Friday, December 13, 2013

Burning Down Jeremy Mayfield's Former Home

Jeremy Mayfield
Jeremy Mayfield's former home is was getting burned down this weekend and the story fascinated us. Apparently they've cancelled it for now because it is supposed to rain tomorrow (Saturday).

We were also interested in this story because Jeremy used to drive in NASCAR for Timmonsville's very own Cale Yarborough in 1995 and 1996.

It is reported that Mayfield tried to renovate the home which was originally built in the 1990's and at one time valued at $1.8 million, but after he was banned from racing and arrested for possession of meth and stolen property, work on the home came to an abrupt halt.

Mayfield bought the home and surrounding property for $3.8 million in 2006. The property also includes two other livable homes. No one has actually ever lived in the unfinished home which is to be burned.

The new owners no longer want the home that is now worth just over $300,000 dollars. Burning it will take it off the tax books while providing training for firefighters in the county.

Read more about the controlled burn that the fire department in Catawba County, NC was going to have on Saturday at the following link: WSOC TV Article or watch their news report below:




After looking at a bunch of articles on Jeremy Mayfield and all his troubles, we wanted to figure out exactly where the house is located. We found it. Click the image below to see. Then take a look at the embedded Google map below that.
Click image to see Jeremy Mayfield home in Bing Maps.
 
View Larger Map


It is currently owned by DELLINGER FARMS LLC according to gis.catawbacountync.gov.

The music video below featured Jeremy Mayfield. The song is called Drowning (Face Down) by the band Saving Abel. It was uploaded on May 1, 2009. It's kind of fitting based on all of his troubles over the past few years.



The video below was uploaded on November 3, 2009 and it was concerning the Real Estate & Personal Property Auction of Jeremy & Shana Mayfield and Mayfield Motorsports that was held on November 20, 2009. (Click the previous link to see more pictures of the house back in 2009.)




Jeremy always seemed like a nice guy. He was a pretty good race car driver. He had potential. What happened to him could happen to any of us I suppose.

I'm not sure how much of the accusations about him are true. The recent pictures of him do not look like he is a meth addict/user. Who knows? How about the stolen stuff you say? I don't know about that either. I would hope all of it is untrue.

It does look pretty bad for him. This is America though, where we are innocent until proven guilty. We also know that sin will always carry you farther than you ever want to go. Hopefully he can get his life straightened out.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Florence County Council Meeting 12-12-2013


After clicking play there will be about 10 seconds of a black screen before the video intro starts. Meeting starts at 1:11 mark. Use control at bottom of video and drag to desired time.

    Wednesday, December 11, 2013

    Remembering Rounder Saverance

    Rounder Saverance 1946-2013
    Rounder Saverance (1946-2013)


    Our Community is saddened that on Monday December 9, 2013, Rounder Saverance passed from this world into eternity.


    Rounder Saverance was the second born son of  Warren G. "Rounder" Saverance (1914 - 1993) and Rebecca Moore Saverance (1919 - 1999). Rounder's Mother "Miss Becky" was a native of Timmonsville, but she raised her family in the Saverance family home on Lynches River Road, just outside Lamar, SC. Along with his siblings, Beverly, Jean, Don, and Rebecca, Rounder attended public school in Lamar, SC.


    As an adult Rounder made his home in Timmonsville, SC. He graduated from the S.C. Bankers School, N.C. Bankers School and Bankers School of the South at Louisiana State University. Saverance was past president of the S.C. Banks Association's Pee Dee Chapter,  Timmonsville Chamber of Commerce, Timmonsville Jaycees, and the Pee Dee Mental Health Chapter. Saverance also served on the Francis Marion University Foundation Board.



    2012-2013  FMU Foundation Board of Directors

    Officers
    Mr. Frank J. "Buddy" Brand, II- Chairman
    Mr. E.L. "Toy" Nettles- Vice-Chairman
    Ms. Jane Huggins- Secretary/ Treasurer

    Mr. Mark S. Avent, Sr.
    Mr. Frank H. Avent
    Mr. Robert Berger
    Mr. Allie E. Brooks, Jr.
    Mr. Mark Buyck, Jr.                                            
    Mr. Frank Elmore
    Mr. Alan L. Gibbons
    Mr. F. "Schipp" Johnston
    Ms. Christie Lucas
    Mr. Rounder Saverance
    Mr. James T. Schofield
    Mr. Paul Seward
    Mr. Samuel F. Sparrow
    Mr. Byron C. Yahnis

    Rounder spent over 35 years as Vice-president for Pee Dee State Bank in Timmonsville before it was sold in 1998. He was well known and loved by the people of Timmonsville. Many folks found Rounder a true friend in their time of need.  He was instrumental in the opening of The Citizens Bank location in Timmonsville where he served as the executive officer until his recent retirement.

