Life in Our Foothills December 2016 - Tryon News Media by Tryon Daily Bulletin

life in our foothills

DECEMBER 2016

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS DECEMBER 2016

HILLBILLY CLAN NO. 2

Love on parade for the children of Shriners Hospitals

Parades, feasts, art and music herald the season

MISSILDINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RESTORATION

The phoenix of Trade St.

Editor’s Note

Welcome to this month’s Life in Our Foothills

he sweet sights and sounds of Christmas in the Foothills are a reminder and opportunity for us to put political differences aside and come together in peace. It’s a time to pull close to our families, friends and neighbors and celebrate all that makes this community a great place to live work and play. The sidewalks of our city streets are spruced up for the occasion and dressed in their holiday best. For fun things to do this season check out the holiday lineup of parades and activities in our Calendar of Events on pages 4 and 5. Kicking off the festivities on December 1 is the Christmas Parade in downtown Landrum, followed by the Columbus Christmas parade on the December 3,, the Saluda Hometown Christmas on December 9 and the Tryon Christmas Parade on the 14th. There are also Christmas concerts, shows and more to entertain you. For music lovers you’ll want to read Michael O’Hearn’s feature article on Tuba Christmas. In its 19th year, this is a free concert with musicians from both North and South Carolina. Enjoy the concert live on December 3 at Polk County High School. For something a little different, to page 14 for a behind-the-scenes look at Hillbilly Clan No. 2. These are some great folks who enjoy coming out and helping the children. Drive through downtown Tryon and it’s impossible to not notice its transformation this past year. Turn to page 22 where one of my favorite writers, Vince Verrecchio, outlines this transformation in his latest feature article, “The Phoenix of Trade Street.” There are many more stories within these pages and we hope you will enjoy them. As this is a magazine about and for you we welcome your ideas and invite you share with us what you would like to read about by mailing us at 16 N. Trade Street, Tryon NC 28782, calling us at 828-859-9151 or sending us an email at news@tryondailybulletin.com. We invite you to pick up a copy each month as there is sure to be someone you know inside -- a neighbor, family member, a friend or perhaps even you! If you want it delivered to your home or office we offer subscriptions for $35 per year, just enough to cover the postage. To subscribe call us at 828-859-9151. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a truly happy new year!

DECEMBER 2016

Publisher Betty Ramsey Editor Claire Sachse Contributors Gillian Drummond Judy Heinrich Carol Lynn Jackson Judith Kerns Linda List Michael O’Hearn Cody Owens Mark Schmerling Vincent Verrecchio Steve Wong Marketing Kevin Powell Magan Etheridge Production Gwen Ring Administration Ashley Bryant Erika Anton Distribution Jeff Allison Jamie Lewis Austin Howell

on the cover

Betty Ramsey, Publisher betty.ramsey@tryondailybulletin.com Life in Our Foothills is published monthly by Tryon Newsmedia, LLC. Life in Our Foothills is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Tryon Newsmedia Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including, but not limited to, letters, story ideas and requests o reprint materials) to: Editor, Life in our Foothills,16 N. Trade Street, Tryon, N.C. 28782, or email to claire.sachse@tryondailybulletin.com. Life in Our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and upstate South Carolina. Please visit lifeinourfoothills.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $35 for one year by emailing subscribe@lifeinourfoothills.com or by calling 828-859-9151. ext. 101. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@lifeinourfoothills.com or by calling 828-859-9151. 2

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

Santa at the Columbus Christmas Parade in 2015. Photo by Claire Sachse.

Calendar of Events

COLUMBUS CHRISTMAS PARADE Saturday, December 3, 4 p.m.

JOINED AT THEIR ART: THREE COUPLES Upstairs Artspace Through December 2 49 S. Trade St., Tryon upstairsartspace.org or 828-859-2828 BOB NEELY’S EIGHT BY EIGHT AT EIGHTY Tryon Depot Gallery Through December 19 22 Depot St., Tryon tryondepotroom.com or 828-859-7001 HOLIDAY SHOW Tryon Arts & Crafts School Through December 23 373 Harmon Field Rd., Tryon tryonartsandcrafts.org or 828-859-8323 WINTER SHOW Tryon Painters & Sculptors Through December 23 78 N. Trade St., Tryon tryonpaintersandsculptors.com or 828-859-0141 TRYON FILM CONNECTIONS Tryon Fine Arts Center Through January 14 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org or 828-859-8322 4

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

TRYON ARTS & CRAFTS SCHOOL Through December 23

LANDRUM CHRISTMAS PARADE Downtown Landrum Thursday, December 1, 6 p.m. TRYON CHRISTMAS STROLL Downtown Tryon Friday, December 2, 5-8 p.m. downtowntryon.org or 828-859-6484 RACE TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS 5K, 10K, 1K Holy Cross Episcopal Church Saturday, December 3, 9 a.m. TRYON HISTORICAL MUSEUM TOUR OF HISTORIC HOMES Starts at Harmon Field, Tryon Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m. tryonhometour.eventbrite.com TUBACHRISTMAS Polk County High School Saturday, December 3, 1:30 p.m. 1681 NC Hwy. 108, Columbus TRYON FINE ARTS CENTER HOLIDAY BALL 2016 Tryon Fine Arts Center Saturday, December 3, 8 p.m. 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org or 828-859-8322 COLUMBUS CHRISTMAS PARADE Downtown Columbus Saturday, December 3, 4 p.m.

TFAC FILM SERIES PRESENTS “CHOCOLAT” Tuesday, December 6, 7 p.m.

PACOLET AREA CONSERVANCY ANNUAL BRUNCH AND HOLIDAY PARTY Old Chinquapin Farm Sunday, December 4, 12:30 p.m. Pacolet.org or 828-859-5060 TFAC FILM SERIES PRESENTS “CHOCOLAT” Tryon Fine Arts Center Tuesday, December 6, 7 p.m. 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org or 828-859-8322 HOLIDAY EXPRESSIONS IN RECYCLED PLASTIC Crafts & Conversation Series with David Edgar Tryon Arts & Crafts School Thursday, December 8, 12 p.m. 373 Harmon Field Rd., Tryon tryonartsandcrafts.org or 828-859-8323 ANNUAL SALUDA HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS Downtown Saluda Friday, December 9, 6 p.m. Saludalifestyles.com NNENNA FREELON & JOHN BROWN TRIO Tryon Fine Arts Center Saturday, December 10, 8 p.m. 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org or 828-859-8322

Calendar of Events

DO IT YOURSELF MESSIAH Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m.

COMMUNITY CHORUS CHRISTMAS CONCERT Polk County High School Sunday, December 11, 3 p.m. 1681 NC Hwy. 108, Columbus carolinacommunitychorus.org

MUSIC IN LANDRUM Sunday, Dec. 18, 3 p.m.

JAMIE LAVAL’S CELTIC CHRISTMAS Tryon Fine Arts Center Friday, December 30, 7:30 p.m. 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org or 828-859-8322

JAMIE LAVAL’S CELTIC CHRISTMAS Friday, December 30, 7:30 p.m.

