VERNON GRANT Early Life and Retirement Exhibits

EARLY LIFE LAYOUT

VERNON GRANT: EARLY LIFE Vernon was born April 26 th, 1902 in Coldridge, Nebraska, a small farming community. Vernon Grant’s family then moved to Blackhills, South Dakota by 1905 and became homesteaders. By the age of four Vernon announced he wanted to become an artist. With the help of his cousin, and first art teacher Nellie Grant, Vernon began to receive training in the fundamentals of design, composition, color and other art basics, by The earliest preserved artistic work was completed in 1910, at age 8, A Windmill and Pond.

EARLY 1900S ART SUPPLIES These supplies would be similar to what Vernon Grant was using while growing up. Photo Courtesy of: National Trust of Australia

LIFE ON THE FARM Vernon and his brother Glen enjoy a game of croquette Photo courtesy of: York County Historical Society

ACCOMPLISHMENTS By 1917, after moving with the family to Wasco, California, Vernon wins First Prize Blue Ribbon for Art at the County Fair. After graduating High School in 1921, Vernon enrolls in University of California for day classes and Otis Art Institute at night. By 1923 Vernon enrolled in the Chicago Art Institute and graduated in 1928.

RETIREMENT LAYOUT

VERNON GRANT: RETIREMENT By 1947 Vernon had had enough of the competitive field of advertising and moved his family from New York City, to Rock Hill, South Carolina, his wife’s hometown. In Rock Hill, the Grants bought a 670 acre farm and raised Aberdeen Angus cattle and Concord Grapes. Aside from painting, farming was Vernon’s next love. In 1959 Vernon took over the Rock Hill Chamber of Commerce, as Executive Director. Vernon helped revitalize downtown during his tenure on the Chamber of Commerce.

Along with revitalizing downtown, Vernon also came up with the concept of the new layout for downtown. For this new layout, Vernon went home during Christmas break and drew his Fantasy Rock Hill. After presenting the new layout idea to the Chamber of Commerce the new layout proceeded. By the time the new Rock Hill was getting started Vernon left the Executive Director of Chamber of Commerce seat and took up the Housing Authority. It was during his time on the Chamber of Commerce that they adopted the idea of Come See Me Festival. which was born between Vernon and ex-state Senator C. H. “Icky” Albright.

Photo Courtesy of: York County Historical Center

CHRISTMASVILLE Vernon Grant had done so much for the City of Rock Hill that the city felt as if he had actually been a citizen of Rock Hill his entire life, and therefore made him their “adopted son”. As a way to pay tribute to the wonderful work he had done, and the inspiring artwork he left to the York County Museum, the city in 2006 started Christmasville. Christmasville showcases all 34 of Vernon’s Santa paintings. Christmasville transports the citizens to a simpler time where carolers stroll down main street dressed in Charles Dickens attire. The mascot of Christmasville is Grant the Gnome

SANTA CLAUS Photo Courtesy of: York County Historical Center Since his first art teacher, Nellie, gave him a picture of Santa Claus to draw, Vernon has had a particular fondness for the Jolly man in the Red Coat. After his first commission to draw a Santa for Ladies’ Home Journal in 1932, since then Vernon created a new Christmas Scene for Christmas cards to send out to family and friends, until 1984 which would be the last new original Christmas card produced by Vernon, due to health and age related issues and not believe to be able to produce the quality he was used to.

COME SEE ME Vernon and Glen the Frog. Photo courtesy of: York County Historical Center

COME SEE ME Come See Me Festival was an idea thought of between Vernon Grant and C. H. “Icky” Albright and brought to life in 1961, about inviting out of towners to see how pretty the town of Rock Hill was during springtime. The original mascot for Come See Me was and Owl, but this was replaced in 1964 with “Glen the Frog”. Vernon claims that while walking through the newly renovated Glencairn Gardens, he spotted a frog and started to talk to him, the frog told Vernon his name and Vernon asked Glen if he wanted to be the symbol for the Come See Me Festival since he epitomized what Spring represents.

SOURCES Brumley, Al. “Dreamer’ Made History,” The Hearld. Accessed June 28, Grant Family Photos. York County Historical Center. Accessed June 28, Miller, Allan M. “Vernon Grant Biographical Outline.” Accessed June 28, NZMuseums. “Artists Paint Tin; c. early 1900.” Accessed July 7,

Opinion. “Rock Hill pays tribute to favorite ‘adopted son’.” The Herald. November 9, Perlmutt, David. “Artist’s Yuletide Gifts: Santa Scenes Captured Spirit of Christmas.” Charlotte Observer. November 30, Vernon Grant. “Vernon Grant.” Accessed June 28, Williams, Linda D. “Vernon Grant: His Life and His Work.” November 5, 1988.