    As co-owner of Layton-Anderson Funeral Home, Rounder used his learned people skills to help the good folks of Timmonsville.  He always had a kind word and sweet smile.  He really was a man with many interests as he was a farmer and a former race car driver. When he was not taking care of banking or funeral home business, he indulged in his passion for racing and love of Corvettes and classic cars. Rounder owned a shiny red 1982 Chevrolet Corvette that he purchased new over 30 years ago, along with many more classic cars he collected. He had his own personal showroom for classic cars, motorcycle and speed boats.

    His racing career included 20 years of NASCAR experience, racing in the Busch Grand National, Daytona Dash and Speedway Sports Divisions. He raced all NASCAR Super Speedways and short tracks, but he gave up racing cars in 1990 and began buying classic cars, mostly Corvettes. As his collection grew, he built a garage equipped with kitchen, shower and bath. It became a place where friends who shared his interest in classic cars could gather and work on them. Many good times had been enjoyed there. Just last year Rounder hosted a greet and meet chicken bog for our very own local congressional candidate Jay Jordan.

         
    Rounder found a new challenge – racing on water. In 2001, he bought three powerboats, formed a team and joined a different racing circuit. He is pictured below with the green, number 12, Miss Becky, (named after his late mother).  Rounder really loved this sport, and he was most proud of winning the race at Bucksport, S.C.


    Click this link for a feature story about Rounder and his cars by the Florence News Journal.
    http://florencenewsjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=33&SubSectionID=111&ArticleID=7330


    The WBTW News Staff wrote this very nice article about Rounder.
    "Pee Dee businessman Rounder Saverance dies"
    "http://www.wbtw.com/story/24176823/pee-dee-businessman-rounder
    Surviving Rounder are, a brother, Don Saverance and his wife Donna of Lamar; three sisters, Beverly Saverance, of Lamar, Jean Singh, of Spartanburg, Rebecca "Bookie" D'Alessandro and her husband Carmine of Lexington; a niece Shay Singh; a nephew Mike Leviner; a great-niece Rebecca Leviner and his faithful canine companion "Buddy".

    A visitation with the family will be held Wednesday December 11, 2013 from 5:30 pm to 8 pm at Layton-Anderson Funeral Home, 4210 West Palmetto Street in Florence and at other times at the home of Don and Donna Saverance.

    The funeral service will be at 2 pm Thursday December 12, 2013 in the chapel at the funeral home.

    Memorials may be made to Fair Hope Church, C/O Connie Weatherly, 213 S. Cartersville Hwy, Timmonsville, SC 29161 or Timmonsville Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 9, Timmonsville, SC 29161.
     


    Burial:
    Fair Hope Cemetery
    Darlington County
    South Carolina, USA




    Rounder' s  Mother Obituary
    Rebecca Moore "Miss Becky" Saverance
    Birth: Sep. 29, 1919
    Timmonsville
    Florence County
    South Carolina, USA
    Death: Nov. 25, 1999

    ------------------------------------

    Lamar - Rebecca Moore "Miss Becky" Saverance, died November 25, 1999, after an illness. She was born in Timmonsville, a daughter of the late Nebraska Edward and Rebecca Palmer Moore.

    A graduate of Timmonsville High School, she attended Georgetown Visitation in Washington, D.C. She completed her education at Lander College graduating with the class of 1941.

    "Miss Becky" was a life long member of Fair Hope Church, as well as a member of various social clubs. She was the widow of the late Warren G. "Rounder" Saverance.

    Surviving:  two sons, Rounder Saverance, Timmonsville, and Don Saverance, Surfside Beach. Three daughters, Beverly Saverance, Lamar, Jean Signh, Spartanburg, Rebecca (Carmine) D'Alessandro, Lexington. One grandson, one granddaughter, and one great-granddaughter. A special friend, Charlie Calhoun, Clio.

