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Published: Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 / Updated: Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 06:48 PM

Clover marks 125 years with movie premiere

CLOVER -- 

Town leaders marked Clover’s 125th anniversary Saturday with a community celebration that included the preview of a new movie about the town’s history and present-day life.

About 100 people gathered Saturday night at the Larne Building in Clover for a cocktail party that included the unveiling of two exhibits on Clover and a brief preview of the Clover movie.

Jay Dover, Clover’s mayor pro tem, said he was impressed with the turnout that showed support. “Something that makes the town special is our history,” Dover said. “It’s important to recognize it and let everyone know.”

Saturday’s event was the culmination of a 125th celebration that began last fall with a geocashing tour, local history tour and other events. The final anniversary event is the March 17 burial of a time capsule.

A highlight of the gathering was the preview of the film, “Clover: 125 Years in the Making,” produced by filmmaker David Beverley of Chester and scripted by Town Manager Allison Harvey.

Beverley showed one segment of the film, which featured narration, historic images and interviews with several local residents about Clover’s history. He said he is still working to edit the film, which he said will include segments on education and life in Clover today.

Beverley said he has since November been gathering footage for the film around town, including still shots and interviews with local leaders and business people. He and Harvey created a “who’s who” list of notable people in the town to be interviewed for the film.

Beverley said he was impressed with the town as a result of the project.

“I was really impressed with how forward thinking the leadership is,” Beverley said. “Even in this economic downtown that we’re in, they still have ideas and visions to try to move the town forward.”

Beverley said he expects the finished film to run about 20 to 30 minutes. Town officials said copies of the film on DVD will be sold for $10 each from Clover Town Hall after March 13.

The inspiration for the Clover 125th movie was two earlier movies about life in Clover, produced in 1947 and 1985. The 1947 film, called “My Hometown,” was first produced on reel film and is now saved on a DVD.

In 1985, Harvey said, the Greater Clover Chamber of Commerce worked with an ETV television station to produce a second movie, “The City with Love in the Middle,” which highlights history and shows local spots of interest.

Linden Smith, a Clover resident and a member of the town’s 125th anniversary planning committee, said he appreciates the support town residents have shown for the observance.

“It’s very satisfying to see all the work the committee put in,” said Smith, who is interviewed prominently in the new movie. His ancestors were key players in the town’s development.

Saturday’s party also featured the unveiling of two exhibits which will later be on display in the Clover Community Center. They are the Clover Hall of Fame and a Clover Through the Years Photo exhibit.

The Clover Hall of Fame features photographs and information about eight Clover citizens who have served in elected or appointed state office. Clover Through the Years is a three-paneled collage of 120 photographs of people, places and notable events in the community. The exhibit is accompanied by information that identifies each photograph.

Dignitaries including state Rep. Tommy Pope, R-York, and Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney, attended Saturday’s celebration, and presented framed House and Senate resolutions honoring the town.

Former state Rep. Herb Kirsh and Stan Spears, S.C. Adjutant General, both of Clover and both inducted into the Clover Hall of Fame, also attended. “This is a great occasion,” Kirsh told the crowd.

Other Hall of Fame inductees are: O. Frank Thornton, S.C. House of Representatives, 1935, and Secretary of State, 1950-1978; W. Herbert Smith, S.C. Highway Commission, 1960-1964, and Chairman, 1963-1964; J. B. “Bate” Harvey, S.C. House of Representatives, 1954-1965 and 1974-1978; J. E. “Jim” Beamguard, S.C. House of Representatives, 1900-1906, 1911-1912 and 1923-1924, and S.C. Senate, 1913-1920 and 1925-1928; Dr. Issac J. Campbell, S.C. House of Representatives, 1925-1928, and S.C. Senate, 1928-1931; and J. Moffatt Wylie, S.C. House of Representatives, 1946-1948.