Monday, December 18, 2017

December 18, 2017
Ridge Spring News
Harriet Householder
Merry Christmas and A happy New Year

The Month of January has seemed to be slim of news.  Now I am adding  the latter part of December.  We are all wrapping up literally and figuratively Christmas presents, visits and just plain fun activities.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas and  Happy New Year with hope for our future!!!

The elves are busy working in Santa's Workshop (or The Nut House & Country Market) getting packages put together and sent out. Sunday December 17th is the last day to order for Christmas Shipping. The Nut House will be open for normal hours 9am-5pm Monday through Saturday and for special holiday shopping Sunday December 17th from 1pm - 5pm. 
Jeffrey Clamp, RSM Band Director: On Thursday, November 30th through Saturday, December 2nd three students from the Ridge Spring-Monetta High School Band participated in the inaugural Newberry College Honor Band Clinic.  Senior Tyler Rowe and Sophomores Jonathan Cumbee and Joanna Kaiser were nominated and selected for the clinic.  They rehearsed on Thursday evening, all day Friday, and again Saturday morning and then gave a concert on Saturday afternoon with a very talented group of approximately 70 students from several other outstanding band programs in South Carolina. 
Carmen Holly, M.ED,RSM Fine Arts Teacher:  Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle School Art visited the Morris Museum of Art Wednesday December 13th.  Students are engaging in the Combining Voices Competition. Combining Voices is a special literary competition and tour opportunity designed for students in grades 4–12. The program encourages participants to respond visually and verbally to selected paintings from the Morris Museum's permanent collection.
Spann Church in Ward will have regular worship service at 9:45 on Christmas Eve.  At 5:30 children will decorate a Christmas tree.  The traditional Christmas Eve night time service will begin at 6:00.  It will include songs of the season and a Christmas meditation and special music by Pastor Ashley.  For more information call 803-430-1314.
Juniper will be closed for Christmas December 21-26th reopening for our regular hours on Thursday the 28th

Ridge Spring Auctions will be at the Civic Center Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM.  They will have auctions on Thursdays at 6:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM.
Don't forget the two new businesses that have opened in Ridge Spring, Haley Bee's Boutique opened in the old town hall on Town Square and My Love All Occasion Shop at the Cumbee Place on East Main Street.

Josie Rodgers:
Leagrace’s birthday was last Sat., Dec. 16.  Most of you know her as the Princess of the World.  Her birthday is a bittersweet day for our family.  We miss her so very much; our hearts ache constantly.  But we are also full of joy that she is healed and happy, and we are full of hope because we will see her again.  Her short 5 ½ years were not enough for us, but we were blessed to actually have 5 ½ years with her.  There were so many times when we prayed for miracles and were granted them.  We are so grateful!    I remember when she was born!  She was so tiny and perfect.  And not even citrullinemia could dampen that little girl’s laughter, personality, and impact on others.  She was the sunshine in our lives.  She made us realize how very precious each moment of life truly is.  I learned to cherish so many little things in my own life that I took for granted.  My first grandbaby will forever hold a very special place in my heart.

RSM High:   Cookies and Stories with Mrs. Claus was quite a smash!  About 25 children came with their parents or grandparents to hear Mrs. Claus read stories, have their picture made with her, create Christmas crafts, play games, and of course, enjoy cookies and milk!  This event was sponsored for free by the Shakespeare Chapter of the National English Honor Society and the Beta Club.  These high school students provided all the food and drinks and helped the children create reindeer ornaments, snowman ornaments, and Christmas tree ornaments.  They all had fun coloring pages together and talking about Christmas.  Mrs. Claus was amazing with the children; they were enthralled by her story-telling! This event is already on our calendar for next year when we will have even more to offer!  Many thanks to all who helped and to Karisa Ruth for her special talents!
RSM High:   Congratulations to Trojan football players for the following awards:  All-Region:  Tyson Bettis, Melvin Alewine, Reagan Cherry, Hayden Cherry, Brendon Frazier, & Johnnie Freeman; All-State, Melvin Alewine.

