The Southern Edge Magazine - Winter 2019

THE L AST SU ND AY DRIVE

Time Travel Down a Western South Carolina Back Road

CHANG ING THE W O RLD ONE AM AZING AC CO M P L ISHMENT AT A TIME An Interview with Tom Mullikin

REVIVING A L O ST ART: The Rustic Elegance of Smithey Ironware

F O L L O W U S on S O C I A L M E D I A the_southern_edge

The Southern Edge Magazine thesouthernedgemagazine.com

THE

southernE D G E Philosophy

A MODERN APPROACH TO CAROLINA LIVING

We believe the idea of tradition is ingrained in the souls of Southerners. We have a relentless respect for our deep heritage and an unwavering dedication to living out the traditions of the past.

We believe tradition can be honored while simultaneously welcoming contemporary thought and style and that there is a movement to merge these two lifestyles through intentional, healthy and meaningful living.

We believe happiness is rooted in simplicity. If our minds and places are free of clutter, there is more room for things that matter.

We believe local is better. It’s about being a part of a larger community. It’s about connecting with

those who grow, catch, brew and create our food and that closer means fresher, tastier and healthier.

It’s choosing fruits and vegetables in season, drinking wines from vineyards in the region, seeking out the work of local artisans and supporting independent, locally owned stores.

We believe in leaving a positive fingerprint. The measure of our success will be the condition on which we leave the world for the next generation.

We believe these thoughts embody the emergence of the “New South” and we’re honored to be presenting this movement in our pages.

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

CONTENTS LIFE

HEART

8-13: THE LAST SUNDAY DRIVE Time Travel Down a Western South Carolina Back Road

58-63: LIBERIA, SOUTH CAROLINA An African American Community in the South Carolina Mountains

14-17: STONES in the WOODS

66-69: THE BARBADOS - CAROLINA CONNECTION

20-24: FAMOUSLY HOT NEW YEAR

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INNOVATION

30-35: CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE AMAZINE ACCOMPLISHMENT at a TIME An Interview with Tom Mullikin 38-39: TOP GOLF If You're Going Out, Go Out Swinging

FLAVOR

WELLNESS 72-76: 'TIS THE SEASON to be HEALTHY Colorful Recipes for Winter Health

44-53: REVIVING a LOST ART: The Rustic Elegance of Smithey Ironware

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LETTER from the EDITOR Michelle McCollum

Winter is bookmarked by a season of thanksgiving and a season of renewal, and what lies between these most popular of times are a few months of colorless, cold days. Well, colorless once the remnants of Christmas are packed away.

And, let’s be honest; many of us pack up our good moods along with the décor. We hunker down and wait until the signs of Spring arrive, giving us permission, of sorts, to get back outdoors.

But winter has its purpose and we should embrace the season. The sights and sounds of winter give us a unique perspective of the world. The forest may be absent of leaves but take a winter stroll and see how active the woods are in the wintertime. And, snow. Wow. Just wow. When we are lucky enough to experience this gift of winter, it renews the soul. To me, there is nothing more beautiful than seeing a cardinal against the backdrop of freshly fallen snow. For me, it’s a God wink. In her book, Tell the Wolves I’m Home, Carola Rifka Brunt sums it up perfectly; “There’s just something beautiful about walking on snow that nobody else has walked on. It makes you believe you’re special.”

And, it does, doesn’t it?

As a child, I threatened my younger brother with an oldfashioned sibling woopin' if he walked through our yard to get to the neighborhood sledding hill. I convinced him to make one trail to the edge of the yard and to use those same footsteps coming and going. Why? Because there is something beautiful about untouched snow. Plus, I took great pride in the fact that our yard held on to the snow a little longer than everyone else’s. (Sorry, Matthew, for being such a snow tyrant.) But, you live and you learn and now I understand it’s more important to build a snowman.

In this issue we have included some great tips for embracing the season. We’re warm-blooded Southerners, but don’t let the cold scare you. Sure, fires, cozy blankets and a warm cup of hot chocolate will put up a hard fight to convince you to stay indoors. But bundle up and get outdoors this winter.

Your body and mind will thank you.

And, this year I hope you get to build a snowman.

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SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Don Alexander

Bob Alexander

Bobbi Kennedy

Ken Durham

Donna Livingston

Rhoda Green

Neal Workman

Pete Weathers

SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR Publisher Profits from The Southern Edge will go back into the preservation, conservation, and environmental educational programs of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor.

Michelle McCollum CEO & Editor in Chief Anna Joyner Artistic Director & Production Manager

National Heritage Areas are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to tell nationally significant stories.

SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR

Yuka Greer Managing Editor & Operations Director Abbey Stevens Editorial Assistant

Santa and Sloan / Myrtle Beach, SC Photographer: Brooke Christl

CONTRIBUTORS

PHIL GAINES WRITER Phil Gaines is a Professor of Practice in the Parks Recreation and Tourism Management Department at Clemson University. Phil completed a 37year career in State Parks in 2018.

He began his career in parks as an entry level Park Ranger at Kings Mountain State Park and served as Park Superintendent at three different state parks. Phil served as Director of South Carolina State Parks for 13 years.

JANE JENKINS HERLONG WRITER Jane Jenkins Herlong is a Sirius XM Humorist, bestselling/award-winning author, professional singer, recording artist and professional Southern humorist. A recent inductee into the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame, Jane is the best-selling author of four books. A former Miss America contestant, Jane’s award-winning singing and comedy is featured on Sirius XM Radio, Spotify and Pandora Internet Radio. Jane is the bestselling author of four books and a professional Southern humorist.

For speaking engagements visitjaneherlong.com

TOM POLAND JOHN M. COGGESHALL HERB FRAZIER WRITER A SOUTHERN WRITER WRITER John was born in Tom grew up in Lincoln County, Herb has spent a Boston but raised in St. Louis.

Georgia, and graduated from lifetime telling important stories, the University of Georgia with He received his BA from first as a newspaper journalist Southern Illinois Universitydegrees in Journalism and and now as Public Relations Edwardsville and Southern Education. He taught at the Director at Magnolia Plantation University of Georgia, Columbia Illinois University-Carbondale and Gardens. He has traveled College, and the University for his Ph.D in Anthropology. the world leading journalism After a brief period of teaching workshops as well as international of South Carolina. He writes about nature and the South at Radford University (Virginia), reporting on historically significant he came to Clemson University and its people, traditions, and stories. Herb is a member of in 1988 and has been there lifestyles. His work appears in the Gullah Geechee Cultural ever since. He is a Professor of books and magazines, journals, Heritage Corridor Commission, and newspapers throughout the Anthropology at the Department a Congressionally mandated of Sociology, Anthropology, and South. He’s a member of the SC commission which advocates for Humanities Speaker’s Bureau.

Criminal Justice at Clemson. the preservation of Gullah Geeche In October 2018, Governor His interests include American culture along the coastal areas of regional and folk groups and Henry McMaster conferred the North Carolina, South Carolina, sense of place in southern Order of the Palmetto upon Tom. Georgia & Florida. Herb is the He lives in Columbia, South Appalachia. He is publisher of author of "Behind God's Back: several significant publications Carolina.

Gullah Memories" and co-author and is currently working on a of "We are Charleston: Tragedy new book manuscript "There's and Triumph at Mother Emanuel".

Something in these Hills".

His forthcoming book, "Crossing the Sea on a Sacred Song" is the story of an African funeral song that links a woman in Georgia with a woman in Sierra Leone.

GEORGE W. McDANIEL – WRITER

George W. McDaniel has devoted his professional life to historic preservation and education.

Currently he is President of McDaniel Consulting, LLC, which offers strategic services to museums and historical organizations. In 2016 he retired after 26 years as Executive Director of Drayton Hall in Charleston, SC. Today he is a frequent speaker at public and professional programs, and has a popular Facebook and website, Mcdanielconsulting.net, which feature his recent work. In 2018 Drayton Hall named a building in its new visitors’ center, the George W. McDaniel Education Center.

He is consistently kept in the real world by his wife of 38 years, Mary Sue Nunn McDaniel, a former teacher.

JAMES SAXON WRITER

James ( Jamie) Saxon is a Red Hills and Cotton native of the South Carolina Upcountry, to which he returned after a couple of decades in other places. A graduate of Furman University, the University of South Carolina, and the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University, he has been a college administrator, worked in private practice and public service, and currently is Associate Probate Judge for Anderson County. He loves books, jazz, food, friends, Labs, and his crazy southern family.

PATTY BENNETT FLORIST & GARDENER

Patty has built a career from her passion of design and “all things flowers." A master gardener and florist, Patty designs everything from interior pieces to outdoor vignettes to full-scale wedding venues. Aside from her work with Linda’s Flower Shop in Anderson, SC, she loves spending time with family, especially her two wonderful grandchildren.

NIKI MIZE PHOTOGRAPHER

Owner of MFarmHouse Photography, Niki has a passion for photography and loves to capture “unposed” moments. She loves to look through the lens and find an angle which some may not see and turn it into something beautiful. Not only does she have a passion for photography, but she enjoys being with her husband and two children on their growing farm.

MAYUMIFOOD ADVISOR

Mayumi is an anti-aging food adviser from Anti-Aging Food Association based in Tokyo. She lives in South Carolina with her husband and her daughter.

Mayumi spreads the philosophy of healthy eating through her cooking classes.

a f r t m x e a n d r v u e o n y t u n r a l e P AT S C F A R M F U N . O R G

In every season SC Agritourism offers you a new experience, from choose n’ cut Christmas trees to farm & culinary tours, trail rides, wineries, botanical gardens, farm stores, other year-round family friendly activities, and so much more!

L I F E

Photo by Crush Rush

Sunday Drive THE LAST

People find themselves in a mad race against time today, and a driver who dawdles is a “Sunday driver,” but dawdling was the order of the day when the drive was the destination.

TIME TRAVEL DOWN A WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA BACK ROAD Words and Editorial Photos by Tom Poland

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n the 1950s and ’60s, families would make a Sunday drive to see the land up close, banish boredom, and cool off with 460 air conditioning—roll all four windows down and drive 60 miles per hour. Drives back then were fun. Not today. Interstates and ever-widening highways don’t give you much to see as you rush from point to point.

Daily commutes, traffic jams, roads forever under construction, and phone-distracted drivers ruin driving as well. A Sunday drive, however, resurrects the joy in aimless driving.

Resurrect A Tradition—The tank is full, so make a Sunday drive with me down western South Carolina back roads. In short order, we’ll see what yesteryear’s Sunday drivers saw; experience life as they saw it. For instance, times when you could drive a back road and see a barn with its roof turned into an ad. “See Rock City.” Today, it’s rare to come across a barn declaring “See 7 States from Rock City, ” that roadside attraction in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. You can still see a Rock City barn, however, on Highway 28 between McCormick and Abbeville.

Weathered, with boards missing, and gaping holes, the old barn stands as a museum, South Carolina’s sole Rock City barn.

I remember homecomings long ago at my church, a kind of reunion. We stood and ate at long “tables” made from concrete blocks topped by stone slabs. Shaded by large trees, those primitive tables served their purpose just fine. Church ladies draped white tablecloths across them, and upon those tablecloths sat a southern cookbook of fine eating. I look back on dinner on the grounds with more fondness than I do gatherings in the fellowship hall. Yes, flies flitted about those old tables and it was hot, but it should have been hot, a reminder of where we’d end up if we didn’t toe the line, and that would be with the “Debil.”

I assumed I’d never see old tables like that again. Wrong.

One July day, I spotted Little Stevens Creek Baptist Church down a long driveway off Highway 430 in Edgefield County.

