ARTIST NATALIE DAISE, EDGEFIELD’S HALCYON GROVE, PICKIN’ PARLOR COTTON BRANCH ANIMAL SANCTUARY, HOKE SURFBOARDS, Q&A CHRIS JENNINGS RAISING THE SALAD BAR , A LOWNDES GROVE PLANTATION WEDDING
Dog Days Boykin Spaniel, Huger Edisto
LIVING HISTORY
A look into South Carolina’s oldest inland city, full of an elegant small town culture and storied past pg. 70
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Explore Historic Summerville Where else can you find vibrant nightlife, live theater, over 100 dining options, more than 35 pieces of public sculpture, and the Birthplace of Sweet Tea? Something fun for everyone.
For info on public sculpture - sculptureinthesouth.com For info on Historic Downtown - summervilledream.org
RE D C L I F F E P L A NTAT I ON S TAT E H I S T OR I C S I T E
Explore all of South Carolina’s 47 state parks to become an Ultimate Outsider. Start your journey by ordering a guide or picking one up at any state park. Collect a stamp at each park you visit, and have a park ranger verify your stamp book. Once you’ve visited all 47 state parks, have a park ranger submit your name to receive a free Ultimate Outsider T-shirt! To find out more, visit SouthCarolinaParks.com.
Share your adventure using #SCStateParks and #UltimateOutsider
SouthCarolinaParks.com 4
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PALMETTO MAGAZINE
F E AT U R E S SPRING/SUMMER 2018
46 R AISING TH E SALAD BAR Far from the pale, wilted greens of yesteryear, the salads of today are art in every sense of the word
56 FOR THE LOVE OF TH E ANIMALS At cotton branch farm animal sanctuary, a team Of dedicated volunteers works tirelessly to save animals large and small
62 TH E STORYTELLER Using her myriad talents to educate and inspire, Natalie Daise is a brilliant force of wisdom and creativity
70 LIVING H ISTORY A look into South Carolina’s oldest inland city, full of an elegant small town culture and storied past Revolutionary Home The Kershaw-Cornwallis House at Historic Camden
CONT E N T S
Spring/Summer 2018
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25 07 Editor’s Letter 08 Contributors 11 FIELD NOTES All About Lemonade 12 The Scene Oconee County 14 The Interview Eric Davis 16 Etiquette A Guide To Wearing White
37 OUR SOUTH 19 Southern Narrative The Pickin’ Parlor 25 Southern Narrative Hoke Surfboards
29 SOUTHERN BELLS A classic Southern wedding at Lowndes Grove Plantation
O N T H E C O V E R : One-year-old Boykin Spanial, Huger Edisto / Photograph by Dottie Rizzo 6
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29 COLUMN 33 Out Of My Mind Job Security by Susan Frampton
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37 THE STATE HOUSE Edgefield’s Halcyon Grove COLUMN 80 Southern Theology Being My Biggest Fan is a Dangerous Job by Rachelle Cobb
OCTOBER 12-14, 2018 FALL for TUNES. FALL for TASTE. FALL for TAPS. Discover a world of tempting tastes, sights and sounds, as mouthwatering aromas carry you along downtown Greenville’s Main Street. Explore exciting new cuisine or indulge in some of your favorites. With over 40 restaurants and live entertainment on seven stages, BB&T Fall for Greenville invites you to enjoy one of the Southeast’s most popular free admission outdoor festivals.
