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.JPG) The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor has approved 9 grants
totaling $169,900 to non-profit organizations within the 14-county
federally designated heritage area to promote economic development
through tourism projects. |
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Commission approved funding for Rural Transportation Enhancement projects across the state at a July 22nd meeting in Columbia.Federal regulations provide that a certain portion of federal highway dollars be used exclusively for beautification and enhancement purposes. "The Transportation Enhancement Program facilitates the establishment of partnerships between SCDOT and local governments aimed at improving our state through non-traditional transportation projects," SCDOT Executive Director Elizabeth Mabry said. Twenty projects totaling $2.8 million were awarded inside the 14 counties of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, a congressionally designated national heritage area that runs from the mountains of Oconee County to Charleston. The mission of the Heritage Corridor is to advance sustainable development of natural, cultural, and historical resources for enhanced quality of life and economic revitalization of communities. "The missions of our programs certainly compliment each other," stated Michelle McCollum, Executive Director of the Heritage Corridor. "Successful communities have learned to identify and develop the things that make them unique and what makes communities unique most often is our built environment, our culture and our history. Our programs are assisting with this type of development." Heritage Corridor grants are awarded to local governments and non-profit organizations for planning, product development and regional marketing efforts. Grant information is available on the Corridor website www.sc-heritagecorridor.org. |
Hi folks! Calhoun the Raccoon here with an eyewitness, front page cover story of my journey with the staff of the SCNHC as they took a Familiarization Tour of the Mountain Lakes Region.Word travels fast and with my connections, I soon learned of this trip that Elizabeth Harm, Development Manager, was working on. As soon as I caught wind of her final plans, I knew I had to tag along! On October 11, I jumped in my traveling trunk and joined Elizabeth Harm, Devon Harris, Marketing and Grant Manager; Jairus Dayton-Garris, African American Tourism Development Manager; Anna Friar, Educational Coordinator; Whitney Ellis, Tourism Supervisor Region 2 Discovery Center; and Crystal Arnold, Region 2 Community Program Specialist Region 2. Elizabeth had even packed extra snacks for my long trip, which I must admit was an extraordinary cuisine compared to myusual trash can all-you-can eat buffet. When we arrived in Pickens County, I knew the girls were in for a real treat. They began at Collins Old Towne, traveled to Southern Wesleyan University and received a grand tour of Freedom's Hill Church by Marian Vischer, and ended with the history of Pickens County at the Pickens County Museum. After a light lunch, we headed for a tour of Hagood Mill. The day ended with a expedition around Table Rock State Park and nesting in one of the cabins where things go "bump" in the night. Early the next morning, we gathered for breakfast and headed into Oconee County. This would be a full day of adventure for all of us. We traveled to Oconee Station State Historic Site, then grabbed our flashlights and entered the dark passageway of Stumphouse Tunnel. We then viewed the beauty of Isaqueena Falls which was one of my favorites. We also visited The Kudzu Barn where incredible items were made from Kudzu. Next, we went to New Hope Farm and Gardens, enjoyed shopping in Downtown Seneca, dipped our feet in the water at Chau Ram County Park, and ended with an evening at Magnolia Manor Bed and Breakfast. We were all exhausted, but still anticipating our final day of adventure. Our final day of discovery began with a tour John C. Calhoun's birthplace, Fort Hill. Next we went to Old Stone Church, Pendleton's St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Ashtabula Plantation, and explored downtown Pendleton beginning at Hunter's Store. We visited Split Creek Goat Farm to pet the animals, and met Carolyn, a 250 pound pot bellied pig. It was nice seeing all of my buddies and catching up on all the gossip. Our day ended at the Anderson County Museum where we learned about Anderson's history. We then hit the road and headed for home in Edgefield. I can't tell you just how much I enjoyed our adventure of Region 1 and all of the staff of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor. I am counting down the days to our next journey. I will bring you the entire scoop of what the staff of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor discovers and hope you take a few discovery trips of your own! Calhoun