    The family will receive friends at Layton-Anderson Funeral Home, 4210 W. Palmetto St., Florence, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. today.

    Funeral services will be held at 3:00p.m. on Sunday, November 28, 1999, at Fair Hope Church, Lamar. Interment will be in Fair Hope Cemetery.

    Memorials may be made to the Thornwell Home & School for Children, PO Box 60, Clinton, SC 29325-0060.

    (Spartanburg Herald-Journal - Saturday, November 27, 1999)

    ------------------------------------
    SCNOW.com obituary for Rounder Saverance

    Friday, November 22, 2013

    It's been 50 years since the Kennedy Assasination


    View Larger Map


    Fifty years ago today, on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas at Dealey Plaza. I have seen the videos all these years but have never looked at Google maps for this location which is approximately 486 Elm St in Dallas, Texas. Scroll around in the Google maps box above and you will see a "X" in the road which marks the spot where it happened. There is also a National Historic Landmark plaque at the same location. See a picture of what it says below.

    Where were you when it happened? Leave your comments below. 


    National Historic Landmark plaque at Dealey Plaza.

    Thursday, November 21, 2013

    Florence County Council Meeting 11-21-2013


    After clicking play there will be about 10 seconds of a black screen before the video intro starts.



    PLAY VIDEO

    Tuesday, November 19, 2013

    Horse Tales Episode 6 Southern Trailriders


    We found this episode which was filmed in Timmonsville, SC for the Southern TrailRiders Annual Trailride. The event was hosted by Stephanie and Dondi Campbell (of Campbell's Roofing) who put this on every year. It was about a 15 mile ride. The video was uploaded November 28, 2011.

    Sunday, August 11, 2013

    Roy Hopkins Jr., Gone Too Soon

    Lester Leroy "Roy" Hopkins Jr.
    1/24/1947 ~ 8/8/2013


    MANNING -  Roy Hopkins, 66, formerly of Timmonsville, died Thursday, August 8, 2013 in a Columbia Hospital following a motorcycle accident. Mr. Hopkins was born in Florence County, the son of the late Lester Leroy, Sr. and Erline Jordan Hopkins. Roy served in the US ARMY during the Vietnam conflict. He was employed with Terminix for many years, then retired from AT&T Mobility. Roy enjoyed his retirement on Lake Marion and loved boating. Roy was a great dad, he loved his children and grandchildren enjoying them on every occasion.
    Layton-Anderson Funeral Home

    Survivors are his son, Wesley Hopkins, Denver, NC; his daughter, Tina Garrett (Tony Ranucci) Elgin, SC; a beloved sister, Angeline Hopkins Wiggins, Merritt Island, Florida; four grandchildren, Danielle (Robert) Snyder, Bobbie Garrett, Dale Garrett and Ashlyn Hopkins. And two great-grandchildren, Mason and Sabrina.

    A memorial service will be held Sunday, August 11, 2013 at 3:00pm in the chapel of Layton-Anderson Funeral Home. Visitation will follow the service.

    Memorials may be made to the Roy Hopkins Memorial Fund, C/O Layton-Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 187, Timmonsville, SC. 29161.


     

    Moped accident claims one life

    ARTICLE | AUGUST 9, 2013 | BY SHARRON HALEY
    http://www.clarendoncitizen.com/article/moped-accident-claims-one-life

    Thursday, August 8, 66-year-old Lester L. “Roy” Hopkins was riding a moped south on Players Course Drive in Manning, SC at 11:50 a.m. when he rode off the roadway and was ejected, said Lance Cpl. Tony Keller with the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Hopkins was not wearing a helmet.

    Hopkins was airlifted to Palmetto Richland  Hospital where he died five hours later at 5:07pm.

    Hopkins, formerly from Timmonsville, was riding a friend's Moped, along with his son, Wesley, who was on a Moped and another friend who was riding a motorcycle. Hopkins’ son and friend were traveling ahead of Hopkins when the accident occurred behind them. They did not see what happened.

    Layton and Anderson Funeral Home, 4210 W. Palmetto St., Timmonsville is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to assist with funeral arrangements.


    Roy, Angie & Gene Wiggins and Ashley Samson
    Brother and Sis- Roy and Angie  8/7/2013


    Ashley Wiggins Samson, niece of Roy Hopkins posted this Facebook status August 8 at 8pm  along with these wonderful pictures.