TRYON MIDNIGHT Downtown Tryon Saturday, December 31, 7-10 p.m. Downtowntryon.org

TRYON CHRISTMAS PARADE Downtown Tryon Wednesday, December 14, 5 p.m. DO IT YOURSELF MESSIAH Tryon Fine Arts Center Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m. 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon tryonarts.org or 828-859-8322 MUSIC IN LANDRUM PRESENTS MARIA PARRINI Landrum Methodist Church Sunday, December 18, 3 P.M. 227 N. Howard Ave., Landrum musicinlandrum.org “ELF” MOVIE SCREENING Tryon Theater Wednesday, December 21, 7 p.m. 45 S. Trade St., Tryon Admission: One unexpired, nonperishable food item per person to donate to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry polklibrary.org or 828-894-8721 SHEPHERD’S FEAST Polk County Middle School Sunday, December 25, 1-4 p.m. 321 Wolverine Trail, Mill Spring 828-894-3253 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

In this issue

FOOTHILLS FEATURED 8 Saluda Masquerade Party 9 Veterans Day observances 10 St. Luke’s Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon 12 Marine Corps birthday celebration 34 TR&HC Any & All Dog Show

14 TUBA CHRISTMAS

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas

16 HILLBILLY CLAN NO. 2 For the love of children

22 MISSILDINE’S RESTORATION The phoenix of Trade Street

29 COUNTRY LIVING

Gratitude & Generosity

30 Q & A WITH CARLANN SCHERPING Shepherd’s Feast tradition needs volunteers

32 MUCH ADO A (not so) simple wish list

36 FIELD HUNTER CHAMPIONSHIPS At the inaugural Festival of the Hunt

40 ATREVIDO Many ways a champion

46 FINDING NEW PLACES TO RIDE AND CAMP Website links riders with camps and trails

50 IN GOOD TASTE The Christmas Fruitcake

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

In this issue

Tryon Fine Arts Center presents

NNENNA FREELON

featuring the John Brown Trio Saturday, December 10, 2016 8 pm

Tickets: $35*

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Foothills Featured

Saluda Masquerade Party Photos by Mark Schmerling Holiday costumes and shared food helped benefit the Historic Saluda Depot on Oct. 31, 2016, when local residents attended a potluck masquerade party there. “Blues Brother” Jake Curtis arrived in the Blues Patrol Car, complete with huge rooftop loudspeaker, and played records from the past 50 or more years. His music got many participants dancing. Millie Granger and Kay Shurleff

Destiny Weeks and Patty Martin

Chuck Hearon 8

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

Ashley Keener

Calvin Levi as Hall & Oates (haulin’ oats, get it?)

“Blues Brother” Jake Curtis and Corinne Gerwe

Ashley Keener and Judy Ward

Foothills Featured

Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony

Bevin Corbin, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9116, Columbus, and American Legion Post, Tryon

Part of the tribute to America’s veterans was the laying of a wreath at Veterans’ Park by Joyce Preston, president of Veterans of Foreign Wars Chapter 9116 Auxiliary, Columbus.

Photos by Mark Schmerling There was a Veterans Day wreath laying ceremony held at Veterans Park in Columbus on Nov. 11. This ceremony is presented yearly by the members of the VFW Post 9116 and Auxiliary out of Columbus. Included were the Polk County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard which fired a three-volley gun salute and the playing of Taps in honor of our deceased veterans. Far Left: Polk County Honor Guard member Clyde Plumley plays Taps at the conclusion of the Veterans Day ceremony. Left: Attending the special Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony at Veterans Park along with many other veterans was Jerry Gillie.

Veterans celebrated in Sunny View Photos by Mark Schmerling. Area service members gathered for Veterans Day breakfast on Friday, Nov. 11 at Sunnyview Community Clubhouse.

A crowd of U.S. military service veterans enjoyed a special breakfast at Sunnyview Community Center on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11.

Morgan Milachouski offers fruit to one of the many veterans.

Liberty Gaydish, left, and Ralph Arledge, right. LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Foothills Featured

Jim Bross, Bob Holycross, Gayle Cook, Jean Shumway, Barbara Belthoff, Virginia Clark

St. Luke’s Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon Photos by Cody Owens St. Luke’s Hospital honored its team of volunteers at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon held at the Episcopal Church of The Holy Cross in Tryon on Oct. 26. Collectively, hospital volunteers contributed $270,000-$300,000 worth of time in the past year, which is equal to seven full-time employees. Several volunteers gave more than 5,000 hours, with one volunteer, Virginia Clark, giving 10,000. At the end of the event, volunteers were given awards based on number of hours served. St. Luke’s Hospital CEO Jim Bross served as the guest speaker for the luncheon.

Rick Powell, Anne Laubengeiger, Frank Williams

Eleanore Rosenberg, Dot Maxwell, Carol Nothstein, Marie Clevenger, Carol Bayse 10

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

Foothills Featured

Kathy Watson, Sonia Gebhardt, Cathy Calure, Yvonne Basarab, Marie Vehorn

Mary Duncan, Ruth Cantrell, Ed Daws, Lucy Mauney

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Foothills Featured

Area Marines celebrate 241st birthday Photos by Mark Schmerling On Thursday, Nov. 10, members of the Foothills U.S. Marine Corps group gathered at the Landrum Depot to mark the Marine Corps’ 241st birthday. An act of the Continental Congress formed the Marine Corps on Nov. 10, 1775. In addition to a meal, songs and speeches, the Marines present share birthday cake, cut with an officer’s sword. Symbolizing the passing of tradition, the oldest Marine present shares the first piece of cake with the youngest Marine present.

Jim Troppmann, Jack Davis, Don Lyons, Hank Winn, Dan McFerrin

Kathryn Davis, Jack Davis, Palma Davis, Wyatt Derkach

Jim Troppmann

Brian Riordanl with Mastin Robeson

Jack Davis

Bob Lair and Shane Lasalle 12

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

Bonnie Winn and Kathryn Davis

Foothills Featured

Jack Davis, Palma Davis, Nancy Robeson

Wyatt Derkach

Hailey Padula

Don Lyons, Tressa Lawrentz

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

TubaChristmas

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beginning to sound a lot like

Christmas

Above: The Polk County students who will participate at the TubaChristmas concert are Jacob Grigg, Jillian Snyder, Miranda Ramsey, Deomi Millet, Luke Cash, Zack Byre and the band director Ms. Cindy Gilbert. Not pictured, Casie Williams. 14

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

TubaChristmas WRITTEN BY MICHAEL O’HEARN PHOTOS SUBMITTED

t’s the most wonderful time of the year, according to singer Andy Williams, and here in the Foothills the Christmas season is ramping up with parades, strolls, and concerts held throughout the area this month in anticipation of the holidays. TubaChristmas, the free concert that brings tubas, euphoniums and baritones together from across western North Carolina, South Carolina and Western Carolina University, will be celebrating its 19th year of performances in Polk County with a free concert conducted by Jamie Hafner, accomplished tuba player, at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3 in the Polk County High School auditorium. PCHS band teacher Cindy Gilbert will be guest conductor for “Jingle Bells” during the concert.

Delivering free holiday concerts around the world since 1974, Merry TubaChristmas was inspired by Harvey Phillips as an annual event to honor his mentor and teacher, the late tuba player William J. Bell, who was born on Christmas Day in 1902. The first TubaChristmas concert was conducted Paul Lavalle on Dec. 22, 1974. Betsy Zeek, publicist for the TubaChristmas at PCHS and a Tryon Estates resident, has been steering the reins of the sleigh for five years after Stan Howell, another Tryon Estates resident, acted as coordinator emeritus for the show for 14 years. Every Christmas season, tuba and euphonium players of all ages gather to pay respect, through Bell, to all the great artists and teachers who repre-

sent their heritage. Merry TubaChristmas concerts will be presented in over 280 cities throughout the United States and in several foreign countries this year, according to Zeek. Zeek said every TubaChristmas performance features traditional Christmas carols especially by American composer Alec Wilder. Through Wilder, TubaChristmas concerts pay tribute to composers who have embraced these instruments with solo and ensemble compositions. “Depending on the population of any given geographic area, TubaChristmas ensembles may attract multiples of 100 participants aged 6 to over 90 years,” Zeek said. “The warm, rich organ-like sound of the tuba-euphonium choir has won the ears and hearts of every audience.” •

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Hillbilly Clan No. 2

FOR THE LOVE OF CHILDREN A behind-the-scenes look at Hillbilly Clan No. 2 WRITTEN BY MICHAEL O’HEARN PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY HENRY REYNOLDS, CLAIRE SACHSE AND MARK SCHMERLING

here are two rules, according to Henry Reynolds, to becoming a member of a Hillbilly Clan. First, you must be a member of the Masonic Lodge. Second, you must join a Shrine Temple. The Shriners participate in parades throughout our area and donate all profits, according to Reynolds, to one of the country’s Shriners Hospitals. Reynolds is one of the longest serving members of Hillbilly Clan 16

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

No. 2, being in the group since 1980. The group meets monthly at the Hejaz Temple in Wellford, S.C. He and his fellow Hillbillies call this temple the Mid-City Shrine Club, and the clan brings in 30 to 40 members each month to their meetings. If the Hillbillies sound familiar to you, it’s because their eye-catching, old-fashioned country pickup trucks have been featured prominently in parades across the Foothills and