for more information, visit
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fallforgreenville.net
EDITOR’S LETTER
A Fresh Perspective When I was pregnant with my daughter, Forest, I spent many sleepless nights wondering about the type of person she would be. As someone who spends a lot of time dwelling on possibilities and “what if ” scenarios, my mind played an endless reel of all potential futures: I might have a daughter who was focused, flighty, analytical, wise, tall, visually impaired, creative, redheaded, adaptive, or any combination of hundreds of different traits. Night after night, as she grew within me, I wondered, sometimes even hoping for her to look or be a certain way. And then one day, out of the blue, I was struck by a realization: the most important thing to me, other than her health and eventual happiness, was that my daughter be an empathetic person. I didn’t care much if she was conventionally beautiful, if she was naturally intelligent, or if she was born with any advantage or disadvantage in the way she approached the world; I knew we could handle whatever came our way. I simply wanted her to be someone who could try to see the world from someone else’s perspective, and offer love to those who need it most. That is what I wanted for my daughter, and for the world in which she will live. Forest will be five this summer, and is everything I hoped she would be and more; she is kind, compassionate, thoughtful, and loving, and I cannot wait to see who she becomes as she evolves. For this issue, I had the opportunity to interview one of my childhood heroes, Natalie Daise (page 62). Former star of the hit Nickelodeon show “Gullah Gullah Island,” artist, and storyteller extraordinaire, the tales Daise weaves through spoken word and visual arts offer a consistent encouragement: by seeking to understand one another, the world can be a more beautiful place. I was also fortunate enough to spend time with the team at Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary (page 56), where empathy and compassion toward four-legged friends of all kinds abounds. It was an honor to tell the story of Cotton Branch, and I can only hope our readers are encouraged to visit the farm, take a tour, meet the adorable residents, and learn how they can support its mission to offer kindness to those who cannot speak up for themselves. In a time where social media lends itself all too easily to creating division, it is my hope that in reading the stories of people who prioritize empathy, we can be encouraged to look for opportunities to foster understanding, compassion, and togetherness. As summer approaches, let us get out into the sunshine, embrace new experiences, get to know our neighbors, and continue sharing the welcoming spirit that makes South Carolina such a wonderful place to be. Jana Riley Senior Editor
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CONTRIBUTORS
Photographer
JASON WAGENER
Illustrator
SUSAN FRAMPTON
TARA BAILEY
GRACE NELSON
Virgil’s images have graced the pages of Brides Magazine, Southern Living Weddings, Charleston Wedding Magazine, The Knot Magazine, and Southern Weddings Magazine. Virgil lives in Charleston with his beautiful wife, Courtney and two children, Jacob and Claire.
Jason began his illustrious art career when he won a coloring contest in third grade, subsequently entitling him the proud owner of a Mickey Mouse dry erase board. He moved to the Lowcountry in 1990 and, save an education at the Savannah College of Art and Design, has remained a faithful transplant ever since.
An accidental writer, Susan Frampton lives in Summerville, SC. Along with a fluctuating number of wiener dogs, chickens, turtles, snakes, and the occasional pig, her husband and family provide endless material for her musings on life, love, and laughter. Her life is full of adventure and comedy; and some days she contemplates having wine with breakfast.
Tara Bailey lives in Summerville with her husband and three daughters, assuming the one in college comes home to visit. She has worked as a naturalist, a teacher, a writer, and an editor, balancing her love of the outdoors with her compulsion to alter sentences. She enjoys natural history, horror movies, and reads anything in print.
Born and raised in Blackville, SC, Grace studied mass communications at the University of South Carolina. She currently resides in the Fort Mill area with her family, and is particularly fond of road trips, Gamecock football, boiled peanuts, and the History Channel.
VIRGIL BUNAO
Writer
Writer
Writer
Satisfy your thirst... Where can you go and discover a trail designed just for you that has the best beverages in the state? In South Carolina, it’s called Satisfy Your Thirst and in Anderson, you can taste a lot. We have something for everyone from the young to the well-established drinker. Enjoy fresh milk from Happy Cow Creamery, wine from City Scape Winery or a sip of your favorite whiskey at Palmetto Distillery. Taste your way through our county... Anderson welcomes you.