    "We lost my wonderful uncle Roy Hopkins tragically this afternoon. He was my mom's younger brother and the dad to my cousins Tina Hopkins Garrett and Wesley Hopkins. We had just spent a wonderful evening on Lake Murray last night with family, most of whom were seeing the purple martins at Bomb Island for the first time. He was our captain last night since Brian was unable to go with us. I was commenting that last night was the closest that I had even been to the birds! No wonder we were so close, we had drifted onto a sand bar! He and his son Wesley Hopkins both jumped out of the boat to try push it free, but we finally got towed from some friendly people on a pontoon boat. We jokingly "fired" Roy from his captain's job only to quickly rehire him to get us back home safely. Roy was a master at navigating on the waters in the Santee area of SC, but he wasn't familiar with the waters of Lake Murray. He was such a thoughtful person and always remembered me on my birthday with a text or a call. I am still in shock that he is no longer with us. We had such a good time yesterday!"

    All afternoon the Facebook condolences were posted nonstop. As folks heard the word that Roy had passed from this life to the next they wanted to express their feelings of sadness at the tragic turn of events.

    Many found it hard to believe that one day all is well with laughing and enjoying the company of family and friends and the very next day, out of the blue, came shock, sadness and disbelief that Roy was gone. Some reminded us of Roy's past good deeds. Others just wanted the family to know how very sorry they were.

    I learned from Roscoe Fountain that Roy had been a boy scout. I learned from Joe Cuslidge Jr. that Roy had always checked in on Joe Sr. and had been a good friend to Joe Jr. too. Many shared what a fun loving guy Roy was. But the main theme was "If Roy was your friend....He WAS your friend."  You know that is a great thing to be said about a person. Scripture says:

     

    A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverb 18:24 (KJV)

    Saturday, August 10, 2013

    What is Sorghum?

    Sorghum growing in a field.
    • Sorghum plant looks like a corn plant - but it's not corn.

    • Sorghum is a gluten-free grain.

    • It is sometimes referred to as broomcorn.


    While riding through the countryside, my son noticed what appeared to be a field of corn. He said "Hey Mom, that looks like corn but it looks funny at the top. Is it some kind of corn hybrid?" I answered, "It's not corn."

    I knew it wasn't corn and I thought it was used as cattle feed, but I was not certain. I couldn't recall the name Sorghum at the time but the discussion lead me do a little searching. 

    Sorghum leaves do look similar to corn. In fact, it is sometimes referred to as broomcorn. It is used as fodder for cattle and poultry, and in the production of alcoholic beverages. But it is also used for people food.

     
    Close-up of sorghum grain on plant.
    Sorghum is a gluten free grain. A research team at the University of Georgia has found that bran from a few varieties of commonly grown sorghum has greater antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties than well-known fruits such as blueberries and pomegranates.

    Sorghum is an African plant that can be whipped up into a sweet-tasting flour and turned into a sticky syrup, too. Any plant that can make both pancakes and syrup gets my attention.

     
    A study was co-authored by Diane Hartle, director of the UGA Nutraceutical Research Laboratory and associate professor in the College of Pharmacy; James Hargrove, associate professor in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences; and Phillip Greenspan, associate professor in the UGA College of Pharmacy and the results appear in the current issue of the Journal of Medicinal Food.

    Read more here: http://www.prevention.com/food/healthy-eating-tips/gluten-free-grains#ixzz2b7PPpAVq


    According to the study, "levels of polyphenolic compounds in the high-tannin sorghum varieties ranged from 23 to 62 mg of polyphenols per gram. For comparison, blueberries contain approximately 5 mg of polyphenolics per gram, while pomegranate juice contains 2 to 3.5 mg per gram".

    I like Bob's Red Mill whole grain products, so I checked and they have Sorghum Flour.

    I have never used Sorghum flour so I searched the web for a recipe and found this, it looks wonderful.




    Best (Gluten Free) Bread EVER
    Best (Gluten Free) Bread EVER
    Get the recipe here:
    http://stephanieannferguson.com/2013/02/28/best-gluten-free-bread-ever/

     









    Sorghum Grain
    Then I thought  what can I do with the  plain grain?

    Turns out you cook it like we in the south cook our white rice. Just like I do my Spanish rice dish, you need to toast the sorghum in a dry pan until it’s slightly fragrant and golden. This will enhance the flavor. Use 1/2 cup sorghum.