Upstate since the clan’s inception in 1970. Most notably in our area, they have been featured at the Coon Dog Day festival in Saluda and the Columbus Christmas Parade in downtown Columbus. “This whole thing started about 40 years ago in Pikeville, Ky., but Clan No. 1 started before that,” George Ledford, member of Hillbilly Clan No. 2, said. “There were three gentlemen up there in Pikeville who started

Hillbilly Clan No. 2

Steve Pace, Tony Pace, Bodie Thomas, Roy Stevens, Henry Reynolds, George Ledford, Gully Pye, Terrell Martin and Ron Nichols at Hendersonville High School during a Hendersonville parade

Pictured are George Ledford and a retirement home resident taking a ride on one of Hillbilly Clan No. 2’s motorcades. The clan goes to retirement homes and Shriner Hospitals across the nation in addition to participating in parades.

the Hillbilly Days in Kentucky 40 years ago.” According to the history of the Grand and Glorious Order of the Hillbilly Degree, Jim Harris created the national organization in the 1960s with the help of a few Shriners of El Hasa Temple in Ashland, Ky. Harris documented copyrights and a charter for the first Hillbilly clan because he said he felt he needed a “side-line degree,” complete with “Hillbilly Hats” and “Hillbilly Tuxedos” (overalls) worn at each meeting as uniforms. Hillbilly Days is an annual festival on the third weekend of April founded by Howard “Dirty Ear” Stratton and “Shady” Grady Kinney in 1977. It has been one of the events that has helped the Hillbilly Clans grow and raise money for Shriner Hospitals. “That’s the one thing with all the LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Hillbilly Clan No. 2

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

Hillbilly Clan No. 2 hillbilly clans, the motorcades really, is that all of the profits -- because you do have to pay expenses -- go to the hospital,” Reynolds said. “That’s what we dedicate ourselves to.” Following the initial work in getting the new Hillbilly Degree started at the Imperial Shrine Convention in Miami in 1970, the Hejaz Temple wanted authorization as a chapter in the name of their own clan, according to this history. A charter was drafted for the Wellford chapter, and 60 chapters of the organization were created within the organization’s first decade of existence. “Each Shriner pays their own way, builds their own car, pays for their own gas and their own rooms and their own insurance,” said Teddy Edwards, another member of Hillbilly Clan No. 2. “The temple has insurance so if there’s an accident in a parade, everything’s covered, and we pay that per year to be able to run these parades, to run Christmas parades and Shrine parades. There’s a Hillbilly Clan at just about every Shrine temple in North America, about 187 clans, and a lot of them are still active today.” Edwards said that some clans can also be found in Canada, but regardless of origin, all the clans merge in Pikeville for the Hillbilly Days festival each year, which will celebrate 40 years in 2017. South Carolina has three temples, North Carolina has six temples and each state has their own jurisdictions. According to Wilbur Pye, clan member, the clan had a haunted house in Spartanburg on Howard Street in the 1970s that would make as much as $3,000 a year for the Shriners Hospital at one dollar a head for entry. The house has since been demolished. “That place ran for years and years, I couldn’t tell you how long,” Pye said. “We charged a dollar a head and when you went in, some people would go out, turn around, and the next day come back again. We had really racked some money! We had 13 stations there and a guy in front and a guy in back and we would run from 7 o’clock until that last person goes through, maybe at 5 o’clock in the morning. If you didn’t get your dollar’s worth, you’d run through it and do it again.” Reynolds said “dabbling” in things like that and parking cars at some events is how he and the unit make money for the Shriners Hospital in Greenville, the only one in South Carolina. The clan joins more than 30 parades a year, according to LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Hillbilly Clan No. 2

Bodie Thomas, Frankie Bradley and Gene Bradley in front of a Hillbilly Clan No. 2 motorcade

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

Hillbilly Clan No. 2

“There’s no way to put a price on what we do, so we do it for nothing.” TEDDY EDWARDS Edwards, and the group can do three to four parades a day if requested. Clan member Terrell Martin added when he and the clan members hear the stories of patients who have been to the Shriners Hospital, it reminds them of the importance of performing in the parades. “This lady comes up to the Farm City Day in Hendersonville about five years ago and she was probably in her late 20s,” Martin said. “She said this girl, who was about 4 years old, running around playing and having a good time, was born without hip sockets. She was a patient of the Shriners Hospital and she was walking because of them. Like Ted said, there’s no way to put a price on what we do so we do it for nothing.” During the Veterans Day parades, the clan members stop to salute the flag, even if that means backing up the traffic of the ongoing parade. Pye added the unit stops and prays prior to every event and parade. “The first year we did that was during a Spartanburg Veterans Day parade at the post office, and we had done discussed it that we would stop and salute the flag before we started,” Martin said. “This lady was in the crowd watching and she wrote a nice article in the Spartanburg paper that we were the only unit to have stood and done that in the whole veterans parade by stopping and showing respect to the flag, the hillbillies. The next year, they knew we would hold the parade up a few minutes, so they took the flag down and then they put it back up. If they’ve got a flag flying, our unit stops and salutes the flag and the crowd will go absolutely berserk.” Martin said hearing the stories of people with children who have been through the Shriners Hospital validates the unit’s work as the Hillbillies. “If it’s legal, maybe sometimes a little illegal, and we can get by doing it for the Shriners Hospital, some time or another we have done it or we will do it,” Martin said. “When you’re visiting the hospital or you’re at the parade, these people will come up and tell you about my child and stuff like that, it makes you want to work that much harder.” • LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

THE

Phoenix OF Trade Street

Written by Vincent Verrecchio Photographed by Vincent Verrecchio and courtesy of Polk County Historical Museum

From the ashes of 1913 rose a heritage of rebirth across more than a century of ups and downs, comings and goings.

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

The Phoenix of Trade Street

Standing in one of the three second floor condominiums, Scott Lane says, “Gayle and I complement each other, a team effort.

clicked again and the next black and white photograph appeared on the computer screen. Around me, the Polk County Historical Museum and its visitors faded away. It was that easy to be drawn into the image, to be one with a nameless crowd in a long ago August who gasped, shouted, or mumbled as the roof of the Missildine Pharmacy collapsed in an eruption of hot smoke and debris. Of the many browned and faded memories that I had already seen in this photo-rich archive, this one for me was where the story really began of the buildings on the southeast corner of Oak and Trade Streets. Not so much with the pharmacy foundations laid in 1896, but with the rise from the ashes in 1913. From the ashes rose a heritage of rebirth across more than a century of ups and downs, comings and goings, from

local boys nursing sodas while waiting for trains that would take them to world wars, to a famed writer or actor eating Biltmore ice cream, to a schoolteacher with a prescription, and a farmer asking for Mercurochrome and an El Producto cigar. Owners and tenants drove the cycle of the three buildings: druggists, doctors, weavers, bankers, each in their time moving ahead with aspirations and purpose, or tiring and stepping away, until at last, life within the bricks seemed gone forever. Fortunately, where many saw only vacant buildings, Gayle and Scott Lane saw a legacy best not forgotten and a vision of vibrancy for the length of Trade Street through downtown Tryon. Together, they first saw the rundown buildings, but the perspective for each was conditioned by individual experiences.