RSM Elem: Aiken County Gateway applications can be found in the link under Announcements on the RSME homepages as well as from art teacher Ms. Ciravolo, for 3rd – 5th grade students wishing to participate in the arts summer program.  Applications and any required materials will be accepted by Ms. Ciravolo until Jan 5.The PTO sponsored Jenny’s Penguin Patch Kids’ Holiday Shoppe.  . 
Congratulations to Terrific Kids for November, character word RESPECT:  Caroline Pace, Demir Gantt, Taliyah Lott, Ellis McDowell, Alivia Williams, Kash Bradshaw, Bryson Hunter, shmira Gibson, Marcellus Wideman, Hailie Poole, Irene Hernandez, Gisela Figueroa, Makaylen Wideman, Makayla Hunt, La’Maria Butler, Dylan Harris, Lamyous Alexander, Gracie Temples, Wyatt Davenport, Jabarius Brunson, Peyton Holsomback, Cassandra Oakman, Danny Fox. 
Aiken County Gateway applications can be found in the link under Announcements on the RSME homepages as well as from art teacher Ms. Ciravolo, for 3rd – 5th grade students wishing to participate in the arts summer program.  Applications and any required materials will be accepted by Ms. Ciravolo until Jan 5.
Mrs. Davenport is still selling Ozark D’lite Lollipops for $1 on Wed and Fri mornings from 7:15 – 7:35.  These are being sold as a fundraiser to purchase iPads for the Read 180 System 44 classroo.
Spelling Bee Winners:  Our spelling bee winners for 5th grade are Cade Cockrell, 1st place; Taylor Long, 2nd place; and Braylen Smith, 3rd place.  Cade and Taylor will participate in the Group Spelling Bee at North Aiken Elem on Jan. 12.  Braylen will be the alternate. 

Harriet's Garden Shop usually closes around December 15 for the winter and reopens in March.  This year I closed a little early due to a bucket list Trip and then bronchitis.  One of the advantages of being self-employed is being able to close early, and then there is the disadvantage that when you are sick you are also closed.  I can still be reached for appointments with call forwarding 803.685.7970.
Harriet's Garden Tips: December is one of the few months when there is very little to be done in the garden.  If a lovely warm day comes along, prune and reshape shrubs and trees needing attention.  And why not use the clippings in the home for decorations.  Don't forget our feathered friends during the winter. 

Somehow in my mother's papers, I found an 8 page "Sketch of Ridge Spring" by Miss Elise Carwile written in 1934.  I hope you will find interest in this as I serialize it in my column.

Page One by Miss Carwile
Chapman, in  his history of Edgefield County says, "From the best information obtainable we find that the earliest permanent settlements within the limits of Edgefield County  were made about 1748".  Family tradition has it that William Watson with his. brother, John, came to SC from Virginia about 1745.  The earliest date of any of the land papers to which I had access is 1755, when John Carlin and Wilmergen, his wife, "leased for one year a tract of 200 acres of George Hiles for 5 shillings and in return John Carlin gives George Hiles one peppercorn.   This land is released by by George Hiles to John Watson and is witnessed by his brother William.

This land lies on a branch of the Little Saluda , known or called Clouds Creek. Every man receiving a grant from the king was required to give a certain yearly rent; in some of the grants three shillings sterling of four shillings proclamation money for very one hundred acres to be pain the 25th of March, the King reserving for himself all "white pine trees and a tenth part of all gold and silver mines."  William Watson received a grant of 300 acres in 1753, but he had already taken up land as proved by the plait accompanying the grant, which reads: "Pursuant to a warrant to me directed by his Excellency, William Henry Littleton, Esquire, Governor General dated the third day of October, 1758.  (Miss Carwile goes into great detail of the reading of the plats noting at one point that using "Path to William Watson's house as a border.)
The earliest date of the mention of the Ridge that I have found is 1771, when John Anderson received a grant of 100 acres from King George III "Situate at the forks of the wagon road near the place called the Ridge , bounded on the northwest by land held by Capt. Michael Watson, etc.."

From me, "Think about it, paying the King from here in America and reserving him the white pine trees and part of any gold or silver.  I guess he figured he owned everything.  Glad that has changed."
REMINDERS
Ridge Spring Library hours: Mon/Tues 8:30 am - 12 pm; Wed., 8:30 – 4:30;         Thurs 8:30 am –12:30 pm; Fri 8:30 pm -4:30 pm; Sat 9-12
Ridge Spring Library Toddler Time Mondays at 10:30
Saluda County Library Hours:  Mon/Wed 8:30 am-5 pm; Tues/Thurs 8:30 am – 6 pm;   Fri 8:30am – 5 pm; Sat closed new fax machine and can send toll free
Narcotics Anonymous Fridays at RS Library at 7:00 PM
Ridge Spring Post Office hours:  Mon-Fri. 7:30 am – 11:30 am; Sat 9 – 10 am
Recycling Center Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 1-7; Sat 7-7; Sun 3-7; Tues/Thurs closed
First Thursday of the Month:  AARS meets at 6:30, 685-5783
Every Friday & Saturday:  AARS hours 10 – 4 or by appt, free admission

December: No FORS meeting

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