Storm clouds filled the sky and a dark line of woods provided a backdrop to the church. Its bright white architecture pulled me down that long entrance, where a wonderful surprise waited.

Behind the church stood two stone-cement tables like I remembered from my church, New Hope. A flood of memories came at once. Yellow-and-white dishes mounded over with potato salad, blue-and-white CorningWare filled with casseroles, platters of fried chicken, string beans, sliced tomatoes, rolls, cornbread, squash, and loaves of what Granddad Poland called “white bread.” Cakes and pies and jugs and jars of iced tea. Folks heaped food onto plates known as Melmac. Try as I might, I cannot recall Styrofoam cups and plates. We didn’t have such an artificial world back then. The word that describes dinner on the grounds? “Real.”

The new fellowship halls with their wheelchair ramps and air conditioning are good for the aged and infirmed, but wedding receptions, funeral meals, and homecoming dinners blur into indistinguishable events. The surroundings seem too much like restaurants.

In the early 1900s, drivers saw prisoners working on highways. They’d dig ditches, build roads, and perform other forms of hard labor. Penal reform arrived in the 1940s, and chain gangs began to fade away. By the mid-1950s, drivers no longer saw chain gangs working the roads of the South. The backbreaking old chain gangs of yore are gone, but if you make a Sunday drive down Highway 25 into Edgefield, South Carolina, you can see a relic of the chain gang years: a chain gang camp.

The area around the building served as a cemetery before the camp was built. Most graves bear no markers, just numbers. The main building was built in the 1930s with granite commandeered from the old Edgefield jail.

An old knife lay in a window crisscrossed with rust-speckled bars, the proverbial crossbars hotel. That ominous touch seemed right.

An austere metal cot in a room with cracked green plaster had long accommodated exhausted souls. As for the building itself, its steplike façade dredged up a western, like some waystation in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. I could feel the presence of ghosts. When wind ghosted over the tall grass out front, I imagined chained men walking through.

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Bridges To The Past—Sundays we would occasionally cross steel truss bridges. As you drove over them, they made a metallic whoosh.

The old bridges? Man has razed most, but if you know where to go, you can find old bridges, and when you do, see if you don’t find them elegantly beautiful.

Driving Highway 378 from McCormick to Saluda, look to your left as you cross Hard Labor Creek. Through the trees, an old cement bridge materializes. I visited it one Sunday afternoon. A deer hunter’s hut-like stand sits in its middle, right where old cars and trucks once sped. Hard Labor Creek runs on as if nothing has changed, but it has.

The old bridges are dying of loneliness.

Take Highway 283 out of Plum Branch toward Edgefield, and Key Road to your right will take you to an old steel truss bridge over Stevens Creek. You better hurry. Men are taking it down. Just past it a turn off to the right takes you to another steel truss bridge. Two old steel bridges side by side within sight of each other—twins. One was for cars, and one’s for couples, bikers, and hikers. At one end of the “walking” bridge is Edgefield County, at the other, McCormick County. The view provides one of those panoramic scenes Hollywood loves.

When I see a forsaken bridge, I conjure up classic old cars and trucks and think about the people, long gone, who depended on it to get from one place to another.

Now from my mental map of Sunday drives rises one lonely peach tree. Stunted, short, lean and green with tiny peaches. My parents planted it. All these years later, I know right where it stood. Try as I might, I cannot see it in bloom. Bereft of an orchard to show it how regal it looked it suffered a broken heart. That tree was on my mind when I trekked into Edgefield County one chilly March morning.

I got up at 5:15 a.m., threw on the coffee, made ready to leave, and arrived in peach country just after sunrise. A heavenly sight waited: clouds of pink, pale red, and coral, a blushing performance of delicate blooms. That afternoon, as I was packing up my camera gear just off Highway 19, three women pulled in. They rushed over to a tree, posed, and began snapping photos.

“We’re from Florida. We never see anything like this,” said a dark-haired girl. Well, they have orange groves, but a woman down Florida way tells me orange trees aren’t as spectacular as peach trees, though they’re fabulously fragrant. As I drove off, the women were giggling and hopping around, snapping photo after photo.

Once spring gave way to summer, my parents looked forward to a ritual: driving to Edgefield County to buy peaches. Down Highway 378 across the Savannah they drove, taking a right onto Highway 28 in McCormick and a left onto Highway 283 in Plum Branch.

Plum tickled they were. Across Stevens Creek they went and on to Highway 25 into Edgefield proper on through the square to peach orchards. Back home, they returned with split-oak baskets overflowing with sweetness. It wasn’t long before peach pies, fresh sliced peaches, pickled peaches, and homemade peach ice cream blessed family gatherings. thesouthernedgemagazine.com

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Homemade Museums—I’ve long driven Highway 378 to my family home in Georgia. How I’ve seen that highway change. Three old country stores burned. Old filling stations shut their doors. Men leveled forests. A solar farm sprung up, and fast-food franchises popped up too. Highway 378 has been doing its best to become just another road to somewhere, but then one day I saw a treasure chest of nostalgia—what appeared to be an old country store with a hay rake out front.

Curiosity got me. I had to stop. I knocked on the door of the house next door, and a lady met me. I told her I was working on a book about the back roads of South Carolina, and she invited me in. Her husband led me to the old building, which he told me was once a post office. Walking over to this homemade museum, ads from yesteryear caught my attention. Soft drink ads: round, disc-like CocaCola signs, NEHI, KIST Root Beer and Pepsi. Cigarette ads too: Chesterfield with its “Best for You” tagline, Camel, and other signs.

Coble Ice Cream, kerosene, and “Gas 41.9.”

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This self-appointed curator opened the door sporting a vintage Viceroy Cigarette ad and light showered across the past. Five-gallon cans of farm machinery lubricants. Things the home needed: an enamel wash pan, an enamel mixing bowl, Mason jars, Chase & Sanborn Coffee, Lord Calvert Coffee and what appeared to be an aluminum teapot. Cardinal Lighter Fluid and a tin of Prince Albert Tobacco made for a good pairing. Out front, an old hand pump stands as a reminder of times when you didn’t need electricity to draw water from the earth.

Where else can you find such a collection from the past? Not necessarily in a “real” museum, which is a tad highbrow in its selections. If you make a Sunday drive down a country road, sooner or later you’ll come across a homemade museum. Consider yourself lucky.

Flowers From The Past—Remember vintage petunias, those flowers Grandma loved? As I sort through my mental photo album, I see them. Pale pastel petals of white and pink, possibly lavender, and a delicate softness. Grandmother Walker grew them on her porch, a wide columned porch destined to burn.

Old-fashioned petunias are still out there. This hardy, aromatic heirloom flower hints of old homeplaces, and indeed, that’s where I stumbled upon them in Edgefield County. I recall my late mom talking about old-fashioned petunias and a flower that has a beautiful name, delphinium. Finally, I saw old petunias in person. One hot afternoon in the front yard of what was once a tenant home, I leaned over and breathed in their spicy peppery fragrance. It didn’t overpower me. I had to work to gather its incense. Modern hybrids have no fragrance.

So, what happens to these old flowers when the people who planted them are no more? They keep on keeping on. They reseed themselves.

And reseed themselves. Things change. Homes burn. Homes suffering abandonment decay. People die, but the flowers keep on keeping on. Old homeplaces and forgotten cemeteries harbor these flowers. Deprived of someone to water them, fertilize them, and keep harmful insects away, they get by on their own, and if you hope to discover some, well, take a Sunday drive down a Carolina back road. You’ll discover them and much more for driving a back road in western South Carolina is a memorable way to see the past.

Give the interstate a break and treat yourself to a Sunday drive.

Your blood pressure will go down and your gas mileage will go up ... somewhere along a Carolina back road. thesouthernedgemagazine.com

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ST O N E S

W O O D S

IN THE

Words and Photos by Phil Gaines

T I PROPOSE TO CREATE A CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS TO BE USED IN SIMPLE WORK... MORE IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, THAN THE MATERIAL GAINS WILL BE THE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUE OF SUCH WORK.

Franklin D. Roosevelt 14

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he change of seasons in the South is subtle and except for spring, sometimes even understated. Summer tends to linger into what the calendar says is fall and fall then returns the favor to winter.

Without the changing of the leaves, I think sometimes we would miss it! Too often along the journey of life we focus on the what’s next, or the “what if ’s” and miss the discoveries of what is right in front of us.

The winter is the perfect time of year to discover some of Lake Greenwood State Park secrets that welcome every visitor turning into the park off South Carolina Highway 702. Let me explain by taking you back in time…The year is 1941 and the Civilian Conservation Corps is in full swing in South Carolina building state parks from the mountains to the sea. The “CCC’s” established in the spring of 1933 by

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was part of his New Deal legislation, combating high unemployment during the Great Depression by putting hundreds of thousands of young men to work on environmental conservation projects. Under the guidance of the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service the CCC employees fought forest fires, planted trees, cleared and maintained access roads, and built State and National Parks. More than 700 new state parks were established through the CCC program across the nation, 16 here in South Carolina.

Cheraw and Myrtle Beach opened in 1936, Table Rock State Park and others the following year. Lake Greenwood would not open until 1940. Here, visitors would utilize certain areas of the park while the CCC focused on completing a couple of signature

The park, like other South Carolina parks, was built using “parkitecture”. Parkitecture (yes it really is a word) is officially described as a style of architecture developed in the early and middle 20th century in the United States by the National Park Service through its efforts to create buildings that harmonized with the natural environment.

Since its founding, the National Park Service sought to design and build facilities without visually interrupting the natural surroundings. The result? Parkitecture.

Architects, landscape architects and engineers utilized local materials and local character to create visually appealing structures that seemed to fit naturally with their environment. This concept was the foundation of the CCC during the creation of South Carolina’s State Park System, and Lake Greenwood was no exception.

The centerpiece of the park would be the Greenwood Lodge, built high upon a terrace created by the “boys of the CCC” overlooking Lake Greenwood. The facility would utilize large granite rock carved and crafted into a piece of art that would last for generations. The stone cutters would leave their mark in many ways; on the stones where evidence of their cuts still can be seen and in memories of future visitors.

Large stones cut deliberately and with purpose were mobilized to strategic areas of the park, where future facilities were to be built. Masons, labors and the watchful eye of engineers and architects would then take the piles of individual stones scattered about and create a work of art to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Days were long in the CCC. Modeled after the U.S. Army, workers would start early and work late. There was purpose in their work, as part of their pay went back home to family. And, it was more than work; it was an education, and life lessons. Formal classes were taught and trades like masonry, carpentry, and accounting were learned. A sense of purpose, unity and love of country were instilled, character built and the foundation of something special that would serve our state and country for a generation. thesouthernedgemagazine.com

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This day was like any other day, Sunday December 7th, 1941. Routine activities took place on a Sunday; chapel, lunch, and preparations for a busy week. Except that thousands of miles from Lake Greenwood the 7th of December would never again be seen or talked about as just a day, but rather “a date which will live in infamy”. Monday morning the CCC boys of Company 2413 were called to the Flagpole and the assembly area. The Superintendent of the project tried to explain what had happened the day before. With what had to be difficult, he delivered a message filled with emotion and a sense of duty that the boys would never forget. “The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor and President Roosevelt and Congress have declared that we are at war.

Go home and await further instructions from the President.” They did.

They literally dropped what they were doing, left the stones, their routines, their friends and coworkers and went to save the world.

The young men of SP-11, Company 2413 who just a week ago where learning a trade, still young boys doing what young boys do, would quickly become men and take off on a journey they or we would never forget.

Their mission of building a state park with lasting features that would be enjoyed for future generations had changed overnight.