Happy Cow Creamery
visitanderson.com 10 p a l m e t t o m a g a z i n e . c o m
Split Creek Farm
Six & Twenty Distillery
Palmetto Distillery
City Scape Winery
The Natural Playground of the Lowcountry
THE NATURAL PLAYGROUND OF THE LOWCOUNTRY
Dorchester
Harleyville
St. George
Ridgeville
Reevesville
Just minutes away from the hustle & bustle of Charleston you’ll find a totally different side of the
Lowcountry. Our charming small towns are connected by wooded landscapes, outdoor adventures, winding rivers, and centuries of history. Spend the night in a treehouse on the river, go kayaking or birding in the ancient cypress swamps, stop in for some farm fresh produce at the market, or visit historic sites that remain standing in time... whatever you do you are bound to experience some authentic rural South Carolina charm.
www.villagesofdorchestersc.com
www.villageofsaintgeorge.com
Will Rizzo
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Dottie Rizzo
MANAGING EDITOR
Susan Frampton
SENIOR EDITOR
Jana Riley
SENIOR EDITOR
Contributors
Tara Bailey Brett Bennett Kaitlyn Cannon Rachelle Rea Cobb Elizabeth Donehue Susan Frampton Tod Marks Grace Nelson Jana Riley Jason Wagener
South Carolina National Heritage Corridor P UB L I S H E R
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s c 1788
Sweet Tart
While sweet tea gets most of the love, lemonade has its own claim as the drink of the South
In England, “lemonade” refers to carbonated, lemon-flavored soft drink similar to Sprite. Lemonade was first recorded in ancient Egypt around 1050 AD and was a valued trade item.
Lemonade became popular in Paris in the 1670s.Street vendors would sell glasses of lemonade directly from tanks strapped to their backs.
The classic advice to “make lemonade” out of our problems became famous likly thanks to a 1915 obituary for Marshall Pinckney Wilder, who achieved success as an actor, writer, and humorist despite battling dwarfism and health problems. The game, “Lemonade Stand,” was included free on Apple II computers beginning in 1979.
The lemonade stand got its start in 1879 when a Wisconsin shopkeeper sold the drink outside of his store for 5¢ a cup.
In the Middle East, lemonade is served with crushed mint leaves.
According to legend, a circus vendor invented pink lemonade by making the drink in a tub of water that had been tinted pink after cleaning red tights.
Sour or tart drinks stimulate our salivary glands, which provides relief to the “dry mouth” feeling we associate with being tired and dehydrated.
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F IE L D
N OTES
THE SCENE
L O C AT I O N
Oconee County A pristine waterfall on Lake Jocassee
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F IE L D
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SEASONAL
OBSERVATIONS
OF
CAROLINA
CU LT URE
The history and scenic beauty of Spartanburg County and South Carolina surprise and motivate me every day. 3. What’s your go-to local restaurant? Depends on my mood, but some of my favorites include: Willy Taco, Two Samuels and Wade’s 4. Carolina or Clemson? I’m still paying tuition for a daughter at Clemson, so better say GO TIGERS! 5. Sweet tea or unsweet? We’re in the South, so it shouldn’t be a choice: sweet, all the way! 6. What is one thing that’s made in SC that you couldn’t live without? A Spartanburg-made BMW x-series vehicle. The Ultimate Driving Machine. 7. Where is the one place you must go when you have family or friends in town? RJ Rockers Brewery 8. What’s on your play list right now (band, song or genre)? Beyonce; Marshall Tucker Band; Jimmy Buffett; Kaskade; Bee Gees; Pharrell Williams; Prince; Hootie & the Blowfish
I N T E RV I E W
Chris Jennings Executive Vice President Spartanburg CVB
1. What is your favorite thing about living in the Palmetto state? The people here are amazing. The history and scenic beauty of Spartanburg County and South Carolina surprise and motivate me every day. 2. What is the best thing about your job? It’s never boring. I get to promote our community to people who may not know anything about it, but love Spartanburg once they see, hear and/or visit.
9. What would be your dream “staycation” in South Carolina? Weekend outdoor adventures (cycling, hiking, kayaking); visiting craft breweries, and eating local for every meal 10. What is your fondest memory of growing up/or living here? Hosting the SC Governors Conference on Tourism and Travel in 2017 and showcasing the culture, history, agriculture, recreation and local products that make Spartanburg authentic and real.
