What are your thoughts and personal memories on how she helped shape Newberry and the community?
To set the stage, the 70’s—90’s were difficult on small towns and rural communities across the country as thousands of factories closed. In Newberry, textile mills closed, including in one month during the 1980’s, two mills closed in one month, one in Newberry and one in Prosperity, and there was a slow-down in the timber industry. Unemployment in Newberry County went to 16% and the New York Times came to Newberry and wrote a story about the economic set-backs of Newberry County.
Downtown, numerous businesses closed and then some others went to the Wilson Road area. It looked like Newberry’s best days were behind it.
Leaders in Newberry said we have to do something different. Dr. Wiseman, thank you, initiated the effort to renovate and re-open the Opera House. With Newberry down on its luck, enter Deborah Smith. What a difficult task from Day 1. Though Newberry has always been a welcoming and friendly, here was Deborah, originally of Connecticut, when the majority of people here were from Newberry County and most others were Southern; Deborah, a female leader, in which most leaders in Newberry County had always been male, telling everyone this old, worn-down Opera House, could turn this whole town and county around.
As Deborah and the Opera House Foundation made their plan, most people in Newberry County had great doubts of its success. A life-long Newberrian, who later became great friends with Deborah, said the first-time he heard Deborah speak was at a board meeting of the Newberry County Development Board and Chamber of Commerce. Deborah told the board of the plan, and when she left, he said he turned to another long-time board member and said, “This will never work.”
But Deborah, who was undaunted, had great attributes. She was smart, talented, creative, determined, an incredibly hard worker, and I believe most importantly of all, she had a big heart and she cared.
She poured everything she had into the Opera House, in building renovations, building a staff and operations, fundraising, networking, marketing. The Opera House opened in 1998, and the shape of Newberry began to change immediately. People came to Newberry and downtown. Community spirit was lifted. National media came to Newberry again---but this time not to report on the demise of another small town but rejuvenation with the opening and success of the Newberry Opera House.
Deborah cared not only about the Opera House but business, jobs, and small businesses and the people who owned them. Under Deborah’s leadership, the Opera House and Foundation also worked on economic development, helping recruit new industry to Newberry to replace lost jobs, and helped Newberry gain new manufactures that employ hundreds of people today with companies like Komatsu.
Deborah cared about small businesses and downtown businesses. Steve Foulis said when he walked in the Opera House, first person he met was Deborah, and the Opera House was pretty much in shambles as renovations were just getting started. Deborah and Dr. Wiseman saw the important of having restaurants downtown with the Opera House to support each other. They went on to recruit Steve to open Steven W’s in Newberry and recruited other restaurants over the years.
Steve says he remembers in the beginning, Deborah brought Tony Randall into Steven W’s. Steve wasn’t open that day, but he cooked as he normally would, and Mr. Randall had a great time. Second time he came to the Opera House, he told Steve, “You guys have done great. Last time I was here, there was no one here.” He didn’t know Steve had opened special for him the first time and the second time the restaurant was actually opened.. Steve talked about how Deborah supported his restaurant and others and introducing entertainers like Lou Rawls, Glenn Campbell, Roy Clark to Newberry which made the city grow.
Randy Berry, who owned a bookstore, said he called Pat Conroy one day and asked him to do a book signing for his new book. Mr. Conroy told Randy he only did book signings in Newberry with Deborah Smith at the Opera House. Randy said Deborah set his bookstore up many times with book signings to help his business, for example selling over 300 books one day with Doretha Benton Frank at the Opera House.
Deborah wanted every storefront downtown to be filled, every small business to be successful, not only for the good of Newberry but because she cared.
And one of Deborah’s greatest gifts to Newberry was the increase for social opportunities, be it going to a show and a night out or in other ways. For example, Deborah and the Opera House formed the Guild and the Ambassadors. #1, both groups greatly helped the Opera House. But secondly, over the years it gave hundreds of people the chance to be involved, to be social and to make friends. Deborah knew that, and I know it was important to her.
About 2 weeks before Deborah passed away, I saw her and had a nice visit at Newberry’s first International Festival. That Saturday was the epitome of Deborah. First and foremost, she was friend Deborah as she was helping her friend Lilla, at her table for Iceland. She was educational Deborah, as wearing a hat that said Iceland, explained to festival attendees with great enthusiasm, the display items from Iceland. She was also supportive and ambassador Deborah, visiting with at other tables, complimenting people and promoting the festival and Newberry.
I asked three local historians is Deborah Smith one of the most consequential Newberrians in its modern history? The all said yes and absolutely. Deborah was an amazing person and helped shape Newberry for decades to come. Thank you Deborah and Deborah’s family.
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