Gayle had grown up in Atlanta where she had seen how the rush of what’s new could easily run over much of what had been historic. Later, working with the National Trust for Historic Preservation deepened her appreciation for maintaining sites and buildings of significance in the story of America. When driving through Tryon with Scott, she recalls seeing the buildings at Trade and Oak Streets and commenting, “Someone has to do something about this.” Scott responded, “Looks like somebody kicked the front teeth out of Tryon’s smile.” Scott had grown up in Charleston, a city that loves its history, and long worked with the Historic Charleston Foundation. Together they had attended Columbia University. Gayle earned an MBA in finance; Scott, an MFA in theater. I could LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

The Phoenix of Trade Street

Where once in the 1920s, shelves of toiletries, hair tonics, candies, pain relievers, and tobacco tins obscured the wall-height windows, now sunlight brightens the original art and hand crafted gift items of The Nest Artisan Market. 24

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

The Phoenix of Trade Street readily understand how finance would strengthen the knowledge base of a real estate developer. Perhaps, sensing my surprise, however, at the MFA, Scott explained, “I enjoyed the studies and always enjoy the arts but was never cut out for the life style of an actor or painter. I was born into a multi-generational real estate family... builders and developers.” Based on the results in Tryon, one can see the evidence of how his artistic side comes into play with his work. “Gayle and I complement each other, a team effort,” says Scott, “The entire project is a team effort...you have to include Dean [Trakas] and Mike [Karaman] in this article.” When professional pianist Dean Trakas is not playing American Standards in the trio Cigarette Holder, he exercises his creativity as principal architect/owner of Brady-Trakas Architecture of Tryon. He was a conceptual resource in helping

develop the Tryon streetscape vision in 2001 and his work is readily appreciated in projects such as the Tryon Depot, St. Luke’s Plaza with its clock tower, and the renovated Shops of Tryon. “Our town is one-sided, three blocks long,” says Dean. “And I want it to prosper. Missildine’s used to be a hub with passengers getting off the train and waiting inside. Now with the buildings opening, I sense a regeneration...and can easily imagine this corner, once again, as a gathering spot for everybody that calls Tryon home and all those visitors who wish it were.” Mike Karaman, general contractor for the project, has teamed with Dean and the Lanes before. He took a break from working on the three condominiums on the second floor to talk with me. A former metallurgy engineer who had worked his way through college as a welder, he says, “I much prefer working with my hands. I enjoy renovation...

the demolition, the discoveries, technical challenges.” He smiles about discovering a collection of antique pharmaceutical bottles and gestures with pride up to the I-beam that had not previously been there to support the second floor. “Scott and Gayle had the vision and the courage to invest. Enthusiasm and history hooked me and I’m getting to see people enjoy the finished product that I helped make. I firmly believe this will be a destination.” The three commercial tenants also share the belief, vision, and courage. Ashley Menetre moved The Nest Artisan Market into Missildine’s convinced that the original art and gift items created by local artists would add to the mystique and charm of the corner. Shoppers can pass back and forth through the open double doors between her market and the Black Coffee shop next door where a former medical malpractice lawyer regales visitors with

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

The Phoenix of Trade Street

In the corner where Biltmore ice cream was once scooped and sodas dispensed, shoppers now find the bright colors and imagination of North and South Carolina artists and artisans. 26

November 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

From a corner window in an upstairs condominium, Gayle and Scott have a view on the length of Trade Street and a nearby Blue Ridge peak. Scott says, “We want to live in a vibrant town. And we live in this town and love it.”

Mike Karaman, general contractor and former metallurgy engineer, says, “I much prefer working with my hands. I enjoy renovation...I’m getting to see people enjoy the finished product that I helped make.”

Tryon architect and professional pianist Dean Trakas says, “I studied old photos at the Historical Association wanting to preserve as much as possible the vision and feel of the original architect William Strong.”

the artistry and stories of Third Wave coffee. Adam Marcello, certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of America, shows how coffee is an experience that would bring people back to his store and the Tryon downtown. Next door, Julia Calhoun, life-long Tryon resident and descendant of South Carolina’s noted Calhoun, brings three businesses to the mix. Carolina Confections gathers the sweets from 12 family owned candy makers into a single source temptation available only in Tryon. MillsMosseller Rug Studio preserves a tradition started in 1925. “And there was no way I was going to let the Tryon Toymakers and Woodcarvers slip away,” she says. “Working together, we can celebrate our history and make our town a proud restoration.” Upstairs, Gayle and Scott stand at the corner window of the largest condominium and have a view on the length of Trade Street and a nearby Blue Ridge peak. “This is not a money-making venture,” says Scott. Gayle adds, “We could more easily be building subdivisions to do that.” Scott nods in agreement. “We want to live in a vibrant town,” he says. “And we live in this town and love it.” •

Country Living

GRATITUDE WRITTEN BY GILLIAN DRUMMOND

& generosity

s I sit writing this, the leaves are just beginning to change color and I am packing up my house to move. My articles are due a month before publication, and I actually move out at the end of October. So here I am thinking about the holidays while the weather is still warm. I start work on renovating my new condominium at the beginning of November and hope to be living there within three weeks. The lesson I try to teach my clients and through my workshops about having a good plan and following it is the only thing keeping me sane at the moment. I have scheduled all the necessary contractors to do the work that needs to be done before I move in. All my floor plans are finished, so that I know what furniture to keep, where it will fit and what to let sell. A box full of fabric samples and paint colors is standing by at my fingertips for me to work with easily through the whole process.

The popcorn ceilings are being stripped, skim coated and painted, the master bathroom gutted and new wood and tile floors laid before I move in. At the moment, it is rather dark and dreary, and I want a whole new feel of light and style. I will live in it a short while to get the feel of what I can accomplish through gorgeous colored paints and beautiful fabrics. I promise I will have before and after pictures for a future article. This brings me back to the holiday season. The words that come to mind are gratitude and generosity celebrated with joy. Gratitude for all that we have, no matter our circumstances, generosity to give to our friends, loved ones and our community in whatever ways we can and a celebration to share all of this with family and friends. It has been a joy for me to give to Hospice and Habitat all the things I no longer need as I downsize. I am so grateful for the buyers who are buying this house I have called home

and which I lovingly renovated from a house that had not had any tender loving care for over 40 years. Now I hand it on to make a loving home for new family. I am also grateful for the condominium that gives me a new creative outlet to make it into a lovely haven for me to enjoy every minute of every day. This new home will fill my heart with loving gratitude for being lucky enough to have a manageable, safe, beautiful place to live and share with my friends. Hopefully, finished and furnished enough to celebrate Christmas with joy. May your home overflow with love, warmth and happiness this holiday season. Gillian Drummond of Drummond House is opening a new design studio in downtown Tryon, N.C. in the near future. You can see her website at www. drummondhouseco.com and reach her at info@drummondhouseco.com or call 828-859-9895 until then. LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Question & Answer

Shepherd’s Feast A Christmas tradition is looking for volunteers INTERVIEW BY MICHAEL O’HEARN PHOTO SUBMITTED

hristmastime is filled with many traditions. Trees are decorated, gifts are wrapped, Christmas treats are baked. For Carlann Scherping and her husband, Dave, their tradition involves transforming the Polk County Middle School into a ban30

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

quet hall for the community and people who have nowhere to go on Christmas Day. Ross Fox, who was inspired by Hendersonville’s feast, started the Shepherd’s Feast in 2005 in Polk County. Fox passed away in September and the Scherpings have been working to

carry on the tradition when the torch passed to them. She said the feast, which is in the PCMS cafeteria on Christmas Day from 1 to 4 p.m., is catered by area businesses and restaurants in the “family style” and served on china donated for use by the Holy Cross Episcopal Church.

Question & Answer How did this tradition get started here in the county? Ross Fox was volunteering in Hendersonville one year at their Shepherd’s Feast and he began talking with other volunteers at the event. He found out that many of the people at the feast had lost a spouse or had no place to go on Christmas. He asked himself, “How can we do something like this in Polk County?” And then he said, “Let’s make it happen.” I think it first started at the Congregational Church but then it was moved to the middle school because it was more central. I was teaching at the middle school and Dave and I said we would like to do this as a way to give back to the community on Christmas Day. What roles do you and Dave play in bringing this event together? I’m trying to round up volunteers and we still need more. After Ross passed away, we’ve had difficulty getting volunteers to put this event on and we’re asking for anyone who has helped in the past to contact us and help us find more people to help out, even if you just wrapped gifts for the children or donated sweet potatoes and desserts. How does this tradition get to be so special for the community? It’s a great way to fulfill the Christmas spirit of giving and you’re in a community that serves others when you’re at the feast. Dave and I want this to be done just like it always has been, and we definitely want to make sure it continues. It takes two days to set up something this big and we typically start setting up on the 23rd of December before serving on Christmas Day at 1 p.m. It’s a way to give the community a Christmas gift in the spirit of giving and sharing. People who are wealthy and can get Christmas dinner wherever they want can come in and volunteer and be with others. The people who come here have no families, and that’s what makes this so great. It’s a family style dinner served on white tablecloths and china and you are served at your table. For you, what is the true meaning of Christmas? That’s a good question. It is the celebration of the birth of Jesus who came to change the world with the commandment that we love and serve one another selflessly. It should be a time of that. I don’t care about your religion and whether you believe in Jesus’s word, God’s word or Muhammad’s word. It’s why we’re here and I’m in. I’m in 100 percent. To contact Scherping about volunteering for this year’s Shepherd’s Feast call 828-894-3253.

