Past is Present, presented by Sumter Museum: A year of sharing Sumter's homegrown history

"Oftentimes, young folk are kind of shy to tread water. They think they might drown. We need to do more pointing out to young folk from whence we've come.We need to do more of that, but first of all, you got to know the history yourself. And if you don't know the history, you got to know where it is."

History, as Jim Felder explained, is not something stumbled upon by chance. Oftentimes, we pass by the very structures that scribed our beginnings and shake hands with the people who paved paths to a world of possibilities and have little knowledge of their role in our legacy. History is vast, and it must be sought, pointed out and carried forward with intention.

During 11 months in 2025, Past is Present set out to do just that. To trace Sumter's history beyond the pages of textbooks, the gloss of plaques and the collection of memories.

February marks a year of the series putting a voice to the character of the community. To show how its residents, both native and newcomer, across demographics and generations have shaped and continue to honor Sumter's diverse past.

The process became personal. As the only home I've ever known, returning to Sumter after college felt similar to being a stranger in my own house. Changes were plentiful - vibrant artwork, new eateries and niche businesses - but the feeling of familiarity was fleeting. Which is why sitting across from those who lived the history and those dedicated to preserving it revealed just how much of Sumter's story lives quietly in the corners of our county. And there's no better way to tell a story of where you come from than with a local lens and a longing to connect to your roots -geographically and generationally.

Midway through 2025, Sumter Museum joined the series as its presenting sponsor, helping to extend its reach to the greater Sumter community and beyond. Annie Rivers, executive director of the museum, said she enjoyed the series because of the variety of figures and facades that were featured, from facilities operated under the museum to heartfelt sitdowns with prominent figures like Felder to sharing the stories of Sumter that often go untold.

Which is why the partnership will continue through 2026, further strengthening the shared mission of education, preservation and connection.

"We are honored to support The Item's Past is Present series," Rivers shared. "Connecting Sumter's past, present and future is at the heart of our mission, and we commend The Item for shining a light on important local stories and community voices."

The people featured and places explored held memories that were mile markers for childhoods, like Lincoln High School. As told by Deloris Pringle, a graduate of the historic Lincoln High School, the school served as a safe haven for children. It was a place where despite the disparities during a time of segregation, its teachers, administrators and students were determined to empower each other using knowledge. It equipped them with tools and tenacity to look at glass ceilings as a challenge worth conquering rather than an obstacle meant to defeat them.

They carried a sense of belonging, like Temple Sinai. Stewarded by Diana Roof, site manager of the temple, the synagogue stands as both a sanctuary and a storyteller. Its stained-glass windows, Yahrzeit wall and exhibits share Sumter's Jewish history, its connections to growing Sumter's culture and economy and its diligence to remain an inclusive space for the community to learn, connect and grow together.

And beyond brick facades and sanctuaries, the series stretched into the rural plains of the county, all the way to the 521 All-Stars baseball field. As lived by Tommy English, pitcher for the All Stars, and former team owner Leroy Dennis, the story of the 521 All-Stars is one of pride in where you stay and discipline to endure. Opportunities on the Carolina-clay field were self-made and witnessed by families, neighbors and travelers. Their teamwork and respect for the game and for each other symbolized the understanding of what it takes to build something that will outlive its founders, of how legacy doesn't always live in four walls. It lives within sacred memories etched in the remains of what was and, one day, what it can become.

It's these features and so many more throughout the year that showcased how Sumter's identity, diversity and longevity resides in the people and places who filled gaps and defied odds without having to be asked. The desire wasn't to make history but to make room for what naysayers deemed impossible and prove them wrong.

Revisiting history also revealed how easily it can slip away from view. Familiar buildings become the background to our daily routines. Names once spoken in high regard become passing references. Without care, without intention, without diligence, the distance between generations only grows until it feels worlds apart.

Past is Present offered a bridge. It connected past decisions to present-day realities. It reminded us that yesterday's vision paved the way for today's possibilities. It welcomed natives and newcomers to the community into a shared responsibility we have to uphold and carry this Sumter history forward.

For without it, there is no us.