    Then, just cook your grain for about 30 minutes in  2 cups of water. Season with salt, pepper, herbs or even grated cheese. You will need to use water at a 4 to 1 ratio. (1 cup Sorghum to 4 cups water)

     

    You can also pop your sorghum like we pop corn but it will be much smaller than popcorn.  Just pour a layer of dried grain in the bottom of a pan with a little oil, cover, turn on the heat and wait until you hear light little pings speed up and slow down in the pot.

    I also found these baking mixes...apparently sorghum flour is not used as a stand alone ingredient.


    http://sorghumcheckoff.com/recipes/baking-mixes/



     


    Baking Mixes

    Cookie Mix
    1 3/4 cup sorghum flour
    1/4 cup chickpea flour
    1/4 cup sweet rice flour

    Makes 2 cups

    General Baking Mix
    1/3 cup sorghum flour
    2/3 cup garfava bean flour
    1 cup cornstarch
    1 cup tapioca starch/flour

    Makes 3 cups

    Whisk together and store, tightly covered, in a dark, dry place.


    Sorghum Blend

    1 1/2 cups sorghum flour
    1 1/2 cups potato starch or cornstarch
    1 cup tapioca flour

    Makes 4 cups

    Whisk together and store, tightly covered, in a dark, dry place.


    Source: Bette Hagman, www.csaceliacs.org


    Check out the following video on how to make Sorghum Syrup:




    If any of you have been using sorghum please let me know know how you use it.

    Leave a comment below.

    Friday, August 9, 2013

    Duck Dynasty Season 1 Episode 12 - "Fishin' for Business" - Scene Locations

    • Jase and Reed's fish peddling business location in Google Maps
    • Catfish Cabin location in Google Maps

    Season 1
    Click image to buy Season 1 from Amazon.
    Image courtesy of Amazon.
    Episode 12
         "Fishin' for Business"
           Original Air Date May 9, 2012
           US Viewers 1.83 million

    Episode Description:
    Willie and Jase have a competition to see who can catch and sell the most fish, and they bring their sons as well as Si and Phil along to help. Back at Phil and Kay's house, the Robertson ladies decide to launch a line of Duck Commander aprons for full figured gals, but hit a dead end when they realize their lack of sewing abilities. Uncle Si, who learned sewing in the Army and is a jack-of-all-trades, pitches in and shows them how it's done.

    ---

    The Jase and Reed fish peddling segment begins at 11:18 in the episode.

    Jase Robertson sitting on tailgate trying to sell his fish.

    Jase and Reed discussing fish selling tactics.




    View Larger Map

    The Google map above shows the location where Jase Robertson and his son Reed were peddling fish beside the road. Where they are sitting is a private driveway that leads to all of their homes. That will be covered in the next Duck Dynasty post.

    The Catfish Cabin segment begins at 16:50 in the episode.

    Catfish Cabin sign.


    Willie Robertson and John Luke Robertson wheeling
    and dealing with the guy from Catfish Cabin.



    View Larger Map

    Willie and John Luke teamed up with Jase and Reed by putting their fish together. Catfish Cabin is where they ended up selling all their fish. See their restaurant above.

    Check them out if you're ever in Monroe, LA.

    Catfish Cabin
    1400 Louisville Ave, Monroe, LA ‎
    (318) 387-7353

    For more Duck Dynasty info go HERE.

    Wednesday, July 24, 2013

    Duck Dynasty is the Best Family Show on TV - Where are they located?

    • Where is Duck Commander / Deer Commander located?

    • Where do Phil Robertson and the rest of the duck men reside?

    • Check out Phil Robertson's US patents.


    Duck Dynasty The beards are back.
    Click image to buy Season 2 from Amazon.
    Image courtesy of Amazon.
    Duck Dynasty: Season 1 has been in my Netflix queue for months now and keeps getting skipped over. Recently it finally showed up in the mailbox. Yeah I know, I don't have cable and my satellite internet can't handle streaming or at least my bandwidth allowance prohibits streaming Netflix.

    That's what you get when you live in the country I guess. DSL is 2 miles down the road but AT&T says they don't know when it might be available to us. Anyway, that's another post altogether. [Update: We have DSL now. Yay!]

