Reflections by Sammy Way: The origin of Bland's Pond

Reflections recalls the beginning of what is known as the Iris Gardens. In 1927, H.C. Bland, who managed Ford Motor Co., illustrated his love for gardening by purchasing a landfill from F.M. Cain. According to Dr. Anne King Gregorie, this small fishing pond, along with some additional lots on the outskirts of Sumter, would be transformed into a destination for thousands of flower lovers who made annual visits. Information and photos were obtained from The Sumter Item archives and the writings of Gregorie and Cassie Nicholes.

Richard Bradford "…established a saw mill on the spot now known as Swan Lake Gardens. The stream that provided water for First Mill and the Blanding Pond is known as Shot Pouch." An article appearing in The Sumter Daily Item in August 1927 noted, "Mr. H.C. Bland had completed a great deal of work at First Mill. This labor included the planting of Japanese irises and flowering trees, which he planned to convert into an aquatic garden. The lake and surrounding garden which comprise 21 acres were converted into one of the beauty spots of South Carolina."

Mary Cuttino Snyder published the following. "Bland was born in 1882 in Mayesville. He was a frail boy who spent most of his years between 7 and 17 in a wheelchair. He was able to attend Furman University in 1904-05. In 1901, Bland owned the third car in South Carolina and the first in Sumter. He also built a car from scrap in 1910 with the help of Phineas Barno. His business career started in a corner of his father's store in Mayesville, where Hamilton made jewelry and repaired watches. In 1917, he moved to Sumter and started selling automobiles, first Hudson-Essex, the Oldsmobiles, Saxons, Kissel cars, Roamers and the Milburn Electric cars. In 1922, Bland obtained the Ford franchise. He purchased a fish pond three miles from Sumter on the Pinewood-Wedgefield highway known as First Mill. Bland had in mind not only fishing, but also development of the pond as a garden and bird sanctuary. Unable to grow some Japanese iris at a garden near his home on Hampton Avenue, he threw the bulbs away near the pond as trash, and they flourished ever since. Bland also bought two black swans and had them shipped from their native Australia. After this, he purchased two white swans from New York. The gardens were believed to be first opened to the public in 1936, with visitors coming from five foreign countries that year. A.T. Heath (of Carolina Coca Cola) gave the city of Sumter the lands south of Bland's original 38-acre garden, and Bland supervised the design and planting of this acreage. Bland left his gardens to the city for the enjoyment of all. In 1995, Sumter businessman Jimmy Duffie donated the access bridge. Mr. Bland died in 1967."