From that day they would trade their axes and shovels for guns and ammunition and impact future generations far beyond what any of them could imagine. These boys would later be referred to as the greatest generation, as they rose to the occasion, left the camp and traveled the globe to leave their mark.

The stones? They remain, in the exact area where they were dropped in anticipation of being assembled into a grand gateway to the state’s newest state park. Seventy-eight years later, time and nature have changed the once cleared area and filled it with trees.

Fallen leaves and moss add to the mystic of the stones in woods, but they remain.

The entrance wall and gateway welcome park visitors, but they remain unfinished, sitting as a powerful tribute to the greatest generation. A pull-off and wayside allow visitors a view to investigate the woods and see the stones.

Park Manager Fayette Yenny explains the impact of the wayside. “The unfinished wall and the stones are rarely noticed. Without the benefit of the wayside, you drive right by them. It makes sense as you are anticipating your trip inside the park. The wayside pull-off area has become a point of interest and allows visitors to reflect on the significance of this important event in American history. It’s a place to interpret our history. When they suddenly see the stones it’s a special moment.” Sometimes simply slowing down will revel secrets hidden in plain view. Like the stones and the remnants of the old CCC camp that can still be seen. They are tucked in the woods just east of the park entrance, appearing to still keep a watchful eye over the park. As for the Lodge, it was eventually built sitting high upon the terraces built by the CCC’s, named in honor of a local World War II hero John Drummond. Inside a museum and interpretation of the boys of the CCC.

gateway into Lake Greenwood State Park, but at what cost; not the monetary cost, rather the missed opportunity to connect this powerful story with a new generation?

Standing at the wayside and seeing the stones scattered in the woods and the unfinished wall is powerful and moving. A physical reminder of the American spirit and the impact of a generation that literally dropped what they were doing to go and save the world. And, they did. If you get the chance, stand before the stones in the woods. Quietly reflect on the evidence of that dramatic sense of urgency they felt that December morning. You will see and feel history as never before; I am not sure you could design a more fitting monument. To the handful of boys of the CCC still here, you left your mark well beyond the gates of a state park. Your legacy endures. A reminder of the American spirit still present in men and women who drop what they are doing to defend freedom today.

Finishing the wall seemed inappropriate, while no doubt todays artisans could have used the stones to build a magnificent

To our veterans and soldiers, "thank you for your service" seems inadequate… but thank you.

Words by Michelle McCollum

FAMOUSLY HOT NEW YEAR

FH NY

Photo by Jeff Blake

Photo by Jeff Blake

Photo by Crush Rush

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Photo by Jeff Blake

hat started in 2011 as a New Year’s Eve street concert with a fireworks show has grown to a major, statewide celebration set amidst the capital city’s historic downtown dining and shopping districts. Guests can walk to the event from downtown hotels or take shuttles from special park-and-ride locations; choose from hundreds of restaurants, bars and cafes before and after the event; and enjoy special holiday hours at top attractions such as Riverbanks Zoo. Corporate citizens, businesses, non-profits, and public entities have joined in the fun to host their own events before, during and after the Famously Hot New Year celebration.

Last year more than 24,000 guests attended from 48 states and 11 countries. Salt-N-Pepa, the legendary hip-hop female duo, are the headliners for this year’s Famously Hot New Year event. Their free performance will lead up to the midnight countdown and state’s largest fireworks show.

As the first female rap act to receive a Grammy and attain platinum status, Salt-N-Pepa has blazed the trail for female hip-hop artists for the past 35 years. With hit songs including "Push It," "Shake Your Thang," "Shoop" and "Whatta Man," hip-hop legends Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton have released several successful albums including the critically acclaimed, multi-platinum “Hot, Cool & Vicious.” As revolutionaries of rap, Salt-N-Pepa broke barriers in empowering women and influenced millions with their music. With more than 12 million albums sold, their contributions to culture and the world of hip hop have influenced the landscape and look of music as we know it today

Photo by Tim Huebel

Also performing are The High Divers and Cottontown Soul Society, both bands local to South Carolina. With anthemic choruses, lush three-part harmonies, and rhythms rooted just as deeply in Motown as in rock ’n’ roll of the past and present, The High Divers create songs that nod to the classics, while carving out a sonic space all their own. A fixture of the South Carolina music scene with a growing national profile, the band is known for its charismatic on-stage swagger and its ability to get the crowd involved.

The High Divers are comprised of husband and wife Luke Mitchell (guitar, vocals) and Mary Alice Mitchell (keyboards, vocals), along with Julius DeAngelis (drums) and Kevin Early (bass, vocals).

Each member of the band grew up on Hilton Head Island, before relocating to Charleston, SC, to officially form The High Divers, where they began immediately recording their debut album, “Riverlust.”

Photo by John Powell

The members of Cottontown Soul Society are on a mission to create music that unites people. The band was formed as a promise kept to the late Skipp “Pops” Pearson, South Carolina’s Ambassador of Jazz and the mentor with whom bandleader, Shelley Magee, first shared her vision. Pearson believed strongly in music as a force for good and charged her with making her vision for the band a reality. While he didn’t live to see the band onstage, his spirit shares the spotlight in each and every performance. (And if you look closely, you’ll find his portrait at every show.)

By bringing a diverse family of Columbia music-scene veterans together, Cottontown Soul Society blends its members’ individual styles and experiences through their shared touchpoint with Pearson.

With deeply funky rhythms and soaring vocals, the band’s style transcends time and genre to connect individually with every listener.

The result is a fun and soulful show the audience won’t soon forget.

So, if you are ready to celebrate 2019 and ring in 2020 in a fabulous way, we’ll see you at this years’ Famously Hot New Year. To learn more, visit www.famouslyhotnewyear.com.

Photo by Jeff Blake

Photo by Jeff Blake

Here at The Southern Edge, we are proud to promote that Famously Hot New Year is committed to hosting a green event. Hundreds of pounds of recycling were collected at Famously Hot New Year last year and they expect to collect even more this year. Be sure to do your part while at the event by disposing of your trash in the many recycle bins around downtown.

Photo by Joelle Grace Photography

Photo by Jeff Blake

Photo by Tim Huebel

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Savor the New Year

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PLAN YOUR VISIT TODAY www.VisitAikenSC.com A I K E N , S O U T H C A R O LI N A : A P L AC E L I K E N O OT H E R

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Words by Patty Bennet Photos by Niki Mize Wow! This year has gone by fast. My favorite season is upon us...

Christmas! My better half, Chris Harper, and I love to fish and hunt; and our home is decorated accordingly. This year I wanted to incorporate our love of nature into our Christmas décor.

Something that I enjoy using are lotus pods. Recently we were on a duck hunting trip at our favorite place, Reelfoot Lake, in Samburg, Tennessee. Lotus lilies are everywhere on this amazing lake. Chris shared with our guides, Kyle and Jamil Homra, who own Homra’s Guide Service, how much I love these lilies and how I use these the pods in my floral design work. Before I knew it, we had a boat full.

So, of course, I had to use them in my tree and garland. I also scouted my garden where I collected amaranths, pinecone, greenery and berries to add in. You’ll be surprised at what you can find in your own backyard

to add some natural touches to your Christmas tree. I also used redbirds and owls throughout the tree and topped it off with ribbon.

I hand-crafted a star for the tree using magnolia cones, which made the perfect points, and I added a lotus pod in the middle. I also repurposed old cowboy boots to use as containers for the greenery.

On the right side of the mantel Chris created some beautiful wildlife art. Our décor speaks to our love of nature and gives it a very peaceful ambience.

Christmas is my favorite time of year. Using things that we have collected through the year, things that have meaning to us, creates wonderful memories and traditions. From our home to yours, Chris and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed new year.

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I N N O VA T I O N

Changing the World, One Amazing Accomplishment at a Time

Above Mt. Everest Base Camp

AN INTERVIEW WITH TOM MULLIKIN

Words by COL W. Thomas Smith, Jr. / Photos Courtesy of Tom Mullikin

O

ur work in environmental education led us to the doorstep of South Carolina’s most famous environmentalist, Tom Mullikin. Tom’s resume is so extensive I could not possibly do it justice in the pages of this magazine. His expeditions to the world’s highest peaks and largest oceans bring a unique experience to both his global environmental efforts and the work he is accomplishing right here in our great state.

Tom has many titles: explorer, researcher, professor, writer, producer, politician, advisor, and soldier, to name a few. He recently retired as commander of the SC State Guard and was named chairman of the SC Floodwater Commission. And, we are honored to announce that Tom will be adding Guest Editor to his growing list.

Our summer issue will be focused on conservation and environmental issues and we know we are in good hands with Tom sitting at the helm of this special issue.

As an introduction to this amazing patron, COL Tom Smith led this interesting one-on-one interview with Maj. Gen. Mullikin. Read, be amazed, and get prepared for an exceptional summer issue.

Shark Diving

1.

You have climbed more than 20 mountain ranges spanning every continent on Earth, including four of the world’s seven great summits. You have also logged scuba dives in all the world’s oceans, including ice dives in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans. How did you get started with all of the climbs and dives?

My expeditions have been driven by my interest in the environment.

Since a young boy, I enjoyed climbing and hiking in the Smoky Mountains and spending time in the beautiful rivers of South Carolina and along the SC coast. As part of my concern for the global environment, I began a series of expeditions to see firsthand the fragile ecosystems around the world. Over the last 30-plus years, my work has taken me into areas in an effort to protect and restore some of the most fantastic sites on earth. In each I have found an interconnection with other areas and actions around the world.

2.

Where did this sense of competitiveness come from?

While it may seem counterintuitive given that we have apparently created new records with our climbing and diving, my genuine interest was in seeing firsthand the ecosystems around the world: from the Amazon River and rainforests of South America to the Namib desert of Africa, from the Great Barrier Reef of Australia to the Grand Canyon of the United States; from the summit of the highest peak of Europe to the majestic heights of Mt Everest and the Himalayas, from under the ice in Antarctica to the top of Mt. Aconcagua in the Andes - the Earth that the Lord has given us is beauty beyond description.

That said, I was blessed with a childhood deformity that drove deep into my soul a deep determination to overcome. I was born with extreme bilateral club feet and my parents were told I would never walk. My first of multiple surgeries was at one day old. The pain of these operations and therapy are a constant reminder that we can overcome. I was perhaps a little resentful growing up when my shoes never fit and my feet always hurt. As I grew older, I realized that the Lord had given me the blessing of deformed feet as an opportunity to understand deeply that sheer determination will often overcome even the greatest barriers. This determination is what has kept me going – pushing higher and diving ever-deeper.

3.

You’re an unusual explorer in that you’ve also logged parachute jumps with several foreign airborne forces. I now understand (as you’ve explained) how you got into climbing and diving. But how does this parachuting with these different foreign military units tie into – or relate – to your work as a mountaineer and diver?

I grew up in a house with a father who served heroically in WWII. He was in a small reconnaissance unit. He ‘encouraged’ me to pursue the military and never to take our freedom for granted. My interest in serving in the military has been a lifelong passion. Jumping with some of the most elite paratroopers in the world has been a tremendous honor. scuba diving training last year in the South of France with the French Foreign Legion was also an amazing experience. Serving as an officer in the United States Army and then with the historic South Carolina State Guard provided me with critical training for search and rescue, land navigation and outdoor safety. It also helped me better understand the value of meticulous planning and safety training.

Coming up from under the ice in Antarctica

4.

What other sports – traditional or extreme – have you been involved in?

