Marjorie Lambright lights candles in the dining room Saturday evening as local residents begin touring the historic Turner House on East Rutledge Avenue. Lambright’s great uncle, William Turner, was the original homeowner.

A $225,000 gift from a Gaffney couple's estate will enable the local historical society to meet its goal of starting a Cherokee County History Museum.

The gift comes from the late L.D. and Louise Pettit Jones estate as part of the couple's efforts to give back to their community.

Cherokee County Historical and Preservation Society (CHAPS) President Jane Waters announced the gift Friday during a preview party the group was holding for a holiday house tour at Gaffney's historic Turner House on East Rutledge Avenue.

The Turner House tour was a CHAPS fundraiser to raise money towards converting the old Central Elementary School into a Cherokee County History Museum and Fine Arts Center. The historical society has spent the past four years working to make the museum a reality.

Cherokee County is the only county in South Carolina that doesn't have a history museum.

The gift from the Jones' estate was an unexpected surprise for the historical society.

"This came out of nowhere. We had no inkling until we were notified by the estate," Waters said. "They are very humble and wonderful people."

L.D. Jones was co-owner of Moss-Jones Furniture. His wife was a homemaker. When her husband died, Louise invested money in the stock market. She left gifts in their estate for CHAPS, the Cherokee County School District, Limestone College, Providence Baptist Church where she attended as a child, and Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church where she and L.D. were members. Both L.D. and Louise Pettit Jones were Gaffney High graduates.

In August, the school district announced the Jones family had established an endowment to fund a Journalism & Government Scholarship and Biology & General Science Scholarship for graduating seniors at Gaffney High.

CHAPS will use its gift to begin work on the county history museum, Waters said. In 2000, State Senator Harvey Peeler helped the historical society secure state funding so it could purchase Central Elementary as the museum site.

The Spartanburg architectural firm Campbell, Meek and Associates has drawn plans for an arts wing on the right side of museum and gardens in front yard of the property. A groundbreaking ceremony for the museum will be held next spring.

"We are so pleased. The community will have a museum they so richly deserve," Waters said. "We have a wonderful collection of historical documents that tell the story of our county's rich history."