THE HEART OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS FOUND IN OUR FIELDS.
We have hundreds of farms for you to explore in South Carolina. Visit SCFarmFun.org to find your next farm experience.
View the list of participating farms at scagritourism.org.
gri
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the state and start collecting stamps today to win Certified SC prizes!
SC
Pick up your passport to SC Farm Fun at participating farms across
Farm Fun
r
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AGRITOURISM PASSPORT
m
SOUTH CAROLINA
tou
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F IE L D
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OBSERVATIONS
ELIZABETH DONEHUE Meet Elizabeth—arbiter of social graces, and passionate volunteer with a heart for practicing hospitality and cultivating community. She lives in Summerville with her husband and two boys.
" Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.
"
Oscar de la Renta
CAROLINA
CU LT URE
ETIQUETTE
The Great White Debate
A The post-Labor Day ban on white clothing and accessories has long ranked among the most sacred rules of etiquette. While strict traditionalists claim steadfast adherence to the rule that states “no white after Labor Day,” one would be remiss to have not noticed recent skepticism of the Labor Day law and more people than ever breaking the rule. Where exactly did the rule come from? In the early 1900s, members of society’s elite spent their summer months at seaside homes. City clothes were left behind in exchange for lighter, whiter, summer outfits. When the well-to-do returned to the ‘real world,’ those summer clothes were put away and more formal city clothes donned once more. The signal to mark the change between wardrobes was summed up in the adage “No white after Labor Day.” And it stuck! By the 1950s, women’s magazines made it clear to even middle class America that white clothing came out on Memorial Day and went away on Labor Day. But does the old adage still apply?
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Known for bucking tradition, it is no surprise that the fashion industry abandoned the rule long ago in favor of embracing winter whites. More surprisingly, Emily Post’s Etiquette, 17th Edition, gives the go-ahead for wearing white after Labor Day. Gasp! The Emily Post Institute notes, “Of course you can wear white after Labor Day, and it makes perfect sense to do so in climates where September’s temperatures are hardly fall-like. It’s more about fabric choice today than color. Even in the dead of winter in northern New England the fashionable wear white wools, cashmeres, jeans, and down-filled parkas.” With America’s foremost etiquette expert telling us that the rule is passé, this may explain why some who would typically abide by the custom are now willing to compromise. Ultimately, the true aim is to wear what’s appropriate—for the weather, the season, or the occasion... color notwithstanding.
History is here Larry Doby Baseball Legend
Camden Archives & Museum camdenschistory.com
Music of the Forest SOUTHERN NARRATIVE
From deep in the pines of Bethera, South Carolina, the truest sound of American music rises from a rustic wood cabin by Susan Frampton
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BETHER A,
SC
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From down the winding road and over the railroad tracks, a high lonesome sound dances through the Francis Marion National Forest. A keen ear might be able to follow the music to the weathered wooden shack hidden at the end of a dirt lane, but we rely on the directions I’d written down before we left home. It is fortuitous, because my phone displays the ‘no service’ warning several miles before we turn off Bethera Road onto the dirt track of Pickin’ Parlor Lane. With a foil-wrapped covered dish in hand, we make our way to the sign announcing our successful arrival at Guy and Tina’s Bluegrass Pickin’ Parlor. Guy Faulk, a tall, lanky man with a shock of white hair, warmly welcomes us to the music hall he hosts here in the woods, as he has for countless guests every Saturday night for forty years. From a covered area to the left, a group of musicians stand in a circle, strumming and picking songs that I have not heard since childhood. “Come on in,” says Guy. “You can set your dish right inside on that long table, but sign the book first – and put your address. I like to know where folks come from.” Walking into the doors of the Pickin’ Parlor is much like stepping into a time machine that shoots me straight back to a family reunion in the late 1970s; with the same kind of sweet smiles and greetings from ladies with cheeks