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From old slave spirituals to bustling Jazz and heartrending Blues; since the beginning of Africans in America oral tradition has been a primary venue to communicate and preserve the history of the African American experience. The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor and the South Carolina Poetry Initiative will carry on this vibrant tradition in the 2005 African American Poetry series. The series will last for five months, traveling the entire length of the Corridor, beginning and ending in the Lowcountry of Region 4. Each location on the series will feature two poets that will explore the site and write poems reflecting the history, heritage, and total ambiance of the site. The poets will devise lesson plans that teach the art of poetry and help students, visitors, and the community appreciate the historical significance of the site. At the performances there will be traditional food, festive music, and of course the poets reciting their poetry and guiding visitors through the site. The poems will be collected in a chapbook and made available at the end of the series. The series will return to Charleston in May for a culmination of the event. This will be grand celebration commemorating the heritage of nearly sixty percent of the enslaved Africans who entered the United States. This grand event will bring to the fore the work of many artists and poets and will be a gala event for all to enjoy. |
The year 2004 Upcountry Folklife Festival will soon be upon us. Because the festival was cancelled in September due to Hurricane Ivan, the Pickens County Cultural Commission, the Upcountry Folklife Festival Committee and the staff at the Pickens County Museum of Art & History are as busy as ever with preparations for this much anticipated Rain date. This wonderful celebration of music, food, traditional arts and living history will spring to life in the shadow of the historic Hagood Mill beginning at 10:00 a.m. and continuing after nightfall on Saturday, November 20. In addition to the Ol' Time Music Competitions, with cash prizes, for fiddle, OT banjo, guitar, “jr. fiddle” (16 yrs. & under), and old time string band, we will again host the old time competition to determine the 2004 "Fiddler of the Mill" title. The theme for the 2004 Upcountry Folklife Festival is “Passing On Our Traditions”, featuring a wonderful array of musicians, craftspersons and artisans working to keep their family and cultural traditions alive by passing that knowledge to future generations. A key ingredient in this year’s event is the participation of musicians involved with the Carolina Old Time Music Network, including the Blue Ridge Rounders, with master fiddler, Bob Buckingham. The day’s line-up will also include the vintage string band, Carolina Tune Croppers and upcountry favorites from Kathy and the Leftovers. A very special taste of afternoon bluegrass will feature the Oolenoy Valley Bluegrass with teen music sensation, Amanda Faye Foster. Also throughout the day, visitors will enjoy a peppering of old time and gospel performances from Jean Laney Harris SC Folk Heritage Award winning musicians such as Nick Hallman & the Nickpickers, The Jackson Brothers, and blues guitar and bones from the father and son team of Slick & Steve McGaha. A new “old” feature this year will be “The Swapping Ground”, a sharing place for story, music and craft. Gather ‘round the hay bales in the shade of the great walnut trees to enjoy and learn, first hand, the old traditions of music, dance and crafts including ‘limberjack’ demonstrations, banjo origins and traditions, dulcimer & fiddle demonstrations, primitive musical instruments show & tell, fishing with baskets, and many more. Native American drum, dance and lore will take center stage as Bob Chastain of the Cherokee People, will host an array of Native demonstrations including dance, beading and weaving with Paige Chastain; fingerweaving and beadwork with Bob Grumbles. Marnie Parker and Debbie Grieg will talk about the dress of Cherokee women and the education of Cherokee girls. Pat Langley will demonstrate Eastern Woodlands Beadwork and Virgil Ellison, a full-blood Navaho, will discuss Native American Culture. The Cherokee dance troupe of “Gray Eyes” Jones will also be coming down from Tennessee to complete a great offering of Native fare in celebration of November being Native American month. The Foothills Chapter of the SC Archaeological