Gaffney High School students spent Thursday touring the Nuckolls Plantation and the Cherokee History and Arts Museum. The students are involved in Leadership Cherokee, a year-long leadership training program developed by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce to develop young leaders in the community. Gaffney High student leaders got in touch with their county’s roots Thursday with a visit to the Nuckolls House Wag Stop Plantation.

Gen. Daniel Morgan camped near the Nuckolls Plantation at Grindal Shoals along the Pacolet River before marching along Green River Road to fight the Battle of Cowpens. Gene and Nancy Horne have restored the 200-year-old historic house into a reminder of Cherokee County’s heritage.

This heritage was the theme for a “History Day” program organized for participants in Leadership Cherokee sponsored by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. The group includes Gaffney High and Blacksburg High students as well as adult leaders selected from the community.

The year-long program consists of nine sessions exploring Cherokee County’s history, make up of the community, current issues and future potential.

“We wanted to go back to the beginning and take the students and adults over to Grindal Shoals, where the county started,” Cherokee County Historical Society President Jane Waters said. “We hope this historical focus today will help increase their knowledge about the community.”

Leadership Cherokee participants began their day viewing school exhibits and taking part in a scavenger hunt at the Cherokee County History and Arts Museum. They spent the latter part of the morning in a smokehouse on the Nuckolls Plantation.

David and Renee Gillespie traveled from their home in Pickens to give a demonstration of stone carving and how a spinner was used to make hand-spun yarn in the 18th century. Arlene Mackey showed how the smokehouse was used for outdoor cooking.

Unlike their ancestors, the Gaffney High students had warm coats and a heated bus to ride for a motorized tour tracing the route Morgan took to fight in the Battle of Cowpens. The battle is considered a turning point in the American Revolutionary War.

The education program was another step towards increasing students’ and adults’ knowledge about Cherokee County, said Elizabeth Ivey, who helps oversee Leadership Cherokee.

“The Leadership Cherokee class consists of individuals with demonstrated leadership abilities who want to increase their knowledge of the community, become more involved in community activities and improve their leadership skills,” Ivey said.