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flushed by the wood stove, a long table covered with fried chicken and biscuits, coconut pie, and a simmering crockpot of lima beans with ham. Nearby, a huge coffee urn stands, and there are stacks of paper plates, plastic forks, Styrofoam cups, and funeral-type fans advertising everything from the electric co-op to eternal rest. It is a déjà vu that warms my soul. Snapshots of smiling faces stapled end to end tell a story of lifelong friendships, and an eclectic assortment of black and white photographs and paintings running the gamut from seascapes to charging stallions to fox hunting scenes hang alongside a black sombrero and an impressive array of antlers. From the rafters above the raised stage area, a dusty, circa 1962 bass swims languidly beside a terrifying stuffed black fox squirrel, with a huge set of steer horns that would have been at home on the front grille of a Cadillac with pointy fins. Deeper into the room, an assortment of sofas, arranged in theater-style rows, draws us to soft seats, from which we will have a better vantage point to take in the surroundings. On the paneled back wall, Bill Monroe’s iconic white hat is a target that pulls the eye from his smiling poster toward the microphones, numbered 1 through 6, standing on the raised stage and awaiting the notes that will bring them to life.
Music Man Left to right: Guy Faulk; the welcoming committee; the first band of the night; warming up before taking the stage
Bluegrass is many things to many people, but as described by Elisabeth Burkett, editor of inTune, the string band style of music “combines elements of country/western, gospel, and blues music with the British, Irish, and Scottish music Appalachian mountain heritage.” For those new to the genre, think of music you’ve heard by The Avett Brothers, Alison Krauss and Union Station or Ricky Skaggs. The fiddle, banjo, guitar, and mandolin are by far the most popular bluegrass instruments, along with the upright bass and dobro. Beyond the sofas, a group of six “pickers” gathers to get acquainted before their first set. Like a pick-up football game, each “band” is comprised of whoever shows up to play, and as is the case tonight, some have never played together before. Richard, on guitar, hasn’t been here in 18 years, and it is Dustin’s first time, but within minutes, they all pick and strum to the same rhythm. No one feels like a stranger, and there isn’t an ounce of pretentiousness in the big room, as baseball caps and suspenders, flannel shirts soft with age, jeans that have earned their frayed pockets, and floral polyester sit comfortably beside khakis and golf shirts. Glancing around at the other patrons of the arts settling in for the night’s performance, I step across the shag-carpeted aisle
toward a handsome, well-dressed gentleman to inquire how he found his way here. “Oh, I’m a regular,” says Mel Redford, a resident of North Charleston. “I came with some friends the first time, and I’ve been coming back every week for about 6 or 7 years. I just love this music.” Before the music starts, I step back to the food table to see if anyone has cut the coconut pie. They haven’t, but when I replace the foil covering, my disappointment prompts a flurry of hands, all reaching to cut me a piece. I watch the seats fill and listen to the hum of friends catching up, and I’m struck by the fact that it feels a little like church. But when the musicians take the stage, instead of ‘Hallelujah,’ they call out requests, encouragement, and some goodnatured heckling. And then the music begins, and nothing exists but the pure sound of what is often called the truest form of American music. There are songs that make you ache with the longing in the singer’s voice, those that have you praying to the Lord for forgiveness, those that make you laugh right out loud, and of course, the ones that accuse lovers with “cheatin’ hearts.” Eyes grow damp when Guy Faulk’s son, Will, a gifted musician and the heir apparent to the rustic concert hall, dedicates a song to his mother, the original inspiration for
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Pulling Strings Will Faulk belts out a classic. Opposite clockwise; the music goes late into the night; a family of musicians plays with other pickers; there is always plenty of good food; Will Faulk plays his late mother’s guitar
the pickin’ parlor. Though she passed away several years ago, her essence lingers in the room. “That’s Mr. Will Faulk on his mama’s guitar,” fiddle player David Brown points out to the applause of the crowd.
and only advertised via word-of-mouth. Chances are that if you find yourself here, you owe someone a thank you note of gratitude for pointing the way. There is no charge, but your covered dish is appreciated, and a dollar or two in the donation jar helps offset the cost of coffee and sodas.