I have enjoyed hunting and fishing around the world including the hunting the “big five” most dangerous game animals in Africa and big game hunting in North America. I have enjoyed training and practicing martial arts over the last forty years, and I was honored to have been recently inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame. I have enjoyed hunting and fishing around the world including the hunting the “big five” most dangerous game animals in Africa and big game hunting in North America. I have enjoyed training and practicing martial arts over the last forty years, and I was honored to have been recently inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame.

5.

Do you involve your family in your adventures? Do they enjoy it?

Yes. All of our training – team sports and outdoor activities – have been with my family. My wife and I have traveled extensively together around the world and enjoyed swimming, kayaking, hiking, dog-sledding and river rafting. These activities have given us a lifetime of wonderful memories.

As for climbing the highest mountains on Earth, I have been privileged to climb these mountains with my son Thomas, Jr (“Best Friend”) who in my opinion is one of the strongest mountaineers in the world. Over the past several years, I have watched him develop into the team leader who now takes care of his father. Witnessing this transition in life in some of the most extreme environments has been beyond my ability to describe.

Hiking in Antarctica

6.

You are an accomplished attorney (who also served as a JAG officer in the U.S. Army), a professor who teaches at several universities, the former two-star commanding general of the SC State Guard, and now chairman of Gov. Henry McMaster’s South Carolina Floodwater Commission. You also teach scuba diving. You and your wife Virginia Ann regularly host lavish dinner parties and other events at your home in Camden. You travel around the world consulting and representing huge corporations involved in highstakes environmental issues. You’ve run for political office. You’ve written books and articles, produced award-winning documentary films. And yet you are very involved in the lives of your children and grandchildren. Where do you find the time, and how do you juggle all of the disparate pieces of your life? Or are they somehow interconnected?

To whatever extent I have achieved success or made a positive impact, I give God the glory and also credit to my wife for her patient hand. As an “energetic child”, my parents never gave me medicine, they simply gave me something else to do. So I learned the value of multi-tasking early in life.

I do not allow myself to be anchored by negative energy. I try to turn my stress, anxiety and anger over to the Lord and move toward blue skies. Virginia Ann and I enjoy giving back to our community. We view South Carolina as one large family – black and white; young and old; rich and poor. We love learning, sharing, helping and supporting our family.

As for the books and documentaries, it gives me something to do while traveling and helps tell the story of the beautiful world that the Lord has provided all of us. To the extent that my books and documentaries have received positive recognition and awards, I give all of the credit to my team and staff.

Above: Breaking the clouds in route to summit of Mt. Aconcagua (the highest summit in the Western and Southern Hemisphere) / Bottom Left: Scuba diving in Antarctica

8.

You’ve ventured to some of the wildest and most-remote regions and destinations on Earth. So how can – and why do – you say there is no place on Earth like South Carolina? True, we all love South Carolina. But what in your estimation is so special about our state? In what ways are we unique? And why would any adventure traveler (like yourself, but from another part of the world) choose to travel to South Carolina?

SC Floodwater Commission with Governor & Lt. Governor

7.

Speaking of the SC Floodwater Commission, what exactly is that and why are you so passionate about your work as chairman?

Is this something that you envision will ultimately save our state from the ravages of disastrous storms and flood events? If so, how?

Governor McMaster established the Floodwater Commission in October 2018 with a charge to identify and recommend short, midterm and long-term strategies to address the new normal of extreme weather systems that have impacted South Carolina in recent years.

We have assembled some of the foremost expert scientists, military leaders, business leaders, environmentalists and agency executives to address this challenge. Together we have begun developing comprehensive solutions and responses to protect South Carolina.

We find ourselves on the horns of a three-pronged quagmire: we have coastal erosion that is complicated by recurring extreme weather systems, we have nuisance flooding along our coast due to sea level rise, and we have flooding in our river systems rushing from watersheds in North Carolina with extreme weather arising off the coast and coming up from the Gulf.

Our efforts have already seen unprecedented collaboration and cooperation and we will soon release a plan for global leadership.

Yes, I believe that we will do what no other state or nation on Earth has done. We will harness the water, protect our families and use the water in a way that will support greater protection of our beautiful state and increase economic opportunity. I am passionate about supporting a visionary Governor and protecting our state. In many ways, this task will allow me to harness the experiences that I have gained around the world working on similar issues and all for the benefit of our beloved state.

I have enjoyed serving as an expert for National Geographic. With their long history of environmental excellence and some of the most brilliant scientists, naturalists and outdoor photographers, they are as credible as any third party to determine the most beautiful places on Earth. National Geographic says that South Carolina is home to one of “50 of the World's Last Great Places: Destinations of a Lifetime” – our own Jocassee Gorges. The Jocassee Gorges tract contains about 43,500 acres and contains a series of steep gorges. There are a number of beautiful mountain streams, waterfalls, rare plants, dry rocky ridges, and moist dripping rock faces that combine to give the area a unique biological character and scenic beauty. National Geographic has also featured the scenic waters of the ACE Basin, named for three rivers that run through it: the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto. Moreover, Travel and Leisure magazine has voted Charleston the No. 1 City in the World! Charleston is the first U.S. destination to earn the coveted No. 1 City in the World ranking.

Nowhere on Earth can someone come to witness such important history, beautiful mountains, unsurpassed beautiful coastline and the number one tourist city on Earth with the best restaurants and night life. Simply stated – and objectively designated – South Carolina is No. 1.

9.

Why?

What is your singularly favorite Palmetto State destination?

My singular favorite destination in South Carolina is Camden. And most particularly our home on Fair Street. This home is where my wife Virginia Ann was raised. We purchased it from her mother when her father passed away in the early 1980s. We have spent a lifetime refurbishing it and building it to support our expeditions and hobbies.

Here we train scuba divers, we teach martial arts, we enjoy tennis, and we prepare to climb the highest mountains on Earth. Many years ago, we named our home “Pergamon” after the site in the Hellenistic Attalid dynasty, 281–133 BC. This site was transformed into one of the major cultural centers of the Greek world. It is at Pergamon that we have sought respite, raised our family, enjoyed social affairs and prepared for the next challenge in life. In Camden, we find all of the comforts in life in the oldest inland city in South Carolina where our freedom was fought and won.

10. explorer?

What’s next for Tom Mullikin as a remote wilderness

We are preparing to climb the seven summits and dive in all the oceans again next year in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. We will continue to teach shark diving and continue our work on the Galápagos Islands.

11.

What’s next for Tom Mullikin the man?

We will continue to represent some of the best clients in the world, enjoy our position on the faculty at Coastal Carolina University and continue to teach annually in the Galápagos as an Associate Professor for USFQ. We have also begun discussions about leading major cleanup projects in Nigeria and the Amazon and where we hope we can bring bioremediation technologies to restore to these fragile ecosystems.

In short, we will stay focused on the blue sky, remain committed to our family and beautiful state, stand eager to support meaningful global environmental management and will continue give the glory for any success to our Lord and to my beautiful wife Virginia Ann and family.

Left: Mt. Denali, Alaska with Thomas, Jr. and two disabled veterans (retired Green Beret) / Top Left: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa / Center Left: Climate Symposium in Namibia, Africa with son of founding President of Namibia Sam Nujoma / Bottom Left: Dog sledding in Antarctica / Top Right: Following dive training with the French Foreign Legion / Bottom Right: South Pole

Classically Sporting

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GOLF IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO OUT, GO OUT SWINGING. Words by Michelle McCollum Photos Courtesy of Top Golf

I

can play a mean game of putt-putt, but I am no golfer. I know nothing about the sport and really have never understood the fascination. If it’s a sweltering 100 degrees or freezing cold outside, the last place in the world I want to be is on a golf course; ice cold beer or not.

But I must admit my interest has been piqued; this, after one visit to TopGolf in Greenville, South Carolina. My daughter is a marine and was home for a pre-deployment visit. TopGolf is minutes away from the airport so we decided to stop there for lunch and a little family fun before her flight out. It was a blast! If you’ve been, you know. If you have not been, let me explain.

Topgolf is a sports and entertainment complex featuring a patented high-tech golf game that anyone, at any experience level, can enjoy.

From your private, climate-controlled hitting bay the Topgolf technology allows you to follow your golf ball and accurately track your shot. It can be a competition with yourself or it can be a fun rivalry with a group. I came in last and made my family laugh in the 38

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process as I swung and missed many, many times. Hitting that little ball is harder than you think, especially when you’re swinging with force. I now have a greater appreciation for the sport and the skill behind it.

If you decide to try Topgolf (and we hope you do), come hungry.

Much to my surprise, the food was amazing. The burgers were excellent, and the appetizers were meals in and of themselves. And, if you’re not interested in playing, you can just come to eat and drink.

There is a full kitchen and bar, but if you decide to play, a Bay Host will take care of all your needs.

Lessons and classes are available, and even leagues if you are interested in a little friendly competition. Leagues give beginners, intermediates and advanced golfers the chance to play, have fun and compete. Leagues run every Monday evening and it’s a great way to improve your golf skill and meet some new friends.

My next visit will be with our staff here at The Southern Edge to enjoy some fun team building. And, I just might win this time. I think I’ve picked up some skill.

SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA ACT QUEENLY excerpt from "Bury Me With My Pearls"

southern perspectives from a southern lady

By: JANE JENKINS HERLONG Beauty Queendome is still alive in the South. Just the other day, a friend from church attended the Catfish Feastival in Ware Shoals. No, that’s not a typo.

The event is not a festival; it’s a feastival because so many catfish are consumed.

Years ago, I emceed the Miss Catfish Pageant. No, the girls didn’t have to have long whiskers to win.

Events like the Catfish Feastival remind me of the many parades I participated in as queen of the festivals I was fortunate enough to win. In Beaufort, SC, I was Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands. The pageant committee thought it’d be unique for the contestants to be interviewed on a yacht. I think I won that pageant because the heel of my shoe got stuck between two of the planks on the long dock. One of the judges had to rescue my high heel, and my shoe catastrophe was a great icebreaker.

As Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands, I was scheduled to ride in the Railroad Days Festival parade in Branchville, SC. I wore a white jersey dress with rhinestones on the bodice. Like most over-the-top Southern beauty queens, I went to a lot of trouble to make sure my dress matched the float.

I was so excited about my first experience riding on my Water Festival float. It was covered with blue and white plastic discs. A blue, sparkly skirt covered the bottom and hid the float’s wheels. When the driver increased his speed, the skirt rippled in the wind. It was what all beauty queens live for.

Momma and Miss Ada Rast transported me to the festival in our big yellow Buick with the white hard top.

We arrived in plenty of time, but my float never showed up. To compensate for the absence of the float, the Branchville people made two signs on white poster paper with magic markers.

They were the tackiest things I’d ever seen, but those pathetic signs were nothing compared to what happened next.

“Jane doesn’t care about riding on a float. I’ll drive her in the parade,” said Momma. “Jane,” she directed, “Get on the hood of the car and act queenly.”

I thought I’d die of embarrassment.

Ride on the hood of the big yellow Buick with posters taped to the sides?

As I climbed onto that hood, it never occurred to me that my mother had never driven in a parade. Neither had I ever ridden on the hood of a moving car. After the second block, my bottom was cooking like I was sitting on an oven set at 300 degrees. That car hood was hot! Then my mother slammed on the brakes to speak to someone she knew and I slid off the hood.

I climbed back on the hood and said, “Momma, you are way behind the car in front!”

She gave it the gas. My body was plastered across the windshield.

All I could think of was Momma’s instructions, “Jane, act queenly.”

That sort of thing happens to all of us. We just don’t want to act queenly. We want to have a hissy fit or throw-down—something as inappropriate as slapping a Wal-Mart Greeter . . .

