The site of the old Greenville News building has recently been transformed into spiffy Camperdown Plaza, but long ago, it was the location of one of Greenville’s early successful businesses.
George Heldman was a contemporary of Elizabeth Garraux, whose life story is the focus of my novel, “When He Was Gone.”
George was a saddlemaker who immigrated to Greenville from Germany in 1846. A few years later, he rented a brick house on the corner of South Main and Broad streets from Vardry McBee (the eventual site of the Greenville News). George bought the building and used it as the family residence, as well as the showroom for his leather goods. He would eventually become one of the city’s wealthiest residents and landowners, also known for his gardening and fruit growing skills.
His story, one deeply effected by personal tragedy, is also told in my book, “When He Was Gone.” George died in 1892 and is buried in Springwood Cemetery with his wife and daughter.
Years after his death, a woman went to city officials with a deed to the Heldman burial plot that her father had won in a poker game. The city refused to acknowledge the deed, since the plot was already “occupied.”
Note: Much of the historic information I have gathered while researching the book comes from Judy Bainbridge, retired professor emerita of English at Furman. Judy wrote a great historical column for the Greenville News for many years as well as several books. During my research, I was delighted to find that she lives blocks away from me in North Main, and I was lucky enough to spend time with her. She is brilliant.