Society will be present with a booth to discuss their mission and to identify at no charge locally found prehistoric artifacts, so bring out those “arrowheads” and find out from the experts what type & how old they are! This year’s festival will once again feature a wide variety of living history, traditional arts and folklife presentations. Enjoy split oak basket weaving with The McKinley Family and make pine needle or kudzu baskets along with Nancy Basket. See traditional quilting with the Upcountry Quilters, old time woodworking with Ike Carpenter and black pot lye soap making with Maree Dowdey. Learn all about milling with demonstrations from miller, Alan Warner, as he runs the 1845 gristmill, with its’ 20 ft. overshot wooden waterwheel, at one of the oldest mills still producing grain products in SC. Experience trader “Griz” with his lovely Native wife at the Old Bear Blacksmith Shop. Demonstrations will include spinning, tin-punching, 18th century pioneer weaving with Jan Perry, Uncle Walt Dillon’s toymaking, woodcarving with Cliff Grossenbaugh and Olon Ferguson. Watch as 4th generation chair maker Max Woody shows off his artistry, alongside bonnet makers, flint knappers, and a host of good ol’ folks churning butter, crocheting, making bobbinlace, cooking on an open hearth, telling stories, digging bowls and carving spoons, pressing apples and much, much more. Laugh along with Bob Daniels, whose family legend says is the great-grandson of Sitting Bull, as he delights young and old with his rope tricks and stories. Share with the Perry Family as they reveal their knowledge ranging from mountain livin’ to moonshine makin’. Experience the rustic old time ways of living such as washing your clothes in a black kettle over an open fire down by the river. You’ll see 18th century artisans creating the items necessary for day-to-day life and have the chance to experience Jack Lombard’s demonstrations of how the mountain pioneers used oxen to work the land and how working animals were a part of everyday life. Walk the “Old Mill-Run Trail” and see the reproduced pre-contact Cherokee Homesite and the rustic covered bridge. All the while you will be able to enjoy a variety of tantalizing upcountry cookin’, including specialty lollipops, kettle popcorn, ole time elixirs, fresh pressed apple cider, hot dogs, curly fries, homemade ice cream, mule ear pies, roasted corn, boiled and roasted peanuts, funnel cakes, shaved ice, home-baked goods and; of course, barbeque sandwiches and plates with all the fixins. And just when you think the day is done, and darkness falls, some of the best storytellers around, including “Ole Hairy Toe” John Fowler, “Doc” E. W. Rabon and “Trickster” Dean Watson, gather to share their “Lamplightin’ Stories at the Cabin”. All this and more at the beautiful old Hagood Mill, The price of admission to this fundraiser benefiting the Pickens County Museum is only $ 7.00 per person ($ 5.00 for card carrying members of the Pickens County Museum) for a full day of events (Children under 12 can get in for free when accompanied by an adult.) For more information, contact the Pickens County Museum at (864) 898-5963. The Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Duke Power and The Gravely Law Firm, P.A. are sponsoring the 2004 Upcountry Folklife Festival. The project is also funded in part by a grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Mark your calendars now for November 20 and make plans to attend. The Hagood Mill is three miles north of Pickens or 5 ˝ miles south of Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy 11 off SC Hwy 178 on Hagood Mill Road. For more information please call the Pickens County Museum at (864) 898-5963. Remember - bring your lawn chairs! |
 November
the 20th is a BIG day at the Joanne T. Rainsford Heritage Center! It is
the Agricultural Festival as well as our first Christmas Open House. The
Christmas Open House is going to be GRAND!! Santa Claus was invited and
plans to visit that day for a few hours to hear a reading of the Night
Before Christmas and a Gullah Night Before Christmas.18th and 19th century re-enactors will demonstrate what is was like to live in that era. Antique tractors and old farm equipment will be on display. There will be a Bake Sale and a Pumpkin Pie and Sweet Potato pie contest. Cat Fish Stew will be for sale as well as hot dogs for the kids. The Farm Bureau will be giving out free ice cream to all children. South Carolina Football fans come early! Clemson University is donating 100 footballs to the first 100 Tiger fans and the University of South Carolina is donating 100 water bottles to the first 100 Gamecock fans. |
 Space
for Rose Hill Estate about Tours |