Tony Walters Barbara Claussen We are your real estate team with a total of 55 years experience from Berlin to Nova Scotia to our beautiful Carolina foothills.

CLAUSSEN WALTERS, LLC www.claussenwalters.com Tony’s cell 828 713-1818 Barbara’s cell 828 989-0423

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864-457-4115

www.hensonbuildingmaterials.com LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Much Ado

A (NOT SO) SIMPLE WISH LIST

WRITTEN BY STEVE WONG

erry Christmas, dear readers, but alas, my only gift to you this year are these words, which may or may not be worth very much during this especially hectic time of the year. So, if you have all your shopping done, gifts wrapped, meals planned, and friends and relatives sorted by “naughty” or “nice,” take a break and read on. Otherwise, read at your own risk of wasting time that you could have spent finding snail mail addresses for Christmas cards. In reality, these words are being written (past deadline, of course) just two days after Halloween. I haven’t even tossed this year’s Jack-o-lantern on the compost pile, and yet here I am trying to think Christmas-y thoughts worth sharing. Every year, I swear I won’t even think about Christmas until Thanksgiving, and 32

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

every year, I fail because my Scroogey intentions are inherently flawed. The people who have their act together have been shopping and wrapping throughout year, taking advantage of sales as they happen. By refusing to think about Christmas until after I make turkey carcass soup, I have doomed myself to Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday — and all of the other sales between now and the mall’s closing time on Christmas Eve. Yes, I have been guilty of guerilla shopping on Christmas Eve. So here is my attempt to make amends for not planning Christmas… My Christmas Wish List… Who is president of the United States of America? Hillary or Donald? We all know by now, but at deadline for this column, the election was a week away.

Whoever is president, I wish for him or her the wisdom to understand and the power to change the desperation that many Americans feel. Rich or poor, black or white, man or woman, young or old, there is the undeniable feeling that we are fighting a losing battle on most fronts, be they economic, social, political, health, education, domestic, foreign, or just the faith that tomorrow will be a better day. Lead the way wisely, and we will follow cautiously. All you Millennials, I want you to have the understanding that you, too, one day (if you live long enough) will be older, more conservative, more cautious, less likely to understand the latest technology, and, yes, less judgmental. As Baby Boomers, we know all too well where you are coming from and where you are going. There’s not much we can

Much Ado

do about it, but we truly wish you the best. You are the hope for a better tomorrow. Mom, I wish for you no hospital stays this year, less insulin shots, shoes that fit, and more visits from your friends and relatives. I’ll see you next weekend — I promise. The Tryon Daily Bulletin, I wish for you a windfall of sustainable advertising. Newspapers have been taking a beating ever since the Internet became the focus of our attention. According to Google, most adults spend an average of about 20 hours a week looking at a computer screen. (I’m way above average!) I give to The Tryon Daily Bulletin my respect for staying the course, rolling with the punches, and allowing me use all the clichés that I want. My wife, Kathy… I will continue to give you all that I have. It may not be much, but it’s all yours. You have my appreciation for dealing with a less than perfect husband. To my daughter, Allyn, who is giving the Peace Corps two years of her young life, I give you my admiration for making the world a better place. I miss you terribly and count the days until you return. To my son, Adam, who is a computer programmer in Portland, Ore., I give you my admiration for taking a stand for what is right. I only hope you stand closer to home in the years to come. To the One Percent, I think you should give the rest of us at least 50 percent of your wealth. If you are that rich (one percent of the people control more than 50 percent of the world’s wealth), you have more money than you have days left to spend it. Do some good… pay off a young person’s college debt, make a mortgage payment for the chronically unemployed guy, pay off an old person’s hospital bill, buy a turkey for the kid on the street. And if you say money can’t buy happiness, let me sell you a boatload of unhappiness at below wholesale prices. And to anyone who just isn’t in the Christmas spirit, I wish for you that magical moment when all the cares of the world are set aside, allowing you to believe there is hope. Do whatever it takes. Watch again “It’s A Wonderful Life,” read aloud “The Night Before Christmas,” watch a YouTube video of kids unwrapping gag gifts, drop pocket change in the Salvation Army’s kettle, invite an old friend over for coffee, stand in your barn and wonder about the birth of Christ, give a stranger a gift (no matter how small) and not take credit for it. Do whatever it takes, but have a Merry Christmas, darn it. If I can write this Christmas column while eating leftover trick or treat candy, you, too, can look deep inside yourself and find something worth celebrating. • LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

APPOINTMENTS

Foothills Featured

2016 Any & All Dog Show Photos by Judith Kerns Tryon Riding & Hunt Club’s 83rd Annual Any & All Dog Show was a big success in October at Harmon Field, with new activities including a Polk County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team, Hounds and Bassets from Tryon Hounds, and a dog obedience demo by Kayla Parish of 2 Lead With Love. TR&HC donated $3,000 each from show proceeds to the Foothills Humane Society and Polk County Sheriff’s K-9 unit. Kelsey Roper (center) and friend with medal winner Gracie.

Show Officials Randy Grobe (with microphone) and Marianne Carruth. Foxhounds and Bassets with Tryon Hounds Huntsman Beth Blackwell.

Olivia Loheac and her dog, Macaroni.

Foothills Featured

People and their dogs in action in the ring.

Dogs strut their stuff with owners.

Winners of Children’s Best in Show, Ella Sap and Briggs.

Show volunteers Jane and Terry Lynch.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office K-9 partners Jared McFalls and Rento. LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

The “Festival of the Hunt” will continue on as a tradition at Tryon International Equestrian Center during the fall.

FIELD HUNTER CHAMPIONSHIPS SUBMITTED BY TRYON INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER PHOTOS BY ERIK OLSEN

Inaugural Festival of the Hunt brought together three regional fox hunting organizations 36

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

nita Crouse, representing Green Creek Hounds of Tryon, N.C., piloted her own Rickie to top honors in the Tryon International Equestrian Center Field Hunter Championships presented by Adequan and hosted on

the Grass Complex at the venue. The TIEC Field Hunter Championships served as the highlight of the inaugural “Festival of the Hunt,” Nov. 7-13, which brought together three fox hunting organizations from the region for a week of sport across

Inaugural Festival of the Hunt

Anita Crouse and Rickie on course during the 2016 TIEC Field Hunter Championships.

Anita Crouse and Rickie in their presentation ceremony with Roger Smith of Tryon Equestrian Partners; Sharon Decker, COO of Tryon Equestrian Partners, Carolinas Operations; judges Linden Wiesman Ryan, Snowden Clark, and Thomas Cadier, alongside organizer Carolyn Cadier. LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Inaugural Festival of the Hunt

The judges in discussion during the 2016 Field Hunter Championships at TIEC.

Crouse and Rickie participated in the organized hunts throughout the week and were selected by judges Snowden Clarke, Linden Wiesman Ryan, Roger Smith, and Thomas Cadier to compete in the TIEC Field Hunter Championships presented by Adequan as a culmination of the weeklong festivities.