“We raised you to act right, so do it.” My very Southern mother said that many times.

I’ve said it to my children.

It’s wise advice—whether you’re riding in parade on the hood of a big yellow Buick or just walking down the aisle at the grocery store.

Jane is the best-selling author of four books and a professional Southern humorist. For speaking engagements visit-janeherlong.com

MY SHELLING DAYS ARE OVER By: JAMES C. SAXON

There was a time, not all that long ago, when sitting on the porch shelling beans or peas was a regular part of our chores or pleasures—depending on how you look at it. Oft times, a neighbor would join you while also shelling or snapping beans, or just to talk. By the time you got a mess of beans in your bowl or pan (for you non-southerners, bless your hearts, a mess is what it takes to feed your family), your fingers were dirty, sore, and very, very dry. My brother, our cousins, and I rebelled against this chore, almost always to no avail, but the grown-ups enjoyed the peacefulness of the task and chance to be outside where it was cool. Cool, of course, being a relative term, because most of this occurred before the days of central air conditioning when sitting on the porch offered at least the chance of

an occasional breeze. The beans were taken inside, “looked” for any bad ones or small pebbles that may have made their way into the bowl, washed, and put into a cooking pot. To that pot was added something many young’uns may never have seen: fat back. Fat back was a required component of many vegetables eaten in the south, but especially beans, greens, and corn.

They flavored the vegetables with meat and far too much salt. This writer’s mother stopped using fat back years ago, except for fried corn. I eat pretty much anything that fits on my plate, and though corn has never been one of my favorite foods, someone who doesn’t like fried corn is a rare and unusual person, not to say someone to avoid.

I join many in bewailing the loss of windows being open, folks sitting on porches (front porches, so you greet passersby and neighbors, not back porches where you are cocooned from people who haven’t been invited). But sometimes this goes along with talking about the good old days, which we seem wont to do as we age. Not me.

My Great-aunt Mag liked talking about the good old days with my maternal grandmother. Grandmother would have none of it, and once retorted, “Mag, what in the world was so good about them? Women were expected to be quiet and run a house; blacks were treated like chattel; if you had cancer, you died; you were afraid to let your children swim in public pools because of polio; so what, Mag, was so good about them?” Of course that small tirade didn’t deter Aunt Mag in the least, but grandmother felt good anyway.

The fact is, we southerners often look backward to supposedly better days.

Personally, I think better days are today and tomorrow. Yes, sitting on the porch and being part of a community was wonderful, and is something we should practice much more often—if you don’t have a porch, sit beneath a shade tree. I love fresh fruits and vegetables, but I’d rather spend time with a good book,

a nice swim, a pleasant walk with a sweetheart or dog or both. And I do not, repeat do not, want to give up air conditioning. Even though I’m on the younger side of 60, and attended superb public schools, I didn’t go to an air-conditioned one until I was in the ninth grade. I well remember having to fold a piece of notebook paper so I could rest my wrist on it and avoid ruining the ink and paper on which I was taking notes or working on math problems (and Lord knows math was a problem for me). We didn’t perspire or glow, we sweated. I admit, though, that open windows with the resulting fresh air and breeze or two had a specialness that can’t be duplicated.

I and my contemporaries may not do much shelling or snapping of peas and beans these days, but many of us have re-discovered the joys of southern cooking and canning. Thanks to a terrific chef in Savannah, whose recipe I tweaked, I make some awfully good green tomato chow chow, and I also make pickled okra, pickled green beans, spiced figs, fig preserves, pear preserves, and what my brother and I call Lucifer’s Lass Very Hot Pepper Jelly, based on our Aunt Mary’s recipe. Most directions call for about two-thirds bell or sweet peppers to one-third hot peppers. But our method is just the opposite, and, as my brother says “our hot pepper jelly burns both ways.” We prepare these delectables in an airconditioned, modern kitchen with every conceivable gadget; food processors instead of meat grinders, for instance.

The results, though they require effort and sweat-equity, provide a lot of joy come autumn and winter when we’re enjoying the fruits of our labors. Y’all come on by, and we’ll share because like most of us in this beloved region, we’ll share anything we have, even if all we have is a plate of beans and a piece of cornbread. Maybe we’ll share a cool beverage on the porch, too, but you can bet hard-earned money I’m not shelling any beans.

southern perspectives from a southern gentleman

I tell folks I grew up in a compound— one not anything like the David Koresh compound, but equally unlike the Kennedy compound. My grandmother lived on one side, and a great-aunt and –uncle on the other. After my great-uncle died, his widow’s longtime best friend moved in with her, enabling them to keep house together and postpone going to a nursing home for several years. Their bedrooms were side-by-side facing my bedroom.

Windows, of course, were open. Like many folks of a certain age, Aunt Mag and Miss Onie went to bed early, then wondered why they awoke at three in the morning, not figuring they’d already had seven or eight hours of sleep. One or the other, usually Miss Onie, would holler to the next room: “Mag, lead off,” and Aunt Mag would start singing a hymn in which Miss Onie would join. They continued their singing until they fell asleep again. I thought I was living in a Twilight Zone episode and that they were nutty as fruitcakes.

Thankfully, I’ve learned better. That hymn singing is an extraordinarily happy memory which is a far greater treasure to me than silver or gold, and I’m sorry my step-children and nieces and nephews never got to experience such eccentric delights.

A Charleston Gathering Place Wine & Company was born in Charleston out of good friendships & warm memories made over a great bottle of wine, and we hope to extend this experience to you and yours here at our shop. Whether you are looking to enjoy a glass of champagne and a bite to eat, buy a special bottle for a friend or restock your wine cellar - Wine & Company is the perfect Midtown stop to meet your needs.

CHSWINE.COM / 441 MEETING STREET STE. B, CHARLESTON, SC / 843-277-2857

F L A V O R

THE RUSTIC ELEGANCE OF SMITHEY IRONWARE

REVIVING A LOST ART: the Words by Michelle McCollum Photos Courtesy of Smithey Ironware

The history of cast iron cooking goes way back; way, way back.

Some of my research took me to Asia and England in 680. I could delve into this history, but it would take up very valuable space that we’ve decided should be used for, you guessed it, recipes. I’ll whet your appetite for some cast iron history by giving you one little tidbit that is important to our story. By the late 19th century, the days of cooking over an open hearth were pretty much over, ending the need for cast iron cauldrons, and pots and pans became legless and flatbottomed – welcome the establishment of the cast-iron skillet.

For those who are interested in historic details prior to the 20th century, google can tell you all about it. Instead, I’ll take it from a time in history when cast iron fell out of favor. This would be the 1960’s. Along with the introduction of avocado and Harvest Gold kitchen appliances came Teflon-coated and aluminum non-stick cookware. Although many households kept at least one castiron skillet (in my childhood home ours was relegated to cooking cornbread), the decline in daily use contributed to the closure of nearly all cast-iron cookware manufacturers in the country. For those that remained, survival called for certain steps in the manufacturing

rustic elegance of Smithey Ironware of the cookware to be eliminated. This saved money, but greatly changed the quality of the cookware. Today, cast-iron pots and pans from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s are highly sought after by antique collectors. They also got the attention of Isaac Morton, founder of Smithey Ironware in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Smithey Ironware story is as down home as they come. Isaac’s passion for cast iron started in his backyard woodshed. He cultivated his interest in vintage ironware by studying collector’s books and growing his personal skill in restoring beautiful old cookware pieces that he began to gift to friends and family.

He began to recognize the joy his restored pieces brought and decided to create a cast iron cookware line that honored the classic style of vintage pieces while also harnessing modern technology and processes. After much research and good ole’ fashion work, Smithey Ironware opened its doors in 2015. Their process is timeless: design, foundry, polish, multiple layers of hand seasoning (with organic grapeseed oil), package, and ship.

I had the privilege of touring the Smithey Ironware shop with Isaac. The passion behind their work, the attention to detail, and the pride in the final product was evident. Isaac explained that surface smoothness, weight, wall angle, handles, and pour-spout dimensions “dance around in my noggin” more than he cares to admit. One simply needs to look at a piece from Smithey to understand the quality. As I held their 10” skillet in my hand, I knew I was holding not just a piece of cookware, but a piece of art. The signature polished finish, the 3-holed helper handle, and the quail logo added a personalized touch that makes me proud to be an owner of a new family heirloom. Yes, I bought a skillet for myself. A few lucky family members just might get their own for Christmas, along with a copy of this magazine (they must have recipes after all). But that’ll be our little secret.

Recipes created for Smithey.com Blog

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 450˚F. Line a sheet pan with foil and set aside.

2. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and stir a few times to make sure it doesn’t stick to the pot.

Cook just until al dente, about 5-7 minutes depending on the type of pasta. Drain and set aside.

NO. 8 MAC & CHEESE Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 8 oz dry pasta noodles, such as macaroni or shells 1 thick slice sourdough bread crust removed 1 large clove garlic, peeled and cut in half 1 teaspoon chopped thyme leaves 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 4 tablespoons room-temperature butter, divided 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 cups whole milk Coarse kosher salt Pinch cayanne Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste 1 1/2 cups (6 oz) grated sharp white cheddar, divided 1 1/2 cups (6 oz) grated gruyere, divided 3/4 cup (3/4 oz) grated parmesan, divided 48

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3. Make the breadcrumbs: Cut bread into large pieces and add to the bowl of a food processor. Add garlic and pulse until finely chopped and garlic is scattered throughout, about 30 seconds. Stir in thyme, ¼ cup of the parmesan, and moisten with olive oil. Set aside.

4. Make the sauce: Gently warm milk in a small pot on the stove or in microwave. In a large heavy-bottomed pot, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add flour and stir until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Slowly whisk in warmed milk, stirring well to avoid clumps.

Season with salt and cayenne and bring to a gentle simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat and immediately stir in 1 cup of the cheddar, 1 cup of the gruyere, and remaining ½ cup parmesan. Stir until melted, then taste and season again with salt and black pepper.

5. Optional: To achieve an incredibly silky, creamy texture, purée sauce using an immersion blender or transfer to a blender for about one minute. Toss in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter while you purée the sauce.

6. Combine and bake: In a large bowl or in the same pot, combine noodles and cheese sauce. Fold in remaining ½ cup cheddar and ½ cup gruyere. Using a ladle or cup measure, transfer noodles and sauce to your 8-inch iron skillet (it will hold about 4 heaping cups and look very saucy). Top with seasoned breadcrumbs. Place skillet on the prepared sheet pan and bake until sauce is bubbling and breadcrumbs are golden brown, about 8-10 minutes.

CHARRED ASPARAGUS WITH A LEMONY GREMOLATA & TOASTED BREADCRUMBS

By: Jessie Woodward

DIRECTIONS: 1. Make the gremolata. Smash the garlic with the heel of your knife.

Add a pinch of salt to the cloves and roughly chop. Place the parsley over top of the garlic and continue to chop until you have a coarse mince. Grate the lemon directly on top, sprinkle with cheese, and add a pinch of red pepper flakes. I like to run my fingers through the mixture to incorporate the ingredients. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS: 4 oz crusty bread 1 tablespoon oil 1 bunch parsley, chopped Zest of 1 lemon 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, freshly grated 1 pinch of red pepper flakes 1 bunch of asparagus 1 shallot, sliced into thin rings Salt & Pepper Flakey salt for garnish (like Maldon sea salt flakes)

2. Make the breadcrumbs. Drop the crusty bread into a food processor with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Pulse until you have what resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Heat up your cast iron skillet over medium low heat; add a tablespoon of oil and then the breadcrumbs. Stir and toast until golden brown – about 5 minutes.