Over the course of two, hour-plus sets, the audience claps their hands and taps their toes to a delightful selection of tunes. In the second set, the bow of Brown’s fiddle draws notes from the antique instrument that alternately drenches the room with a sound like warm honey over biscuits, and makes you look around for an approaching train when the iconic tune of The Orange Blossom Special roars across the strings, while Jonathan Nabor’s and Linda Cockerill’s fingers fly across the strings of their mandolin and banjo to bring the train into the station.
With his dad, now in his eighties, slowing down a bit, Will Faulk has vowed to continue to honor the tradition his mother and father started so long ago.
You won’t stumble upon the Pickin’ Parlor by accident; it is purely a gathering of like-minded friends
As we bid goodnight to our new friends, I’m torn between telling everyone I know about this place,
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“They started this right over there in a trailer,” he says. “My mom loved to play and sing, and there wasn’t any place to do that around here. It just kept growing, with people spilling out into the yard, until one day Dad decided to cut down the trees and build this place. I’ve promised him that as long as people keep coming and supporting it, I’ll do what I can to keep it going.”
and selfishly keeping it a secret. But that would defy the spirit Guy and Tina intended when they founded Guy and Tina’s Pickin’ Parlor, and it is a gift too rich to be kept only on my plate, so I find myself already thinking of the friends I want to invite to hear the music we’ve discovered in the forest. It’s obvious that bluegrass music virtually runs through the Faulk family’s veins, and as the night begins to wind down without him appearing on stage, I realize that I’ve forgotten to ask Guy Faulk if he plays. Looking down the dirt road which so many appreciative pickers and listeners have come to enjoy the gift of bluegrass music that he and Tina have offered through the years, he replies, “Sure I do!” And with a twinkle in his eye, he adds, “I play the Big Shot!” Guy and Tina’s Pickin’ Parlor can be found at the end of Pickin’ Parlor Lane, in Bethera, SC. Shows are every Saturday night, 6-11 pm.
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LAURENSCOUNTY.US
Making Waves A Hoke fishtail; Josh Hoke in his shaping shop
SOUTHERN NARRATIVE Hoke Surfboards
Chairman of the Board Surfboard shaper Josh Hoke finds his balance in Charleston by Tara Bailey
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Josh Hoke paid attention in geometry class. In fact, it played a prominent role in his high school senior project. “We had to pick something to research and then create a final product based on what we learned, so I picked a surfboard,” he says. Noting the angles of surfboards and how they work with the movement of the waves, Hoke successfully shaped a board that he still rides today. He was awarded an ‘A’ for that first handcrafted board, and took his newfound skill with him to college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. There, in his student housing, he converted the basement into a workshop. Hoke figured he could add more boards to his collection for less money just by making them himself. “Once I started shaping my own boards, I never rode anything else.” Hoke grew up in Pennsylvania, spending summers off the coast of New Jersey with his family. It was in the waters of the Northeast that he first got a taste for riding waves, attempting to stand on his boogie board and feeling exhilarated at being propelled by the sea. He finally got a real surfboard around age
10 and continued surfing throughout his summers in New Jersey and later while visiting his sister in Long Island. He claims those areas to be the best for surfing along the East Coast, if not the balmiest. “You just put everything on and go,” he says. “It’s cold, but it’s hardcore.” After graduating from college, Hoke relocated to Beaufort for his job and met Emmy, now his wife of two years, while they were both surfing off of Hunting Island. A year later, he moved to Charleston to earn a master’s degree in environmental studies from the College of Charleston. Today, Hoke remains in the Charleston area and spends his days along the South Carolina coast, working for the state’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. If there is time left at the end of the day, he usually heads to his James Island workshop--which he also built himself--cranks up some music, and works on his latest project. The workshop behind Hoke’s house is doublepalmettomagazine.com
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sided; one side is used strictly for shaping boards, and the other is for applying fiberglass. When he begins shaping a board, he glues a long, thin piece of wood lengthwise between two pieces of foam, usually EPS (expanded polystyrene). The thin wood is called a stringer, and it serves to give each board more strength. Once the stringer is set, Hoke uses hot wire cutters to remove the outer layer of the unshaped block of foam, called a blank. This process is called skinning. Once Hoke has finished skinning, he is left with a thinner, smoother blank that will soon become a board. For the shape of the board, he employs handmade templates that hang overhead; Hoke refers to the dangling patterns as his “hardware.” He uses different templates for different types of boards, and each board is customized for the rider and the waves where it will be used. While many people who shape their own surfboards use computer software for their designs, Hoke’s creations are all done by hand.
