Blackville Barn

In this photograph, a colorful barn near Blackville evokes a small town tranquility not unknown to many South Carolinians. The purple martin nesting gourds are a common sight in South Carolina, and although we’ve now grown accustomed to seeing Exxon signs, Esso signs like the one featured on this barn were more prevalent several decades ago.

The Esso trade name was based on Standard Oil’s initials (S-O) and although it has not been used in America since 1972, Esso is still the most widely used ExxonMobil trade name internationally. Clemson University alumni and fans frequent the popular Esso Club in Clemson.