New Travelers Rest history book available now

Update (06/23/15):

"History of Travelers Rest, SC: A Sense of Place" is available now. For more information on purchasing the book, visit the Travelers Rest Historical Society website here.

Original story (05/26/15):

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. — A new book on the history of Travelers Rest is set to be released and will be available for purchase in the next couple of weeks.

"History of Travelers Rest, SC: A Sense of Place" tells the story of the city of Travelers Rest from its beginning in 1808 up until the present day.

Published by the Travelers Rest Historical Society and written by local author and historian Marian Cooper Bryan, PhD, the comprehensive book has sixteen chapters spanning the town's origins as well as the evolution of health and postal services, military history, media changes, recreation, entertainment, clubs, churches, schools, and businesses.

Interviews and contributions of young and old residents are interspersed throughout the book, which also contains human interest stories and humorous tales that add a little spice to the narrative.

The book also includes a chapter about African American participants in the community and a "notable" sons and daughters chapter. The appendixes cover family names of first settlers, locals who served in each war, those recognized on lamp plaques throughout the city, and those involved in city government throughout the years.

The volume is also well-referenced at the end of each chapter so that the reader may go to a specific citation to discover more information about various topics.

Cooper Bryan, whose family represents five generations of Travelers Rest residents, said the excitement that currently surrounds Travelers Rest made it the perfect time to publish a book about the town's history.

"I grew up in Travelers Rest, and it's a city like no other," Cooper Bryan said. "It's not just a place you drive through on the way to somewhere else. It's a destination."

All proceeds from the book (cost = $30), which was donated to the Travelers Rest Historical Society by Cooper Bryan, benefit the nonprofit historical group.

"History of Travelers Rest, SC: A Sense of Place" will be available at select Travelers Rest retailers as well as on the Travelers Rest Historical Society's website.