The Yorkville Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1978 to foster and promote historical preservation and restoration in the city of York, SC, and its surrounding area.
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YHS Ice Cream Social
Saturday, June 28, 2025 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
McCelvey Center
212 East Jefferson Street, York, SC
Join us for a gathering of those who love history and this beautiful city. Connect with friends and new faces while enjoying games, food, and learning about how we are preserving history in downtown York and the surrounding area.
• FREE “SCOOPS” Ice Cream—one per person, for the first 100 guests
• Food Available for Purchase from Dean And Luca’s New York Pizza food truck
• Live Music by Whippoorwill String Band, featuring Zach Lemhouse playing fiddle
This event is on the lawn and in the parking lot—not inside the McCelvey Center.
There is very limited seating—you may want to bring your own chair.
We will have a table with our book A Guide to Olde York: The White Rose Tour available for purchase. This wonderful tour book has fascinating information and pictures about York and its history. You can also pay for your 2025 membership at our table if you haven’t had a chance to do that.
Admission is free—we hope to see you there!
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YHS Booth during Summerfest
Antiques, Artisans & More Show
Friday, August 22 and Saturday, August 23, 2025
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. each day
Church of the Good Shepherd
108 East Liberty Street, York, SC
The Yorkville Historical Society will have a booth during Summerfest at the Antiques, Artisans & More show held at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Our wonderful tour book and other items will be available for purchase.
We hope you can stop by!
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Our Next YHS General Membership Meeting
Thursday, September 25, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
Church of the Good Shepherd
108 East Liberty Street, York, SC
This meeting will feature Zach Lemhouse, who will present the second part of his lecture series on the history of York from the Colonial Period to the 20th Century. See additional information about this series below.
Directions to the meeting: From East Liberty Street, turn onto Trinity Street. Turn left into the parking lot. Enter the Parish Hall through the right-hand door that faces Trinity Street.
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Stories of the Stones: Echoes of Valor
A Walking Tour of Veterans’ Gravesites
Saturday, November 1, 2025, 1:00 p.m.–4 p.m.
Rose Hill Cemetery
229 East Liberty Street, York, SC
Join the Yorkville Historical Society for a powerful afternoon of remembrance and reflection at “Echoes of Valor”, a special guided walking tour through the historic Rose Hill Cemetery. This unique event honors the legacy of local veterans who served our country with courage and commitment.
On your tour, you’ll meet actors in period attire standing beside the graves of York’s servicemen and women, portraying the lives and stories of those who once walked these very streets. Through live interpretation and dramatic storytelling, the past will come alive—sharing voices long silent and sacrifices never forgotten.
Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a visitor to our historic city, “Echoes of Valor” offers a meaningful way to connect with the lives behind the headstones and pay tribute to those who served.
Tickets will be $8.00.
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History of York from the Colonial Period to the 20th Century Lecture Series
Thursday September 25 and Thursday, November 13, 2025, both at 7:00 pm
Church of the Good Shepherd
108 East Liberty Street, York, SC
Zach Lemhouse, Historian at the Culture and Heritage Museums of York County, will be presenting for our YHS general membership meetings in September and November.
The Second Founding: Division & Reconstruction in York County, September 25, 2025
Second in the series, Zach covers the sectional crisis that divided our country and the attempts following the Civil War to reunite it. This lecture will include York County’s Antebellum Era, its role in the Civil War, and the promising yet tumultuous era of Reconstruction.
A More Perfect Union: The Civil Rights Movement in York County, November 13, 2025
In the final installment, Zach explores the national struggle to live up to America’s founding principles. This lecture will cover York County’s role in the broader Civil Rights movement.
Note: The November meeting is not on the last Thursday of the month.
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YHS 2025 Historic Yorkville Holiday Home Tour
Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14, 2025
Save the dates—This event should be another fabulous Holiday Home Tour. More details will be posted once they are available.
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2025 YHS Meetings
Our meetings are usually scheduled for the last Thursday of the month starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 108 East Liberty Street, York, SC.
Our 2025 expected meeting dates:
- June: Ice cream social Saturday, June 28 from 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. at the McCelvey Center
- July: No meeting
- August: No meeting
- September 25: Board meeting 5:45 p.m. General meeting 7:00 p.m. (Zach Lemhouse presentation)
- October 23: Board meeting 6:00 p.m.
- November 13: Board meeting 5:45 p.m. General meeting 7:00 p.m. (Zach Lemhouse presentation—meeting date moved to November 13 instead of the last Thursday of the month)
- December: No meeting
General Membership Meeting Information
Our general membership meetings are usually held every other month and typically start at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Details are posted on our website, and a notice is emailed to our email distribution list.
The Church of the Good Shepherd is located at 108 East Liberty Street, York, SC. (From East Liberty Street, turn onto Trinity Street. Turn left into the parking lot. Enter the Parish Hall through the right-hand door that faces Trinity Street.)
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-> A Guide to Olde York: The White Rose Tour—Our wonderful tour book has fascinating information and pictures about York and its history. Follow this link to find out how to get your copy.
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Research Requests
The Yorkville Historical Society has no archives, genealogical records, or research staff.
A great resource for your genealogical and historical research inquiries is the Historical Center of York County. The Historical Center of York County opened in 1989 to serve as York County’s archival repository to collect and preserve information of historical importance and is located at 210 East Jefferson Street, York, SC. Use this link to find out how to submit your research request to the Historical Center of York County, or check the YHS resources page for other options.
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Our email: yorkvillehistoricalsociety@gmail.com
You can use this link to be added to our YHS email distribution list to get updates and notices of our upcoming events.
See more information on our Facebook page.
YHS Membership
Follow this link for more information on YHS memberships.