    My family has now finished watching the whole first season and now my 4 year old is giving tips on how to "chill down" bees with smoke (see episode 10 called "Plan Bee"). I asked him where he learned that and he tells me Ducks Dynasty. He even goes around saying "Happy, Happy, Happy!"

    Basically we find the whole Robertson clan very fascinating and it is just refreshing to see God talked about and prayer on national TV! If you Google "Phil Robertson" you will find that he has a pretty interesting back story. He played football for LSU and apparently played ahead of Terry Bradshaw and even had better stats. It is also reported that he turned down playing in the NFL for the Redskins because it interfered with duck hunting season. It's pretty neat to see that he still became successful in life.

    I realize Phil may have had some dark years before he found the Lord but he has obviously turned from that lifestyle for 30 or 40 years now and I won't talk about it here. 

    I decided to see where these guys were located in Louisiana so I began a search to find out where the Buck Commander and Duck Commander company headquarters is located and I also found out where Phil Robertson's home is located. I am still trying to locate Willie and Jase's homes and maybe even Uncle Si. If I find them I will update the article. [UPDATE: I believe I have found them. I think I may create a new post as this one is getting a little long.] If anyone knows leave a post below. Here is what I found so far:


    View Larger Map   Location of Duck Commander (A) and Phil Robertson home (B).

    It is interesting to note that the Duck Commander / Deer Commander headquarters was not located at 117 Kings Lane, West Monroe, LA, 71292 in April 2009 which is the date that Google says the street view image was taken. It is obvious, if you've seen the show and with a quick internet search for the address, that this is the building they are currently located in. It is also obvious this building was vacant in April 2009.

    [July 30, 2014 Update: Google Maps have been updated now and the imaging above is from April 2013. I should have made a screen shot of the 2009 imagery because the building was obviously vacant and had weeds growing around it and no Duck Commander Buck Commander sign on it. I believe it even had a For Sale sign out front.]

    If you click "View Larger Map" on the map above the Duck Commander business is point "A". Point "B" is Phil and Kay Robertson's home located at 538 Mouth of Cypress Rd, West Monroe, LA 71292. The Google map below pulls that out separately. The street view imaging is again from April 2009 and note the sign at the edge of the driveway. It says DUCK COMMANDER (can't read the next word) and then it looks like it says SHIPPING.

    I didn't figure this out from Phil's slip-up on Jimmy Kimmel in which he gave out his address. I found it on his US patents. More on that at the end of the story.



    View Larger Map Location of Phil and Kay Robertson home.
    Duck Commander sign at Phil's driveway
    from Google street view screen
    grab circa April 2009.

    It appears that 4 years and three months ago the company was still located in Phil's backyard. In the show, Willy acts like it has been 10 years since Phil had helped out at Duck Commander. Maybe the producers changed the story a little?

    I have read that the year before (2011) the show started they sold 60,000 duck calls a year and last year (2012) they sold 600,000 duck calls. They have come a long way since the Google car went through there that's for sure. I am happy for them.

    I don't know if my family will want to wait on Netflix to have Duck Dynasty: Season Two, Vol. 1 or Duck Dynasty: Season 3.

    It might be next year before we'd get to see them if we wait on Netflix. I am not trying to knock Netflix by the way. I am sure that I am one of the few that still gets actual DVDs instead of streaming. I may have to go ahead and buy them soon. My 4 year old son just asked me if we still had them. He gives me "thumbs up" a lot more now. I just realized maybe he got that from Phil too. I guess I better order the DVD's soon.

    UPDATE: Since I mentioned the Jimmy Kimmel interview check it out here for yourself:



    Also, for those that are interested, I found three US patents that Phil A. Robertson owns. See links below:




    NOTE: Please don't take this information to mean you should go camp outside their business and/or home. With the power of the internet, these days, we can go on a trip and see different places without actually going there. It's just fun and was publicly found. I just put the info in one place to save you some time. I am fascinated with these guys (and gals) just like most of America. Please be respectful of their property and if you go to their business carry some money with you. They have a store that is open to the public. Buy a t-shirt or two and a duck call while you are there.

    Or just go to their website at www.duckcommander.com.

    You can also buy their merchandise here: Duck Commander on AMAZON.




    Saturday, July 13, 2013

    Skirmish at Intersection of Palmetto and Church Streets

    A Civil War skirmish occurred here in 1865 at the intersection
    of Palmetto and Church Streets in Florence, SC.