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

the Carolina Foothills community. Crouse and Rickie participated in the organized hunts throughout the week and were selected by judges Snowden Clarke, Linden Wiesman Ryan, Roger Smith, and Thomas Cadier to compete in the TIEC Field Hunter Championships presented by Adequan as a culmination of the weeklong festivities. As part of the championship event, the top three combinations were asked to return to the complex by the judges, who then rode parts of the course on their respective choices to further exemplify the rideability and braveness of the top three finishers. This is the first time that Crouse was

Inaugural Festival of the Hunt

offered the opportunity to ride on the Grass Complex at TIEC and it was a memorable afternoon for her and Rickie. She elaborated, “Galloping in the field with all of my friends and other foxhunters will always be a highlight of this week. Just the gala and camaraderie around it is something I won’t forget.” “It’s exposure to the public for what fox hunting is,” continued Crouse. “It can be such a fun sport and we’re glad that people were able to experience it here.” Each of the judges are experienced fox hunters and have a breadth of experience between them, participating in numerous hunts across the East Coast. In an effort to gain more attention and participation for the sport, the “Festival of the Hunt” will continue to be a staple of the fall season at the venue for years to come. Snowden Clark, who hails from Middleburg, Va., one of the fox hunting capitals of the world, served as a judge for the competition and echoed Crouse’s sentiments, noting that the tradition of the sport, which dates back to the early 1500s, can only grow with festivals and events such as the one hosted at TIEC throughout the week. Roger Smith, a partner of the Tryon Equestrian Partners and avid fox hunter, also served as a judge for the weeklong competition and is already looking forward to the growth of the “Festival of the Hunt” in the future. As each of the judges touched on the importance of the week, Linden Wiesman Ryan of Blue Ridge, Va., was also quick to comment on the stellar performance of Crouse and Rickie, noting, “Anita’s horse was just one that stood out to me all week. It was just lovely and never put a foot wrong. We hope, as Roger said, that this becomes a yearly event and a tradition, ultimately attracting more people to fox hunting.” “I believe that fox hunting is the foundation for virtually all of the equestrian sports that we love to watch and compete in. I feel that an event like this helps remind all of us, as well as engages spectators, too,” added judge Thomas Cadier. “I would like to thank Linden and Snowden for traveling here and adding their knowledge and expertise in judging to our first event, as well as the lovely young lady who put this all together, Carolyn Cadier. Without her it would not have been as successful as what we saw this year,” concluded Smith. •

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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Atrevido

Holly and Atrevido on course at Championships (Larry Williams Photography)

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

Atrevido

ATREVIDO Many Ways a Champion WRITTEN BY JUDY HEINRICH PHOTOS SUBMITTED

t the urging of friends, Tryon resident Holly Dake decided to join them on the Paso Fino Horse Association show circuit for the first time this past summer. What started out as just something fun to do ended up with Holly and her 20-year-old gelding, “Atrevido de Estrella,” winning the PFHA National Obstacle Challenge Amateur Championship. “I hadn’t been in a show ring in more than 20 years,” Holly says. “But Atrevido was just fabulous. This horse knows how to do it all.”

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Atrevido

Having a horse that knows how to do it all is a far cry from Holly’s earliest days with horses. She grew up in Connecticut where, she says, “I started begging for a horse as soon as I came out of the womb.” When she was 10, her father gave in to her entreaties by getting her a half-Arab Pinto weanling. Fortunately there was an active 4-H club nearby with a very good instructor who helped educate both Holly and her young horse. “I learned how to ride western and did all kinds of things, including shows at county fairs,” Holly remembers. She also had to work to pay for all her horse expenses. As an adult Holly moved to California and got into Paints and Quarter Horses. She later moved to New Mexico and continued riding there. Meanwhile Holly’s parents retired to Polk County in 1983. When her mom died in 2004, Holly moved here to help care for her father. She

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

and her longtime boyfriend, David, bought land in Stoney Brook and were planning to build a farm. Sadly David died suddenly before those plans were realized. And then, within a year, Holly lost her horse, a Peruvian Paso, to colic. “It was a very rough time in my life,” Holly says. “I was just grieving. Then a friend offered to bring me a horse to ride, a Paso Fino, and it was Atrevido. Getting him was a real blessing. He took care of me. Riding the trails with him became my therapy.” Holly first saw Atrevido when he unloaded at her farm at the age of 16, and she admits being puzzled: “I thought he looked more like a Quarter Horse than a Paso Fino.” But he actually had been bred at a famous Paso Fino farm and had earned Championships and Reserves in various classes for his first owners. The friend who lent him to Holly had been his second owner and had con-

Atrevido

The National Championship Ribbon presentation (Larry Williams Photography) LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

Atrevido

Holly Dake and Atrevido at home (photo by Judy Heinrich)

tinued to show him. But he had also been trail ridden all his life and had been trained with Natural Horsemanship methods. He became such a partner to Holly that she eventually made their relationship permanent by buying him. When her Paso Fino friends asked her to do the shows with them last year, Holly decided the only class she 44

November 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

was interested in was trail/obstacle. “I like to be in a show class where my only competitor is myself,” she explained. “In the trail class you have to navigate over and around obstacles like bridges, backing through figure 8s, dragging a log or bag of cans between cones, trotting through a wagon wheel of poles at different heights, and lots of other things.

To do it well you have to be able to move each of your horse’s feet one at a time.” Holly prepared for the class by researching different obstacles that might be used and then creating similar ones to practice on at home. She also took Atrevido to the farms of friends who had different types of obstacles. And she says a large part of

Atrevido

their practice took place out on the trail using natural obstacles and creating circumstances to practice, like dragging a limb or jacket behind them. The goal was to sharpen Atrevido’s responses to her cues and make all of their movements fluid and smooth. She confirmed that they were on the right track when she and Atrevido won the popular trail class at FENCE’s Spring Open Show against more than a dozen competitors of different breeds. One choice Holly made added to the pair’s challenge at the Paso Fino shows. She was the only competitor who rode in Western tack, which meant she had to guide Atrevido through their intricate maneuvers with both reins in one hand, neck-reining as western riders do. Holly laughs that it’s also a riding style that lets her show off the vintage western shirts she collects. The PFHA show season started at Clemson and then Gainesville, Ga., and Holly was surprised to win at both shows under all four judges. However at her next show, which was in Asheville, “I blew it,” she reports. “It was totally my fault. Atrevido was moving a big ball forward between two rails and I accidentally hit it with my foot and bounced it out of the rails.” They ended up coming in third. But the pair had already qualified for the national obstacle championship and at the Asheville show they qualified for the national costume championship, too. When they went to the National Championships in Perry, Ga., Holly had so much faith in her horse that she didn’t even practice: “I just walked him around the showgrounds for exercise.” It was an unorthodox approach but didn’t stop them from winning the Obstacle Championship and taking fifth in the Costume championship. Their success is a fitting end to Atrevido’s show career, in keeping with Holly’s promise: “He has gotten very arthritic and when I was thinking about showing him I told him, ‘If you’ll do this for me, I’ll let you retire afterward.’” Holly still takes Atrevido out for easy trail rides to keep him limber and he is still the boss horse for his stablemate, five-year-old Paso Fino “Tuckaway’s Monte Cristo,” and companion mini donkey, Ella. While Monte is gaining confidence on the trails, Holly is adding another experienced trail horse, a Missouri Fox Trotter, to her herd. That one will also have to learn to accept Atrevido’s leadership because, after all he’s done for Holly, he’s not going anywhere. •

HorseTrailDirectory.com

FINDING NEW PLACES TO RIDE AND CAMP WRITTEN BY JUDY HEINRICH PHOTOS SUBMITTED

John and Joanne like nothing better than exploring trails on horseback. Photo by Sheila Veatch.

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

HorseTrailDirectory.com

Website links riders with camps and trails

ind a need and fill it” is great advice for anyone looking to start a business. And it’s sometimes an irresistible inspiration even if starting a business is the furthest thing from your mind. Such was the case for Columbus resident John Thurow, creator and proprietor of HorseTrailDirectory.com. This story began in July 1999 When John and his wife, Joanne, went on a horse-packing trip in Yellowstone Park. Neither had any ties to horses at that time but thought the experience sounded like fun. It was more than fun; it changed their lives. A few months after Yellowstone, Joanne arranged a trail ride with some friends for John’s birthday. The friends kept several horses they bought, trained and occasionally sold. At the end of the day, Joanne asked John which of the horses he’d like to have. It turns out his birthday present wasn’t just the ride; she was going to buy him a horse. “I said I liked a certain little spotted

one,” John recalls. “But Joanne immediately said, ‘You can’t have that one, that one’s going to be mine.’ So the joke is that we got into horses because, for my birthday, Joanne bought herself a horse.” They soon found a horse for John, too, and became active in trail riding clubs near their home outside Columbus, Ohio. Initially they boarded their horses because they lived in the suburbs. But it wasn’t long before they decided they’d like to have them at home so they could care for them and work with them more regularly. In early 2000 Joanne found a house on a road that dead-ended into a state forest with 50 miles of trails. Trail rider heaven. When John retired at the end of 2000, the couple bought a motor home that could pull their horse trailer and began traveling to different places to ride. And that’s when John discovered there was no convenient resource for finding trail riding and horsecamping facilities around the country.

