August 20, 2018

Ridge Spring News

Harriet Householder

Ridge Spring Sidewalk Sale on September 8

Bargains For All

I am back from a wonderful trip but ready to write about Ridge Spring and the events coming up. There is no place like home!!!!

Sept 22 Magnolia Ridge Antique and Art Festival.

All vendors returning and looking forward to a fall event.

The Ridge Spring Farmers' Market is still going well.  We had 6 venders Saturday and will probably have six this coming Saturday. We had Tupperware, Crowder peas - Purple hull and pink eye, corn, watermelons, peaches tomatoes, boiled peanuts, hanging baskets, and more.  George Raborn hopes to have some speckled butterbeans and sweet potatoes.  Leonard Bell hopes to have butterbeans too.  I shelled a peck of Crowder peas and then ended up selling them.  There will be cantaloupe and maybe more.  Hope to see  you there.

Leonard Bell and his son Julius were interviewed on TV for the ground breaking ceremony for the new RSM High School. Exciting times for the School!!!!

While we sit around, we do start talking.  You plant cotton when you can sleep out from under the covers.  You plant okra when you see cotton being planted.

RIDGE SPRING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: It's that time again, yes time to purchase school supplies. The Big Red Box is getting full but always room for more. If you would like to help with this project, leave school supplies (list is taped to the window at the Family Life Center) on the porch of the FLC. The supplies will be delivered to RSM Elementary School. Let’s pull together to make sure our kids have the tools they need to learn!!! RSUMC is also collecting dried up markers. A bucket is on the porch of the FLC. If you have dried markers and who doesn’t, bring them and place them in the bucket. These will be delivered to RSM High School to help with a Beta Club Project. Pastor Ashley’s message was teachers, teachable moments and being a good example to others. Perfect for this time of year.  September has 5 Sundays, what does that mean???? Sing, Sing and more singing….look for information on the 5^th Sunday sing in this column. Church service is at 11 a.m. unless otherwise noted.

Art Center in Ridge Spring by Joanne Crouch

       Don’t miss classes that are beginning this fall at the Art Center!

Intermediate-Advanced Watercolor:  Anne Hightower-Patterson White, watercolorist, will have an intermediate-advanced class on Fri, September 14^th and Sat, September 15^th from 10-4.  Cost is $130 and must be paid before September 10^th.  Pre-register at the Art Center on Fridays or Saturdays from 10-2, or contact Joanne Crouch @ (803)685-5577 (leave message) or email at joanne.crouch26@gmail.com.

Pottery: Two pottery classes are planned by Kim Ruff.  A small casserole class will be held on Monday, September 10^th from 6:30-8:30.  Cost is $35 and includes glazing and firing.  On October 15, a clay Christmas tree class will be held on Monday, October 15^th from 6:30-8:30.  Cost is $35 and includes all firing and glazing.   Kim’s class will allow the students to make additional small pieces to use all the clay that is allotted for the class.  Contact Kim Ruff at makerart@aol.com or Joanne Crouch at joanne.crouch26@gmail.com to register.

Mosaic: On September 29^th   beginning at 8:30,  Barbara Yon and members of AARS will demonstrate the basics of mosaics.  Students will apply cut glass to the risers of the steps at the Art Center.  There is no charge for this event.   Contact Barbara Yon at btonart@yahoo.com or a member of the Art Center if you are interested in attending this event.

Gourd Art: Septemer 10^th @ 6:00- Create a pumpkin that will be part of your fall décor for many years to come.  Students will fashion a pumpkin in their color choice.  This is for ages 10 & up.  Costs will be $30 which includes all supplies.  Contact Joanne Crouch at joanne.crouch26@gmail.com to register.

      Hours of operation at the Art Center are Fridays and Saturdays from 10-2. There is no admission fee.   Join us for our membership meetings on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30.  Check out our facebook page at Art Association of Ridge Spring & Gallery

The Saluda county Farm to Table and Honey Tasting: September 29 at 6:00 PM at Ward, the Dinner is a fundraiser held annually in Ward, SC to raise money for scholarships for area youth interested in careers in agriculture. Partners in this valuable fundraiser include the Saluda County Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Ward, the Gables Inn and Gardens, and the Clemson Extension Service. Two scholarships were awarded to area youth this year. Tickets may be purchased on line.

Harvest Festival News

Tri-County Auto and Truck Club: We are now accepting applications for the Ridge Spring Harvest Festival Car and Truck Show! Please tag someone with an AWESOME car or truck! Ridge Spring Civic Center October 13 from 8-2.