    While traveling through Florence a while back, I shot this picture while waiting at the stoplight where Church Street crosses Palmetto Street. I have lived here my whole life and never noticed it before but apparently it was placed there in 1949. Maybe you've missed it too. The marker reads:

    Early in 1865 an advance guard of
    Sherman's Army sent to liberate
    the prisoners in the stockade was
    met at this point by a company of
    Confederates under Captain
    Augustus Edwards and was defeated
    with the loss of one life, that of
    a Northern soldier.

    Erected by the Chapters of the U.D.C.
    (U.D.C. stands for United Daughters of the Confederacy)
    Florence, SC
    1949

    This marker can be found here:


    View Larger Map



    Saturday, July 6, 2013

    Remember penny candy?

    Drew with his worn out sack of candy given to him by grandpa.

    My husband Thomas and I have ten grandchildren. The youngest are 4 years old and 9 months old.  We also have a new little girl, Addi, in utero with an ETA sometime in September.

    Tom has truly enjoyed spoiling these little guys. He always brings a hidden treat and Drew is definitely on the lookout for it every time he sees his Grandpa.

    Last week Tom decided to put the candy in a little brown paper sack and he even tied a string around the end of it for some reason. Boy was it a hit. The bag has been treasured by Drew and carried everywhere he goes. For some reason it has caused him to save some candy to eat later too.

    He has worn the bag out to the point it got a hole in the bottom that his dad had to tape up. Later Tom and I were laughing and talking about the little sweetheart and and how he has treasured his “candy sack” when I asked Tom:

    Do you remember when you could fill a bag with penny candy for a dime?

    Well, I had my laptop near by, so I picked it up and began documenting as Tom told this story. I so enjoyed it, that I decided to share it here,

    So here it is:

    As told by my hubby Thomas.

    Oh yes,  I remember penny candy. I remember every week Aunt Rudell (White) would come to check on Grandma and Grandpa (her parents) and she would always stop by and get us kids, all 7 of us, and head to Cousin Cora Yarborough's store. We all loved to see her come.

    She was like a big kid herself and she really enjoyed carrying us to the store to buy us candy.  As a kid I never thought much about where the money came from or how generous Aunt Rudell was. I just knew she loved me and I loved her.
    Yarborough's Crossroads as it looks now. Arrow marks where the
      store once was. This is located at the intersection of Philadelphia Rd
    and Lawson Grove Rd in Darlington County, SC.

    The store was at Yarborough's crossroads about 2 miles from where we lived. Yarborough’s Crossroads was at  the intersection of Philadelphia Rd and Lawson Grove Rd in Darlington County SC.

    There was a gas pump out front. It was a little wood sided store, with a shop building on one side. Cousin Otis did blacksmith work there. The store had a wooden floor and a double set of wooden screen doors with big handles that had Merita Bread painted on them and they would spring closed with a slam.

    She sold chicken and hog feed in cloth bags (later to be recycled into little girl dresses). Folks would sit on the bags of feed and drink their 6 oz Coca Cola in a green glass bottle and eat a "Moon Pie".

    Right inside the door to the right was the drink box. Coca Cola, RC Cola, Pepsi and Red Rock were all there. Then there was a dairy/meat case where Cousin Cora kept the Cobel milk, bologna, and cheese. And there at the end was that wonderful huge glass case filled with penny candy.

    Kids were asked not to put their hands on the glass, but we all did anyway. What an assortment!  Inside the case was Squirrel Nuts, Mary Janes, Caramel Creams, bubble gum, candy cigarettes, jawbreakers, malted milk balls, peppermint sticks, Tootsie Rolls, peanut butter logs, suckers and I am sure much more!

    We each took our turn agonizing over our choices while Cousin Cora patiently waited, then she would pack up the goodies in a little paper sack.

    Cousin Cora knew all us children by name and would have to hug each one of us as she gave us our sack of candy...and we each got our own separate bag. This was 65 years ago, and yet I remember it like it was yesterday…right down to that little brown paper sack all the candy went into.


     Oh, now I'm also  remembering on the last day of school (Old Philadelphia Community School) Cousin Cora would come to school driving her Kaiser (auto) with the back seat full of boxes of Popsicles in all flavors and she gave each child a Popsicle.

    I did not care what flavor I got because I loved them all. What a COOL memory this is. It would pay for adults to remember they are making memories for children. So they should make good ones.