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

HorseTrailDirectory.com

The Thurows promote the popular website at expos and other horse events.

FILLING THE NEED John’s background was in sales and marketing but his whole career had been related to the computer industry, including business-to-business electronic data interchange and end-user tools for database manipulation. So while he hadn’t created computer programs himself, he was familiar with how they worked and how websites were built. He decided to create an information bank that trail riders could access for information. “On the one website that existed at the time, the owner would just post in text form. As a user, that got old in a hurry so I wanted to avoid that,” John said. “And because I had just retired and wanted to travel, my other priority was to figure out how to do this without having to do any work!” The answer was to create a site that 48

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

allowed users to post their own information about campgrounds and trails they had visited. To establish some presence online, John did create and post all the content for the first 50 or so campgrounds he listed, based on his own visits. He built in a couple of safeguards, like blocking obscene language and disallowing links to websites other than the campgrounds (to prevent links to ads, scams, pornography, etc.) HorseTrailDirectory.com went live in 2000. Then in 2001 John opened the site to let its users post information and photos for horse-trail campgrounds they had visited. The formula was a hit: “People really liked contributing and sharing their experiences. That’s why our tagline is ‘Trailriders helping trailriders find new places to ride and camp,’” John

says. “Then the campground owners realized that it was a way to promote their places and they really got into it.” Based on a suggestion from a user, John introduced a review capability in 2002. His five-star rating system now recognizes a winning campground each year based on its having received the highest number of five-star reviews. HorseTrailDirectory.com features information and reviews for almost 1,300 horse-trail campgrounds and has been recognized as the largest and most used website of its type. The site gets 80,00090,000 unique visitors each year and between 650,000-750,000 page views, according to Google Analytics. John’s business model is that the site is free to users, with all revenue coming from two other sources. The first is an ad program that campground owners use

HorseTrailDirectory.com to describe their facilities and promote upcoming events. The second is from Google ads that pop up on the website’s pages. While John hasn’t actually achieved his goal of “not having to do any work,” the time he now spends on HorseTrailDirectory.com is “from time to time doing different things, usually getting a new idea and spending some time working on that.” Which leaves him plenty of time to spend with Joanne on the trails here in Polk County, which they chose for relocation in 2006 because of our extensive trail systems and mild weather. Joanne now has a Paso Fino and a Tennessee Walking Horse and John has a Quarter Horse that doubles as his Cowboy Mounted Shooting partner. John is a longtime member and board member of S.C. Mounted Shooters, which occasionally has competitions, practices and be-

ginner clinics at FENCE. And of course, just like their website users, the Thurows like nothing better than finding and exploring new trails in different parts of the country. “I particularly like finding new places and riding up in the mountains, especially where you’ve got mountain streams running alongside the trail,” John says. “We can go places on horseback that we never would get to on foot, especially in the backcountry. It gives you an experience you really can’t have any other way.” To take your own trailriding to new locations, you can research horse trails and campgrounds around the U.S. and

beyond on horsetraildirectory.com. And if you want to check out mounted shooting, too, go to scmountedshooters.com. •

LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS December 2016

In Good Taste

THE CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE: LOVE IT OR LOATHE IT? WRITTEN BY CAROL LYNN JACKSON “There’s only one fruitcake on the planet and everyone keeps passing it around.” ~ Johnny Carson

he fruitcake came from the Middle Ages and the Middle East. And then that person passed the cake into Europe. I received the cake here in America thousands of years later. And I am not the only one. Fruitcake is, to many, a runaway joke. But at its origin, fruitcake was a grand indulgence. Packed full of dried fruit, nuts and spices, it was ancient Rome’s energy bar. Each region’s fruitcake was slightly different in its ingredients, but was not associated with anything other than everyday culture. As the cake traveled with its immigrants to America, how it left everyday culture to show up only during the Christmas season is still a mystery.

Or maybe not. As the American mail-order industry exploded, the fruitcake served as a solidly preserved, safe to ship, ready-to-eat gift that could let friends and family around the world know you were, er hum, thinking of them. But even the well-preserved fruitcake does not survive mass meal production and travel miles so well. By the time a standard fruitcake arrives, be it drenched in nuts, fruits, and booze, it tends to be cracked, dry and flaky, the gag gift of the season. Fruitcake catapult, anyone? I am a fan of all things homemade during the holidays. So with the proper recipe perhaps it’s time to revisit the cake. It really is a flavorful and exotic

dish and when made from Edna Lewis’ amazing (and amazingly easy) Christmas Fruitcake recipe, it’s delicious. Edna Lewis is a southern chef whose cookbooks are steeped in stories of her Virginia upbringing as granddaughter to an emancipated slave and as a family who helped start Virginia’s Orange County communities. Her books, packed with amazing Southern soulfood recipes, also include vignettes and homages to her culture like how to gather wild berries and mushrooms and how to turn dandelion greens into wine. Her move to New York City helped her develop her cookbook fame, often being called the South’s Julia Childs. Give this one a try this holiday season. •

Edna Lewis’ Christmas Fruitcake INGREDIENTS 1 c. each diced candied orange and lemon peel 2 c. long thin strips citron 1 c. dried currants 2 c. raisins, chopped ½ c. each dry red wine and brandy 3 ½ c. unbleached all-purpose flour

1 t. each ground cinnamon and ground allspice 2 t. grated nutmeg ½ t. each ground cloves and ground mace 1 t. double-acting baking powder ½ t. salt

2 ¼ sticks unsalted butter 2 c. firmly packed light brown sugar 5 large local eggs, yolks separated and lightly beaten, the whites at room temperature ½ c. local sorghum

DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, stir together the orange and lemon peel, citron, currants and raisins. Add the wine and brandy and combine the mixture well. Let the fruit macerate, covered, for several hours or better, overnight. Butter a 10x4-inch tube pan (or 2 loaf pans, each 9x5x3-inches) and line it with parchment paper. Butter the parchment paper well. Into a bowl, sift the flour with the spices. Add the baking powder and salt and sift again. In an electric mixing bowl, cream the butter with the brown sugar until

light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks and beat the mixture well. Add the flour, a little at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the sorghum and beat the mixture well. Stir in the fruit mixture with the liquid and combine well. In an electric mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until they hold stiff peaks. Fold the whites gently but thoroughly into the batter. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and let stand, covered loosely with a kitchen towel, in a cool place overnight to let the flavors mellow. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Bake the fruitcake on the middle rack

of the oven for 90 minutes. Remove and cover with a piece of brown paper (do not use foil) and bake it for an additional 2 to 2 ½ hours. Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a rack or turn it out onto a work surface, leaving the parchment paper on the cake. Once cool, wrap the cake in foil and punch holes across the top of it. Pack it in a tin and set in a cool place. Every 2 to 3 weeks, up until Christmas, sprinkle the cake with brandy, wine or whisky to keep it moist, flavorful, and preserved. Package, wrap, and give with pride this and every holiday season. •

December 2016 LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

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Mitch Contracting Serving your demolition needs since 1918. We offer roll-off waste containers for home and commercial use. Call 828-252-0694 or visit us at www.mitchcontracting.com.

