry Stuckey assumed duties as the first postmaster of the newly-named
village. +++ Oates saw its peak in the late 1880's and early 1900's. Sarah Tally Oates, second wife of Craven N., opened a millinery shop in her husband's store and ladies marched through "the Grove" (Oates' central playground) in fashion. +++ It was in "the Grove"
that the first school was built in the 1880's. "Union Academy"
opened its doors to the neighborhood children. An annual community gala
was the year end picnic enjoyed by everyone. The oldest home still intact is somewhat beyond 100 years old. It is known as the late Harry Preston Oates homeplace. The Craven N. and Will Oates homeplaces are the next oldest recorded. Both were built in the early 1890's. Mrs. Cecil Norman Oates, owners of the Craven N. Oates home resides in " the Grove" while the Will Oates home is owned by his daughter, Louise Oates Burch. A new general store was added to the scenery when Mr. L. M. Lawson constructed the brick building now occupied by Beckham's Restaurant and owned by Laurie C. Lawson of Darlington. The "big store," as it is commonly called, was operated by Francis Marion Oates, Sr., son of Will Oates and later by Robert Roy Oates, son of Craven N. Oates under the name of "Lawson and Oates" until W. A . Suggs joined Mr. Lawson and it became known as "Lawson and Suggs." For many years its glass-covered cases of candies and bubblegum thrilled the children of Oates as they listened to the tales of men of the community huddled about the ole' pot-bellied stove. "The Oates Pharmacy" was operated by Robert Roy Oates and later by his brother, Cecil Norman Oates who had Dr. R. B. Stith as a partner for a time. Cecil also published a community newspaper, "The Oates Patch." Oates Brothers Motor Company was owned by Francis M. Oates, Sr. and brother William LaVern Oates, Sr. It was located beside the track of the 1880's Timmonsville and Lydia railroad Company and the later Seaboard Railway spur. The tracks became obsolete in 1937 when the late Will Josey was depot agent. Most of the businesses closed with the coming of the Depression and only few have opened since. Several grocery stores have served the community since that time, yet another era as seen in the early 1900's has not existed. Oates became known for its baseball team several generations ago. Under the management of R. Roy Oates the team joined the local league and until recent years Saturday afternoons at "Bulldog Stadium" was a favorite pastime. The "stadium" is adjacent to the Oates Community Center which has been the site of most activity through the years. The Community Center was
the home of Oates Grammar and High Schools which closed in the early 1950's.
Community suppers (fish stews by C. Steven Burch being a favorite) are
still enjoyed in the center which at one time housed an auditorium just
made for "Womanless Weddings"--the last bride recalled being
R. Barney Askins. The End
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