ALL IN! As the sun rose today the lines were drawn for the BBQ Battle for the Ridge and we received the last application for the competition. The teams are set to do battle for the cash, the trophies and the title of BBQ KING OF RIDGE SPRING on October 13th!

Mmmmmm. Don't you just love the smell of a cake baking in the oven? Time to get out that apron and bake up some delicious cakes, pies, cookies and cupcakes! What's your specialty? We want you to enter your fav into this year's Ridge Spring Harvest Festival Cake, Pie, Cookies and Cupcakes

Miss Harvest Festival Pageant 2018 will be held on September 22.  It will be hosted by the Ridge Spring Harvest  Festival.

Judy Adamick is teaching classes at Aiken Center for the Arts - Animals in Oil, Session I, Sept. 10 - Oct. 13, 10 a.m. until noon, Mondays. Students will work from their own photos. Emphasis on composition, values an color palette, skill level Intermediate. Contact ACA front desk for class sign up.

Article Appeared in the Sunday Morning State Newspaper August 6, 1905

FRUIT GROWING AT RIDGE SPRING

Written for the State by Fritz Hugh McMaster

Disgusted with Peach Growing

Above (part III of column) has been given an account of a few of those who find a pleasure and a profit in fruit growing.  But there is another side to the picture and there are those who say that peach raising does not pay.  One of those is Mr. J W. Thrailkill.  He remembers the time when he got $8 a crate and there was no such thing as glutted markets, nor the spraying of trees, nor hunting for borers, nor a dozen other little things that make a man grow gray and sleepless of nights.  Mr. Thrailkill has been growing peaches for 20 years, and cotton longer than that.  He has made money out of both and out of other things too.  But he says he is tired of growing peaches and next year he will cut his orchard down and plant cotton which he finds less trouble and sufficiently profitable.

            Mr. Thrailkill has recently gone into cattle raising.  He has one of the finest short horn herds in the country and from it he gets a great deal of pleasure, and this may account for his weariness in peach growing.  But there are others who agree with him.  They plant cotton and corn.

Methods of Shipment

The fruit from Ridge Spring is shipped both by rail and express.  The freight shipments are made in refrigerated cars which are loaded at night, taken to Columbia in the early morning, and are delivered to Washington and New York on a schedule of the fasted passenger trains.  The Southern Railway has done a good service to the fruit raisers by the quick transportation.  There are about equal shipments by express and freight.  Home Agent Faint of the Southern Express Company generally looks after the express shipment himself and the rapidity with which he handles them has earned for him the reputation of being one of the greatest hustlers known in the express service.

Conclusions

What profitable use of surplus fruit? He who solves the problem will likely make a fortune for himself and confer a great boost upon the fruit growers.

It is not too much to say that there is nearly as much surplus fruit st fruit shipped.  This may be an exaggeration, but there is actually wagons loads upon wagon loads that grocers give way and others used to feed stock.  (the article becomes unreadable at this point but notes) A canning factory on a small scale was tried but the returns from it were not sufficient to warrant its enlargement.

            With the keen competition the growers of mediocre fruit is to be pushed out of the market and only profit is to be found in the best fruit.  Again the last paragraph is very hard to read but tries to summarize the article.  It was complimentary of the town and of the farmers and how they continue to work hard.

Today in 2018 there are fewer peach farmers but they now ship everywhere. The number of varieties is up to 60  and the season is from May through September. None of the varieties mentioned in the article are around.  Do enjoy the best peaches in the country that are produced right here in Ridge Spring, SC. 

REMINDERS

June-August: Ridge Spring Farmers Market

Sept. 8: Ridge Spring Sidewalk Sale

Sept. 20: FORS meeting at Town Hall

Sept. 22: Magnolia Ridge Antique and Art Gathering

                 Harvest Festival Beauty Pageant

Ridge Spring Library hours: Mon. Tues. 9:00 - 12:00; Wed. Thurs. Closed;

            Fri. 10:00 - 4:00; Sat. 10:00 - 1:00.

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

Saluda County Library Hours:  Mon/Wed 8:30 am-5 pm; Tues/Thurs 8:30 am – 6 pm; Fri 8:30 am – 5 pm; Sat closed

Every Friday & Saturday:  AARS hours 10 – 4 or by appt, free admission

Every first Tuesday of the Month:  AARS meets at 6:30, 685-5783

Every 1^st Thursday:  Audibel Hearing Center

Every Friday:  Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings 7-8 pm at The Ridge Spring Library

Every 4^th Saturday:  The Helpful Hands Food/Clothing Bank