RENTALS Go to www.tryonrealestate.com For Furnished and Unfurnished Long and Short Term Rentals Contact Pat Martin at First Real Estate 828-859-7653

G&C Home Improvements Any home improvement, small or large. Renovations/plumbing/electrical/ decks/stump grinding, etc. Also septic tanks/drainfields. 32yrs experience. Guaranteed. Referrals. Competitive prices. Free Estimates. 864-457-6720 Gary

$10 OFF Fall Preventative Maintenance (Reg $75) Rutherford Heating and Air 828-287-2240

For Sale: All Brick House on 3 lots near Tryon and Lake Lanier. $189,900 See craigslist.com; select Real Estate For Sale & search “”Lanier”” 865-310-4731

Master Carpenter Design/Build Anything On Your Farm or for Your Home Mini houses, tree houses, creek cabins, etc. References Available. To View Portfolio Call: (828)817-4096 Dan Steiner Painting For A Fine Paint Job High Quality-Low Prices •Professional Pressure Washing •Gutter Cleaning •Minor Repairs 828-817-0539 or 828-894-6183 *Senior Discount Available* ANTIQUES INTERIOR DESIGN ESTATE SALES CONSIGNMENT VINTAGE/COSTUME/ FINE JEWELRY Historic Downtown Greer 201 Trade Street Mon-Sat 10:00am-5:30pm 864-235-4825 THE GALLERIES OF BRIAN BRIGHAM Let Us Design Your Home GOOD BY STUMPS Stump Removal Fully Insured Free Quotes! Call Ron at 828-447-8775

Tommy’s Home Improvement •Roofs, renovations, siding, carpentry, decks, windows, screening. All Home Repairs. FREE Estimates Home: (828)859-5608 Cell: (828)817-0436 MEDITATION Free group meditation with free yoga warm-up (optional) every WEDNESDAY evening in Tryon. Beginners welcomed (we’re all beginners)! Call 828-273-4342 for directions. APPLY TODAY!! FREE Programs For Eligible Young Children WCCA serves children ages Birth to Age 3 at our Columbus location in Lynn, NC. Current Early Head Start openings for Birth to Age 3. Children with special disabilities welcome. Limited transportation available. Contact us today for more information. 828-693-1711 ext. 141. STONE MASONRY: specializing in retaining walls, fireplaces, patios, sidewalks, chimneys & foundations. 25 years experience. 864-621-7043 or 864-497-9988 Commercial building- for rent/ lease. 4000 sq.ft. near Lake Lure. Build-to-suit. 828-777-2872

PRESSURE WASHING & HOME MAINTENANCE Home Exterior • Decks • Sidewalks Let FHM help with new projects or home repairs! Call Jake for a free quote! 828-894-6581 828-577-0513

LAND FOR SALE 48 +/- acres in Northern Spartanburg County. 1 mile from NC, 15 minute leisurely drive to the Tryon International Equestrian Center. Mostly open with pine and old growth hardwood mix. Private and partly secluded. Two big creeks, good grass and 100’road frontage. City water and sewer available. 9K per acre. Call or text (864)809-3286

Private House Cleaning Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly or 1 Time. 15 yrs exp. References upon request. Free In-home Estimates! Marjorie 828-817-6350

NC Mountains near Lake Lure 1,300 sf cedar chalet. 2 bedroom. 2 bath on 2.88 acres with mountain views $174,900 866-738-5522

The Hay, Lady! Offering North Carolina and New York Hay. Call for specific needs. (828)289-4230

TIEC visitors - 2 or 3 bedroom house – pool table/laundry room – garage and parking available. CLOSE to TIEC and local restaurants. 828-894-2763 Heated barn- 10 stalls. Polkville. 40-minutes from TIEC. Lighted/ covered riding arena/outdoor arena. Enclosed 4-horse hot walker for exercising. Hot water, wash bay, laundry with W/D, bathroom/lounge/office. Turnout paddocks available. Gated & plenty of parking. Must see to appreciate! 704-284-3730 • 828-606-2004 LAND & ACREAGE FOR SALE Beautiful 13.1 acres of rolling hills, with established fescue pasture, mountain view & 400 foot road frontage- $140,000. Property is 20 minutes from TIEC in South Carolina. Follow the signs at Hwy 11 and Burnt Chimney Road to property on North Pacolet Road. Call 864-590-1906, after 5pm or 864-680-6309 for more information. Winter Inventory Sell-Down! $100’s OFF All Storage Buildings In Stock Free delivery & setup. Lower monthly payments. Ends 12/15/16. J Johnson Sales, Forest City 828-245-5895 WINTER BLOW-OUT SALE! All trailers in stock must go! $100’s OFF! Cash specials! Save big NOW! Sale ends 12/15/16. J Johnson Sales, Forest City 828-245-5895 NEED CASH? I BUY MOST ANYTHING THAT’S A BARGAIN. CAR--TRUCK--RV/CAMPER--JEEP--68 CAMARO--TRAILER CARGO-SUBURBAN--4-WHEELERS--GOLF CART--TRACTOR--GUNS--LAND-HOME. NO JUNK! MUST HAVE TITLE. DON’T_CALL_IF_IT’S_NOT_A_ BARGAIN! 828-551-7176

Wheat Straw: $4/bale. Hay (Orchard-Timothy-Alfalfa mix): $13/ bale. Fall garden plants. Super Rainbow Fertilizer. Progressive Nutrition Dealer. Williams Feed & Seed 8124 Hwy 357, Campobello 864-468-4418 ACTS Home Health Agency located at Tryon Estates, recruiting for PRN-RN Must have valid NC nursing-license, current CPR. Candidate needs to be organized, flexible, dependable. Past home health experience preferred, but not required. Interested applicants email: ccarpenter@actslife.org or join the Talent Network: acts-jobs.org FSBO – charming horse farm, 1700sf antebellum house, ten stall barn. Near Tryon. Mostly pasture with surrounding preserve. Large arena. $489K (21 acre complete); $356K (10 acres with facilities). 773-633-7186 Now Hiring for Landscaping & Irrigation. Babb’s Grading & Landscaping 864-706-4055 Event or Neighborhood Reps for large 20 year old home improvement company. $12/hr + commission. Call Carolina Gutter Helmet & More 864-877-0692 or email resume/work history: robie@carolinagutterhelmet.com MAINTENANCE UNLIMITED If you can break it, we can fix it! All types of home maintenance: pressure washing, yard maintenance and more! 828-447-0669 or 828-817-4284 First Staffing Now Hiring •In-Home Aides •Textiles •Mental Health •Sewers •Weavers •Warpers •Production Workers Apply in person: 1987 Lynn Road, Suite A Columbus, NC 28722 NOW HIRING: Experienced Cook/Chef & Server Apply In Person: Harvest House Restaurant Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-9pm 864-457-2823 Experienced Plumbers Applicants must have reliable transportation & phone, pass background check/drug test. Call for appointment. Hyder Plumbing Co., Inc. 615 N. Howard Ave., Landrum (864)457-4568

LANDRUM VET HOSPITAL Now accepting applications. Experience a plus. No phone calls! Apply in person: 1600 East Rutherford Landrum, SC CNAs & Exp. Med Techs (cert. req’d) Weekday & weekend. Background check, drug screening req’d. APPLY IN PERSON. Laurel Woods Assisted Living & Memory Care, 1062 W. Mills St, Columbus, NC 28722. No phone calls. COOKS, SERVERS, & DISHWASHERS FOR NEW RESTAURANT! Full & Part-Time. Flexible hours. Weekly pay. Apply in person at 322 Mill St, Columbus or call 865-318-8354. Pavillon Bringing hope, healing, and lasting recovery to individuals and families who suffer from alcoholism, drug addictions and related disorders. 828-694-2300 241 Pavillon Place, Mill Spring Polk County Schools Visit www.polkschools.org/ employment for more info & to apply Personnel 828-894-1001 Tore’s Home Inc. in East Flat Rock seeking Dependable and DrugFree CARE GIVERS. New facilities. Only 6-12 residents in each facility. 828-697-7522 • Custom homes • Equestrian facilities • Barns • Boat houses Tryon Builders 75 S. Trade St, Tryon Reed McNutt: 828-777-5688 Roy Gibson: 864-430-5250 White Oak of Tryon Currently Accepting Applications For: •1st and 3rd Shift CNAs, Full-Time Apply in person: 70 Oak Street Tryon, NC 28739 Barn for rent: 4-6 stalls on Hunting Country Road. Short hack to C.E.T.A. trails, fenced turnouts and riding area. $300 per stallunless you rent the whole barn. 864-382-9313 ***Negotiable***

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