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    Wednesday, June 26, 2013

    Sunday, June 16, 2013

    White family memories shared for Father's Day 2013

    Renee White Roberts shares some memories of her dad for Father's Day:
     

    Hubert Wilson White
    b. Sept 11, 1910 - d. Apr 8, 1989

    Children:
    stepdaughter- Brenda Lynn Maher Gilmore
    daughters- Ola Sharlet Renee White Roberts and Valerie Vee White Springs
    son - Hubert "Bert" Wilson White, Jr.

    Renee,  Bert  and   Val  (2009)
                                                          
    Born Sept 11, 1910 in Cheraw, SC, Hubert moved to Columbia as a young man. He joined the Army where he served in Burma and India.  He then lived in Lamar for a while and worked with the sheriff's office. He was a mechanic for Fireball Roberts race crew in the late 1940's. He married Atha Elsada Gaddy on Feb 5, 1949 and began his family. He worked as a mechanic for the Ford Motor Company in Timmonsville for 25 years and then with the Massey Ferguson Tractor Company on Hwy 76 in Timmonsville, where he work for another 20 years.

    Renee assures me that Val has much more to tell than she does, so I am sure there may be a few edits to this post. Looking forward to hearing from Val.  We will all be fondly recalling our dads this weekend.
    Thanks for sharing Renee.

    Byrd Cemetery, Timmonsville, SC

    Saturday, June 15, 2013

    Wager family memories shared for Father's Day 2013

    The Robert Wager Family

    (L-R) Robert Wager Jr., Robert Wager (dad) holding Donna Wager,
     Dorothy Kuchenmeister, Linda Neu, Jacqueline Whalen  and Kevin Wager looking
     at his dad while wearing those snazzy cowboy boots at home in Hyde Park NY.


    A Wager family memory as told by Kevin Wager:

    The Summer of 1967, my dad, Roger Wager, had been out tending to other's gardens with his tractor cutting tall grass. He came home and told my mom he wasn't feeling well. She asked him to go sit in his favorite chaise lounge out in the yard and she handed him a cold beer. Shortly after, mom called the ambulance and our neighbor Maggie Leroy brought all of us younger children to her house. We were there several hours playing in the pool and later Mrs. Leroy said to us children, your mom needs you at home. While walking home, a kid that lived in the neighborhood stopped me and my two sisters and told us that our father had died. We ran all the way home in disbelief only to find that it was true. I was all of 10 years old, that hot humid day in June when I lost my dad. We buried him on Flag Day, June 14, 1967. Every Flag Day since, I think of that day we all lost our dad. In memory of dad, my sister, Dorothy, makes sure the American flag is flying at dad's headstone for every Flag Day.

    I knew my dad loved his family and had many friends that also loved him.  He had a very strong work ethic. He worked several jobs and always stayed busy with his tractor. My mother kept his memory alive for us. I can hear her voice now, appealing to my conscience, reminding me and all of my siblings to "Never disgrace your father's good name."

    I learned many other things about my dad on my own. I knew he was a Veteran that served in the 90th infantry and had a rank of PFC (pushing for civilian).  He was wounded twice during WWII, once, in the winter of 1944 in Bastogne. They patched him up and sent him back to the front during the battle of the Bulge. My dad's unit was sent up to the front that winter to give Patton's Army a much needed rest. All the experts insisted that the German army could not put up another offensive. The experts were wrong.  It is significant to me, that history has recorded that a group of American soldiers were surrounded with little or no ammunition, medical supplies or fuel and they never even considered surrender. General Anthony Mcauliffe when given the surrender ultimatum by the ranking German command, answered simply with one word "NUTS!".

    The lesson I learned from this?
    You never know what you're made of until your back is against the wall with very few options.

    Kevin Wager - Dillon, SC

    Thank you to Kevin Wager of Dillon, SC for submitting this about his dad. Read on below for more on General Anthony Clement "Nuts" McAuliffe.


    General Anthony Clement "Nuts" McAuliffe
    (July 2, 1898 – August 11, 1975)
    General Anthony Clement "Nuts" McAuliffe was the US Army general who was the acting division commander of the 101st Airborne Division troops defending Bastogne, Belgium, during World War II's Battle of the Bulge. He is famous for his single-word reply of "Nuts!" in response to a German surrender ultimatum.

    Hope all the Dads  will enjoy Father's Day!