Transfer to a bowl, set aside, and wipe out any breadcrumb residue.

3. Turn the heat up to medium and get the pan nice and hot - this step is important! Add a swirl of oil and then add the asparagus.

Season generously with salt and pepper. Try not to turn the asparagus right away so the char marks can form.

4. After about 5 minutes, add the shallots and roll the asparagus to cook on all sides.

5. Once the asparagus is tender and a beautiful green color, about 3-5 minutes more, remove it from the heat.

6. Top it with the gremolata and toasted breadcrumbs and serve!

SKILLET DRY FRIED

INGREDIENTS:

GREEN BEANS ADAPTED FROM ANNE QUATRANO'S SUMMERLAND

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 lbs. green beans or yellow wax beans, trimmed 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced Coarse salt & fresh ground pepper 1 lemon

Serves 4

DIRECTIONS: 1. Heat a large cast iron skillet (preferably 12 inches or larger) over high heat.

2. Swirl in olive oil to coat the pan.

3. Add beans and cook, stirring/flipping every two minutes, until blistered and tender in the middle - roughly 8 to 10 minutes.

4. Reduce heat to medium low and stir in garlic, sauteing about 1 additional minute.

5. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, then grate zest of 1 lemon over top and serve.

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"SWEET CORNBREAD IS CAKE"

CAKE CHEF ALEX HARRELL - ANGELINE (NEW ORLEANS)

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 200ËšF. Fine crumble leftover cornbread, spread across sheet pan and bake until dry approximately 45 minutes. Allow to cool completely.

2. Reset ovent to preheat to 375ËšF. 3. Add dried cornbread crumbs to food processor. Grind into flour and set aside in a large bowl.

INGREDIENTS: 1 10-inch cake of cornbread 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup of the cornbread flour 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 4 eggs 3 tablespoons orange blossom water 2 tablespoons heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 tablespoons creme fraiche or whipped cream

4. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.

5. In another large mixing bowl, and 1/4 cup cornbread flour and allpurpose flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until evenly distributed.

6. In a third mixing bowl, add orange blossom water, cream and vanilla.

7. Alternate adding the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients to the butter and sugar, adding slowly and carefully folding until all is well incorporated.

8. Add batter to greased cake pan (aka skillet) and cook until golden brown and set in the middle, approximately 40 minutes.

9. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature.

10. Serve with creme fraiche or whipped cream and berries.

ROASTED DUCK BREAST WITH SWEET POTATOES & BRUSSELS SPROUTS CHEF SLADE RUSHING - BRENNAN'S (NEW ORLEANS)

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS: 4 8-ounce boneless duck breasts

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into .5 inch discs 1 pound brussel sprouts 12 pearl onions, peeled & cut in half 2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon Quatre Epices (recipe below) Salt to taste Pepper to taste

Quatre Epices: 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon ginger 1 teaspoon white pepper 1 teaspoon ground cloves

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 450ËšF. Place large Smithey cast iron pan on burner, on low heat.

2. Place duck breasts on cutting board, skin side up, and make shallow crosshatch incisions just through the layer of fat with a sharp knife.

Season generously with salt & pepper on all sides, then add to skillet, skin side down.

3. Cook breasts until skin is crisp and fat is largely rendered, about 5 minutes. Turn and cook for 1 additional minute. Remove duck breasts from pan and rest on a large plate.

4. Leave pan on burner and add all vegetables. Season with quatre epices, bay leaves, and salt. Stir into duck fat and place skillet in the oven for 12 minutes. Plate vegetables onto 4 plates and top with thinly sliced duck breasts and any remaining duck drippings.

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OLD IS THE NEW

NEW

Words by Abbey Stevens

Consumerism is defined as an economic and social ideology and order that encourages consumption or acquisition of goods/services in a never-ending cycle.

I know that’s a lot of boring words, so to simplify, lets lay out a scenario.

We know that our annual ski trip is coming up next month and instead of wearing the same ski jacket that we wore last year (because, of course, that would destroy our insta-fame), we feel the pressure to go and buy the new, best ski jacket on the market. See? That’s consumerism. Not so complicated anymore, right?

Everyone else has that new pattern, or dare I say brand name, so that means we have to have it too.

Oops… did I step on any toes there? I know, I know.

I can be a bit of a brand-snob too. But don’t fret, I’m not saying it’s always a bad thing. Let’s face the facts though: your one-year-old, barely worn jacket ends up at Goodwill, selling for a whopping $10.

Probably somewhere around 90% less than what you paid for it. Is the new jacket you bought warmer than the one from last year? Maybe… but if we are being completely honest, probably not.

Let’s think about it from another perspective.

Imagine you are the one rummaging through the clothing racks at Goodwill and stumble across a likenew, gently used ski jacket. For only $10. I don’t know about you, but for me, I would be hard-pressed to find a better deal. It may be mid-July when you find it, and you may only go skiing once every 5 years, but the fact of the matter is that the jacket you found will suit your needs, without breaking the bank.

The take home here is that our world of consumerism produces an ‘out with the old and in with the new’ mentality. And don’t get me wrong, for some things, that’s okay. If your prized possessions are your ski jackets, by all means, invest in them. On the flip side, if you couldn’t care less about which ski jacket you are wearing so long as it keeps you dry and warm, check out pre-loved options. There is endless fun and reward in shopping second hand. Whether it be for home décor, clothing, antiques, furniture, or countless other items, the thrill of the find and money saved can sometimes trump having the newest on the market.

Not to mention all of the unique and one-of-a-kind finds that can only be found pre-loved.

All I ask is that you give it a try. Some of my favorite pieces have been found at a yard sale, on a dusty shelf at a donation center, or online through a re-sale site.

These unique pieces that have shaped and defined my personal style have also changed my view of the

world, all while keeping these treasured items out of the landfill. I hope your second-hand journey can do the same for you.

Maybe, while you’re searching for treasures, you’ll come across that new jacket with the insta-ready pattern and brand name. Or better yet, something even cooler and more unique.

Flowertown Festival April 3-5 - There is a place where flowers bloom by the acre and the town celebrates with a festival. Sweet Tea Trail - Explore the birthplace of Sweet Tea—where the tea plant first landed and tea was first commercially grown at the Pinehurst Tea Plantation. Historic Homes Walking Tour - Explore Summerville's history on a quiet walk where no two homes are alike. This self-guided tour past Summerville's most hidden gems is available year round. visitsummerville.com

H E A R T

LIBERIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

An African American Community in the South Carolina Mountains

Words by Dr. John M. Coggeshall Photos by Michelle McCollum

“Welcome to Soapstone,” the

middle aged African American woman beams, as she raises her arms in a Southern embrace. “My name is Mable Owens Clarke, and I’m the chef here. Come in and enjoy the food!” After paying $14 for a ticket to enter, guests line up along the wall of the fellowship hall of Soapstone Baptist Church in northern Pickens County, a stone’s throw from Pumpkintown and Table Rock State Park. “Do you want fish?” the smiling attendant asks, and visitors typically choose the fish, fried with Mable’s secret family recipe. But, one may also choose chicken (baked or fried), pulled pork, barbecued ribs, or perhaps another meat (depending on Mable’s whim that week). Then come the vegetables – about ten steaming metal bins full of various types of beans, peas, potatoes, yams, casseroles, and mac and cheese, all prepared fresh (choosing three is always difficult). Top that off with 58

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a roll or cornbread, a slice of homemade pie or cake, and some tea or lemonade, and then grab a seat among the round tables and seated guests. After lunch, one may step outside, stand on the large soapstone boulders (from which the church gets its name), gaze out over the Liberia Valley to the towering dome of Table Rock about four miles away, and then glance northward to the cliffs of Caesar’s Head, along the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The food, fellowship, and views all combine for an unforgettable experience.

BACKGROUND

I first met Mable Clarke by chance, in 2007, as I stopped at a driveway along Liberia Road to photograph the scene described above. I had seen the name “Liberia Road” on a Pickens County map, and had thought that place name seemed unusually out of place in an Appalachian borderland region traditionally priding itself on a Scots-Irish and German settlement history. So, one May afternoon, I set out to discover the locality for myself, and by coincidence I met the descendant of one of the oldest black families in the area – in fact, the last remaining black extended family in Liberia.

Through my research, I discovered that Mable Owens Clarke is the youngest daughter of Christopher Owens, who was the oldest son of William Owens, who was the youngest son of Katie Owens, a woman born into slavery sometime around 1840. The story of Katie Owens, her descendants, and her neighbors and friends in Liberia and the surrounding area, is the subject of my recent book (Liberia, South Carolina: an African American Appalachian Community [UNC Press, 2018]). Mable Clarke and I are partners in the continuing documentation of this community.

As a cultural anthropologist, I study contemporary cultures, specifically American regional, folk, and ethnic groups. More generally, as an anthropologist, I also seek to discover other ways of life so that my audience (whether students or general readers) will understand and respect these other ways of life.

By understanding and respecting others, and with others understanding and respecting us, the world becomes a fairer and more welcoming place for all. Thus, the story of Liberia seemed to be a great opportunity to continue this mission.

As I came to know the story of Liberia better, I realized the story offers a more fundamental lesson for us all. Throughout every period of this community’s history, the residents of Liberia faced tremendous legal and social inequalities from their white-dominated surroundings. At the same time, throughout their history of oppression, Liberia’s residents resisted white domination, preserved their own history and self-respect, and persisted despite the odds against them. As I researched further, I discovered that the story of Liberia paralleled the stories of hundreds of “freedom colonies” of descendants of freed slaves throughout the South. Thus, the story of Liberia is also part of the story of South Carolina, of the South more generally, and of the United States itself.

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LOCATION

According to the 1860 Slave Census, over 4,000 enslaved African Americans lived in Pickens District (present-day Pickens and Oconee Counties). Documented names of enslaved locals include Katie (Owens), Emerson (Kemp), and Joseph (McJunkin -- in northern Greenville County). After 1865, these newly-freed slaves generally settled in the same areas where they had lived prior to freedom.

Although today a beautiful valley with a great view of the Blue Ridge, the area surrounding Soapstone Baptist Church was, in 1865, relatively worthless land because it was hilly and off the main roads through the Oolenoy Valley.

Throughout the South, including Pickens County, former white slaveholders needed their crops harvested but had no money to pay their newly-freed slaves, who now could bargain for their labor. Thus, white land owners frequently were compelled to trade land for labor. However, former slaveholders did not surrender their best farmland to their former slaves, but instead they traded poorer land off the main transportation routes – such as the Liberia Valley.

NAMING

From the perspective of the African Americans, however, this land provided them with a secure means of production and a secluded enclave where they could speak their minds, practice their religion, teach their children, and protect their families and traditions. Throughout the South, including the Southern Appalachians, such black freedom colonies blossomed after the end of the Civil War. Liberia was one of those freedom colonies.

Several stories exist about the naming of Liberia. According to McJunkin family tradition, freed slave Joseph McJunkin remembered having come from the nation of Liberia on the West African coast, and so he named the community after his homeland. More likely, the area was named “Liberia” because it served as a substitute for a short-lived back-to-Africa movement sweeping the South, particularly South Carolina, after the Civil War. Mike & Mable pictured at Soapstone Church

Photo by Kris Chateauneuf

RECONSTRUCTION

HISTORY

While Native Americans had lived in the area for tens of thousands of years, Euro-Americans began settling the Upstate in the late 18th century. Many local white landowning families owned slaves, who worked the farms, mills, and shops. While individuals generally owned about 10 slaves or less, even non-slave owners benefitted from enslaved black labor.

