History

During the Great Depression this Valley was said to be the second largest pocket of poverty in the United States. About 18- miles long, the Valley is composed of numerous unincorporated textile mill towns.

Msgr. George L. Smith, the pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aiken, enlisted the aid of wealthy residents to build a mission center in the neighboring valley.In 1939, the Horse Creek Valley Handicraft and Welfare Center (later known as Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Center) became the first social service agency in Horse Creek Valley.The center was staffed by Sisters of Christian Doctrine who taught kindergarten and visited homes to care for the sick. They formed groups to provide service and recreational programs for all ages.

Since the last textile mill here closed its doors in 2006, the services of the Center are needed more than ever. Trained largely for work in the mills, valley residents have become more isolated from the larger society by increasing poverty and a need for new skills.

In addition to caring for the poor, sick, and elderly members of the community, the Center staff has been working to develop programs to address the needs of those undereducated and unprepared workers to join the modern workforce.

Though programs have adapted to meet the needs of changing times, the Center remains a focal point of service for valley residents.