During Reconstruction, African Americans could vote (males only), hold public office, serve on juries, attend public schools, own their own property, and work for fair wages. Throughout the South, black freedom colonies prospered during this period. For example, in 1870, the Pumpkintown Census District in northern Pickens County (including Liberia) was about 28% African American, including the former slaves (listed above) and their relatives and descendants; the community had a church and school. These institutions provided Liberia’s residents with multiple opportunities for social success.

Throughout the South under Jim Crow segregation, black freedom colonies presented an affront to many whites, seeking to maintain white supremacy. Even in Liberia, blacks felt this pressure. Oral tradition tells of whites loaning black farmers money with their land as collateral; unable to repay the loans, blacks lost their land for cents on the acre. Liberia’s residents faced lynchings, gun fights, and assaults that created a culture of terror to keep blacks in fear. In April 1967, local arsonists burned the old Soapstone Baptist Church and a vacant, black-owned family home. Despite this culture of terror and the crushing effects of the inequality of segregation, African Americans in Liberia (and throughout the South) resisted and persisted.

LIBERIA TODAY

SEGREGATION

With the election of Ben Tillman as governor of South Carolina in 1890 and the revised 1895 state constitution, “Jim Crow” laws legally establishing segregation caused many African Americans to flee the area; better economic opportunities for African Americans also developed in northern and western cities (emigration patterns common to the South). By the 1920 US Census, the black population of the Pumpkintown District had declined to only 9%.

Rebuilt with widespread white and black community support, and led by the fund-raising efforts of Lula McJunkin Owens (granddaughter of the church’s founder and also Mable’s mother), the new Soapstone Baptist Church has risen on the same soapstone boulder its predecessors sat upon. With a present congregation of fewer than 10 people, the church and community nevertheless persist.

SITES TO SEE

There are numerous sites to visit in the vicinity of Soapstone Baptist Church. In addition to the soapstone boulders (used for tombstones in historic times), there is the adjacent Soapstone School, a one-room schoolhouse on its original location. This is the school Mable and her siblings and neighbors attended before rural schools consolidated in the 1950s (Soapstone’s children still had to be bussed over an hour – and past the white schools – to continue their education under segregation). The adjacent “new” cemetery is still used, but down the gravel road to the south is the old slave cemetery, containing several graves marked by legible tombstones, and many others marked by only rough field stones. One hand-carved soapstone tombstone marks the final resting place of Chaney Kimp (Kemp), a woman born into slavery, whose son Emerson Kemp graces the cover of my Liberia book. Emerson Kemp’s son James Kemp lies in the grave marked by the small white funeral home marker.

Emerson’s final resting place is unknown.

Please feel free to visit the cemetery, but do not take grave rubbings because the soapstone erodes very easily. The stories of these individuals (and the inscriptions on the tombstones) are chronicled in my book A short drive south down Liberia Road, across the Oolenoy River Valley and up Miracle Hill Road, takes a visitor to the Oolenoy Baptist Church Cemetery. There are many historic graves here, but visitors may note the raised box graves of many of the oldest burials, including many stones that are hand-carved. Also notice the unusual slotted grave covers on a few graves, carved from soapstone. Behind the church are several interesting markers, including one Confederate veteran with his campaigns listed, another who died “a martyr for Southern Independence,” and a third who died “in defense of his country,” that being the Confederate States of America. There are also markers to the “faithful slaves” and Cherokee Indians buried nearby.

Continue down Miracle Hill Road until its junction with Highway 135 and the (white) Oolenoy Schoolhouse, turn right and continue about half a mile to the junction with Highway 8. Turn right, continue past the (abandoned) Edens Store (private property), back across the Oolenoy River, and stop at the highway junction. To the left is the Pumpkintown General Store, where for generations Liberia’s residents did their “trading” because the white owner respected them and treated them fairly. In fact, the owner purchased a wood stove for the Soapstone Schoolhouse so the black children could have heat in the winter. Across the intersection sits the old Sutherland House (private property), the former home of a prominent white family who at one time owned Aunt Katie, Mable’s great-grandmother. Aunt Katie herself lies in the cemetery of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church, about a mile back down Highway 135 and then onto Oolenoy Church Road.

LEGACY

Because of a deathbed promise to her mother Lula, Mable Owens Clarke (great-granddaughter of former slaves Katie Owens and Joseph McJunkin) does everything she can to keep the doors of the church open and the history of the community alive. To assist Mable in her mission, all profits from the monthly fish fries return to the community, as do all the royalties and speaker’s fees from the sales of my Liberia oral history book. Please help to preserve this critically important part of the history of our state and nation.

Here at Soapstone, visitors will discover a community with the strength of character and the will to persist that reflect, in an even larger frame, the indomitability of the human spirit. I think it is a story worth discovering for yourselves.

BOOK ORDERS The book about the Liberia story is entitled Liberia, South Carolina: an African American Appalachain Community, and it should be ordered through the University of North Carolina Press website, since royalties for the book are returned to the Liberia community. https://uncpress.org/book/9781469640853/ liberia-south-carolina/

UNDER the Milky Way: CHRISTMAS EVE, 50 YEARS AGO Words by George McDaniel

sky ablaze with the Milky Way arcing across the heavens, as probably seen by that young couple with their newborn in the stable in Bethlehem. Their night had been filled with hope and joy, and it has been for millennia. For us, we thought it might be our last.

Fortunately, the VC didn’t attack. The next morning, Christmas Day, we had to cross the open expanse of former rice fields and thought the VC had just been waiting and would hit us then, for we were plainly visible and “easy pickings.” Fortunately, we crossed safely, then found good cover in the jungle. After a few days and not finding the base camp, we were choppered out.

It is said that the past is dead, but it is not, for now that we’re back home, our platoon leader, Mike Cooke, who lives in North Carolina, goes out in the woods behind his house every Christmas Eve around midnight, and sits with his rifle across his lap for an hour. Some others in our platoon, he reports, do likewise. He remembers the fear and the esprit de corps we had, the killing we were ready to do, and the beauty and the silence of that night. He remembers, as do I, our friends-in-arms who made it back alive, and those, forever young, who did not.

F

ifty years ago, I was with the First Infantry Division (the Big Red One) in Vietnam, operating between Saigon and Cambodia. About noon on Christmas Eve we had been “choppered” back to our base camp from “reconnaissance in force” operations and were looking forward to the night off, for it was the Christmas Truce of 1969. While we knew it would be short, it was still nice.

This Christmas Eve I know there are soldiers in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and elsewhere who are out in harm’s way, being yanked around but doing their duty, and looking up at the Milky Way. They too may be wondering if they’ll make it back. Let us hope their wish comes true and that 50 years from now, they too will be alive to remember this Christmas Eve and their time together.

However, late that afternoon, orders came for us to “hook up,” and off we went to the chopper pad, and waited. Orders were changed, and the mission cancelled. Happiness. Then orders were revised, and back we went to the chopper pad. Changed again. Happiness. Then back again to the chopper pad. This time, off we went, our target a suspected Viet Cong base camp that, according to intelligence reports, was going to rocket an Army artillery fire support base to be visited by Vice President Spiro Agnew.

We were aggravated and extremely worried because due to the delays, it was getting dark, and we would not have time to move out into the jungle and find cover. As a result, the helicopters inserted us by a small hammock of trees in the midst of a wide-open area, formerly rice fields. In the Carolina Lowcountry, you’ve seen something like that — a small clump of trees amidst a wide expanse of open marsh grass.

Numbering about 20, we set up positions in the hammock. We knew the Viet Cong in the base camp had both heard and seen us coming in and knew exactly where we were and how few we were. We thought we’d get mortared and then hit hard that night. It was the dry season, so the air was thin and clear, and we could look up at a thesouthernedgemagazine.com

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THE

Barbados Carolina

CONNECTION

Words by Herb Frazier / Photos Courtesy of the Barbados-Carolina Connection Project

Two statewide non-profits have partnered together for over two decades to preserve, protect and promote this historic connection.

This is where the story begins...

D

espite England’s unsuccessful attempts to establish a colony on the North American mainland, territorial expansion and mounting economic pressures in the Caribbean strengthened a resolve to claim what would become the Carolina Colony.

Carolina held the promise of raw materials and a challenge to the Spanish in the South Atlantic. Spain had twice attempted to settle Carolina at Port Royal between 1521 and 1587. In 1562, French Protestants also arrived at Port Royal, but they abandoned it two years later.

Before England could proceed with the ultimate goal, it first established a presence in Barbados. Although a Portuguese mariner Pedro a Campos briefly landed at Barbados in 1536 during a voyage to Brazil, it wasn’t until 1627 that Englishman Henry Powell first settled on the island. Ten enslaved Africans were among the initial arrivals.

In those early years, settlers struggled to survive. Soil and climate conditions proved cotton and tobacco were less than suitable for cultivation. Fortunes turned when Dutch settlers, driven out of northeast Brazil by the Portuguese, introduced sugar planting.

Enslaved Africans replaced white indentured servants who cost more and were often difficult to control. With the help of English financing, Barbados quickly developed an immensely successful sugar industry, and became the first plantation boom-economy in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Barbados soon became the richest colony in North America, with exports that were more than double that of all other island colonies combined. However, with more than 55,000 people inhabiting 166

square miles, it also was the most congested. Small farmers found it increasingly difficult to compete with large plantations, and available land became expensive and scarce. Many small farmers left for New England, Virginia, Surinam in South America and other Caribbean islands, particularly Jamaica. The need for new land renewed ideas of exploration for a new colony.

The two failed attempts to settle Carolina did not deter Ashley Cooper. He has been called the “spark plug” in efforts to establish the colony. He convinced others to substantially increase their investments and recruited experienced settlers from other colonies to make Carolina a reality. In the third attempt, the Lords Proprietors again promised religious freedom, generous land grants and the absolute power over enslaved people.

Eight Lords Proprietors were the driving force behind early efforts to establish a colony on the continent. The Lords Proprietors were noblemen who had received land grants and titles as a reward for helping restore King Charles II to the throne after his father, King Charles I, was executed during the English Civil War. The names of these eight men – Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon; George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle; William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven; Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury; John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton; his brother Sir William Berkeley, governor of Virginia; Sir George Carteret; and Sir John Colleton – still mark many of the counties, towns, streets and rivers throughout the South Carolina Lowcountry.

England made two attempts to settle Carolina before the third try was successful. In 1663 the Barbadian Adventurers expressed an interest in settling Carolina. They hired William Hilton, for whom Hilton Head Island is named, to explore the Carolina coast. He returned with favorable reports about the land near the Cape Fear River. With a crew of 22 and supplies for seven months, the settlers left Speightstown, Barbados, in August 1663, on a ship named the Adventure. They arrived at the Carolina coast later that month, but the group could not agree with the Lords Proprietors, and the attempt failed.

In August 1669, three ships – Albemarle, Port Royal and Carolina – set out from England with Carolina as their destination. After a brief stop in Ireland, the fleet began a forty-day voyage to Barbados where the Albemarle was lost in a storm. It was replaced with a locally made sloop, The Three Brothers. After five months in port to take on supplies and Barbadian settlers, the expedition set sail on February 26, 1670, along a circuitous route to Carolina. The voyage was not was not easy. The Port Royal ran aground in the Bahamas. When the other ships sailed to Bermuda a storm forced The Three Brothers to Virginia. The Carolina eventually made landfall on March 15, at Bull’s Bay, thirty miles north of present-day Charleston.

The settlers originally had planned to establish a colony at Port Royal, south of Charleston, but a Kiawah chief encouraged the Englishmen to locate on the Ashley River. Historians have suggested the chief wanted the English close as protection from the plundering Westo Indians. After comparing it with Port Royal, the settlers agreed on the Ashley River site. Settling several miles upriver on a high bluff they would not be seen from the harbor. It also was easier to defend against Spanish attack.

In April 1670, about 130 colonists settled at a location they named Albemarle Point. On May 23, The Three Brothers arrived at Albemarle after a harrowing experience with Indians and Spaniards off the coast of what is now Georgia. Initially, most of the colonists were English, with a few from Barbados. Over the next two years more than half of the white colonists and the enslaved Africans came from the tiny island. The Barbadians constituted a majority in the colony for the first two decades. After the turn of the century the number of white settlers from other European countries overtook the majority of Carolina’s white population.

To make the venture more attractive in 1665 the Lords Proprietors promised prospective settlers large land grants, religious freedom and the right to set their own laws. A new wave of settlers arrived at Cape Fear and by 1666 the colony had 800 inhabitants.

But a year later the community was abandoned and residents scattered to Virginia and New England. The colony’s failure was initially blamed on a lack of support from the Lords Proprietors and attacks from the native people. Historians have argued this attempt to settle Carolina failed because England and the Lords Proprietors had more pressing issues at home. England was at war with Holland, bubonic plague struck London, and the Great Fire caused widespread destruction in the capital city.

Top Right: Map of Barbados Colony, ca. 1674 / Courtesy of the Barbados Museum & Historical Society Left: Weir, Robert M. Colonial South Carolina: A History. 1983. Reprint, Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1997

Raising cattle was the colony’s first large-scale agricultural endeavor.

With mild weather and open grassland the colony was a natural for cattle. Carolina’s resources were also suitable for raising hogs. While Barbadians were familiar with cattle, Africans were more experienced at herding cattle on open grassland. Black labor soon replaced whites in the herding of swine and cattle on the open range. In 1708 the adult male enslaved population was 1,800, and nearly 1,000 of them were cowboys or “cattle hunters.” Enslaved cattle-hunters rounded up herds and drove them to pens where cattle were selected for slaughter.

Before cattle could be slaughtered the law required that its owner first had to be identified – a problem that was quickly remedied by branding the cattle. Cattle drives, cattle branding and cowboys were part of the colony more than 150 years before the practices existed in the American West.

On November 1, 1670, the settlement at Albemarle Point was renamed “Charles Towne.” Three days later, the Lords Proprietors sent reports to Barbados that the colony was thriving, the Indians were friendly and land was plentiful. The public relations effort paid off. The Carolina made a return voyage to Charles Towne in early 1671 with 64 new settlers from the island. Soon they were followed by other planters who brought their enslaved workers and servants. In December 1679, the Lords Proprietors ordered the settlement moved from Albemarle Point to Oyster Point, at the tip of a peninsular flanked by the Ashley and Cooper rivers, named to honor Lord Ashley. The initial street grid for the new town at Oyster Point was laid out by Barbadian John Culpeper, the colony’s surveyor-general.

During the early years, Barbados remained the primary portal for trade between Carolina and the rest of the world. During the colony’s first three decades enslaved workers had more freedom than they would have later on. But in 1696, as the rice plantation system began to take root, the colonists adopted the Barbados slave code that defined enslaved Africans as property and allowed a slaveholder to administer unbridled discipline. Much of Carolina’s early economic, social, political and cultural customs were heavily influenced by the island colony, marking it with a distinct character unlike any other English settlements in North America.

The Barbados and Carolinas Legacy Foundation and The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor have partnered for over two decades to tell this nationally significant story. To learn more about the Barbados Carolina Connection, visit barbadoscarolinas.org.

Charles TowneLanding State Historic Site - Interact with hands-on exhibits in the Visitor Center, talk to knowledgeable staff, take an audio tour on the self-guided historic trail, and experience the Adventure Charleston's only 17th replica sailing ship.

CHARLES TOWNE LANDING STATE HISTORIC SITE 1500 Old Towne Road Charleston, SC southcarolinaparks.com

W E L L N E S S

TO BE HEALTHY COLORFUL RECIPES FOR WINTER HEALTH

Words byYuka Greer / Knowledge by Mayumi

A

m I the only one who craves color in January & February? Inside the house, vibrant holiday decorations are taken down; and outside the world appears colorless.

Our anti-aging food expert, Mayumi, shares some amazing recipes that will bring your teatime to another level and bring some color into your life.

BUTTERFLY-PEA FLOWER TEA: AKA “BLUE TEA” This caffeine-free herbal tea is made from butterfly pea flowers, native to Thailand, Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia.

If you want to experience the whole process of this color magic, I recommend you infuse the tea in a heat-proof glass teapot and drink from glass teacups. Blue streaks slowly come out of the flower pedals and each of the streaks start swirling and intertwining each other until they completely merged with water into a striking sapphire color.

If you want to feel serenity and peace, enjoy the blue tea as is.

If you want to create a romantic mood with your significant other, add some lemon juice. The acidity from the lemon transform the blue tea into purple. Kids will love it too; as they will be mesmerized with this “science experiment”.

HOW TO BREW BUTTERFLY PEA TEA Hot Tea Add 4-5 butterfly pea flowers in a teapot. Slowly pour 1 cup of hot water. Brew for 1 to 2.5 minutes. The longer you brew, the darker the blue becomes. The color choice is yours; just take out the flowers as soon as the water turns to your favorite hue.

Cold Brew Tea Add 5-8 butterfly pea flowers in a water jug. Add 3-4 cups of water. Leave the jug in a refrigerator until the water turns as blue as you like.

HEALTH BENEFITS Butterfly pea flower tea is rich in anthocyanins, a type of polyphenol; some studies say it contains four times as much anthocyanins as blueberries. With its powerful antioxidant effects, it is known to help fight against aging and relieve eye strains.

"Tea is an exlixir of wellness.

Tea is a magical art of longevity."

- Kissa Yojoki (Drinking Tea for Wellness) by Eisai

MATCHA Green tea to Japanese people is like coffee to people in the United States: you cannot start the day without it. The history of tea in Japan is so deep and spiritual that it would be disrespectful to fake my knowledge. So, I’ll simply share the origins and let you do your own research. In the 12th century, a Buddhist priest, Eisai, went to China to learn Chinese Buddhism of that time. He brought back tea plant seeds and introduced the method of drinking powdered tea (matcha) as a medical herb. Over a time, matcha began to be used for tea ceremonies, but today, people drink matcha for casual occasions; yes, even at Starbucks.

Disclaimer The content of this column is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any question you may have regarding a medical condition. The Southern Edge Magazine (TSE) does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physician, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the magazine. Reliance on any information provided by TSE, TSE employees, other contributors appearing on print issues, website, social network, and other digital platforms is solely at your own risk.

Matcha is powdered, baby green tea leaves called tencha. The tea bushes are grown in nutrient-rich soil. As soon as tea buds start sprouting, tea bushes are shaded under a canopy to avoid the direct sunlight 20-30 days before harvest. This process develops bright green amino acid which enhances umami flavor. The young leaves are either hand-picked or machine-picked, steamed, dried, stemmed, deveined, and ground in a stone mill into powder.

Due to the extra care and artistry, matcha is more expensive than regular green tea. However, its health benefits have gained worldwide recognition as “superfood”.

detoxify

improve skin beauty improve immunity (fight against cancer) prevent alzheimer & other cognitive disorders prevent dental decay relax body & mind

Matcha is packed with healthy components: vitamin C, vitamin E, bete-carotene, chlorophyll. compounds of flurine, dietary fiber, theanine, and caffine.

TS

boost metabolism

FI

fight against aging

E

Matcha is known to:

N

H

H B T L A E E

ZEN MATCHA BROWNIES INGREDIENTS (for a 9-inch square pan) 1 CUP FLOUR

2 TBSP MATCHA POWDER

2 TBSP GRANULATED SUGAR

1 SHEET WHITE CHOCOLATE (USED LINDT WHITE

CHOCOLATE 4.4 OZ), CHOPPED

2 EGGS AT A ROOM TEMPERATURE

4 TBSP UNSALTED BUTTER AT ROOM TEMPERATURE 3 TBSP MILK

1.5 TSP BAKING POWDER

PREP Preheat the oven at 320ËšF Line the 9-inch square pan with parchment paper.

DIRECTIONS #1 Sift flour, matcha powder and baking powder together. #2 Melt white chocolate in a microwave for 30 seconds at 1000W. In a large bowl, add butter, chopped white chocolate, milk and granulated sugar.

#3 Stir eggs, add 1/3 of the eggs into No. 2, mix well. #5 Add flour mixture to No.3. #6 Pour the batter into the pan.

Bake for 10-13 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

#7 Cool.

When the brownies become cool enough to touch, remove from the pan.

#8 Serve with whipped cream, 76

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vanilla ice cream or by itself.

artist

I

f you don’t think soapmaking is an art, you haven’t been to Joy Haynie’s workshop. I had the privilege of visiting with Joy and learning the story behind her growing soap-making business. Or, should I say “joy-making” business? That is her tagline after all; Bringing Joy to Getting Clean.

As a kid, Joy hated the mundaneness of bath-time. Why, she thought, would any kid want to come in from the great outdoors to bathe? The 80’s and her teenage years brought a little relief when the vintage (can we call the 80’s “vintage”?) bath beads came on the market. She loved the fragrance and the luxuriousness of the little beads and she loved watching them dissolve to turn her bath water into a spa-like experience. The seeds of a future business were planted.

Joy grew up and became a teacher before leaving the profession to raise her two children. I bring this up because some elements of teaching found their way into her soap-making business. I’ll explain that later, but for now, let’s start at the beginning of her new career in her new craft. Becky Jackson was her inspiration and craft mentor.

With her guidance, Joy became very involved in a variety of crafts.

However, with Becky’s advice and counsel, Joy was inspired to take her love of cottage crafts and blend it, so-to-speak, with the desire to make bath time fun for kids.

Joy Haynie

Joy went to work doing extensive research. She discovered the methods of melt & pour and cold process, to name a few. Her business model is set up much like lesson plans (I told you we’d come back to teaching) with goals, step-by-step objectives, and lists of needed materials. Experimenting with different fragrances and substances such as lye is much like chemistry class; and Joy takes her research very seriously as she is committed to making her products safe. She jokingly told me that she never tests on animals, only her family. And, as much as her kids serve as the guinea pigs for the line of kid products, her husband, Todd, has been her biggest supporter and cheerleader.

With her own kids in mind, Joy has developed amazingly fun soaps, many with a toy included. It’s like getting to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop – the more you bathe, the faster you get to the toy! Some unique seasonal products include Disney’s “Frozen” inspired soaps and bath bombs, and even a nativity scene with a different character and story each night leading up to Christmas Eve. How adorable is that?

Joy also has a great line of women and men’s bath products as well.

My favorite, by far, is a one-of-a-kind Southern inspired line of exfoliating soaps. What is the exfoliant? Grits! That’s right, grits!

With fragrance names such as “Bless Your Heart”, “Front Porch”, “Sweet Tea & Magnolias”, and “Southern Gentlemen”, you’ll not only have soft, exfoliated skin, you’ll smell simply Southern too.

I had a wonderful time visiting with Joy, seeing the soap-making process, and learning the story behind her unique product line. I left with a basket full of Simply Joy products and I encourage you to try some out yourself. Plus, Christmas and Valentine’s Day are right around the corner if you’re looking for a special gift. To keep up with her seasonal lines, follow Joy on Facebook at Simply Joy Soaps and on Instagram at simplyjoysoaps. And, she is always at Ivy House Antiques on Two Notch Road in Columbia, South Carolina. Have fun getting clean. s i m p l y j oys o a p s . c o m

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