Board Room Hand crafted wooden boards; Hoke inspects a board that nears completion
Hoke points to the dozen or so boards he owns, telling stories about the shaping of each one like they are photographs of his life. He even has a few wooden boards, though he rarely makes those these days. “Wooden boards are more like building than shaping,” he says, and notes that the process takes months to complete compared to the weeks it takes to shape a board of foam. He pulls out some of his favorites, talking about each one like he’s visiting an old friend. Yet he downplays the beauty and performance of his one-of-a-kind boards that exude the professionalism of both an artist and craftsman. “You undersell yourself so much,” Emmy teases. Hoke looks down and grins.
With the blank set, Hoke is ready to transform it into an elegant structure capable of carrying the human body across the ebbing and flowing moods of Mother Nature. He turns off the overhead light and uses waist-high lighting on either side of his stand for the shaping. The side lighting allows him to accurately see every contour of the board. When the shaping and sanding are complete, he takes the newly-formed board to the space next door for glassing. This is also where Hoke adds his original artwork to the board, using epoxy resin to create unique designs that complement the angles and curvature that will work in tandem with the South Carolina surf. Hoke’s boards are different from those one might find in a standard surf shop for several reasons. First, his surfboards are designed to work specifically with the local waves. “Most [surfboard] companies are set up for better waves than we have around here,” he says. To maximize the local surfing, Hoke says he usually takes three or so boards with him for a day at the beach - often a longboard, a mini simmons and a fish. “If I get bored or the waves change, I’ll be ready,” Hoke says. Whatever waves the day may bring, Hoke’s boards are shaped with the Lowcountry beach in mind. Secondly, Hoke applies more fiberglass to his boards than one will find on a typical surfboard. This ensures his boards last a long time. “I’ve never snapped one of my own,” he says. Thicker glass also adds weight to the boards, which often translates into a better ride on the local waves. “I like the way a heavier board surfs; you get more momentum.”
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While Hoke does most of the work himself, Emmy occasionally lends her efforts to steps in the process that could use another set of hands. A physician’s assistant at a local hospital, Emmy says, “At the end of a long day in medicine, it’s nice to come home and spend time on a hobby - and with Josh.” She grabs the first board Hoke ever made for her and flips it over to reveal a short but sweet message of love inscribed for his then-future wife. “At the time, he was working like crazy, shaping and selling a ton of boards,” recalls Emmy. “It turned out he was making extra money to buy my wedding ring.” While full-time jobs keep the couple in the Charleston area most of the time, they try to take a big surf trip once a year, usually to Nicaragua or Costa Rica. “We just got back from Hawaii a few weeks ago,” she says with a smile.
Finally, Hoke incorporates pigmented resin into his artwork rather than paint, explaining that paint bonds to the glass, but resin will bond with the foam, maintaining the integrity of the design. When he shapes a custom board for someone, he will often use colors, designs, or fabric that the customer requests. Once, he shaped a board of pink and purple glitter for a baby gender-reveal party. Most of the time, however, the artwork comes from Hoke’s own mind. Visibly proud of her husband’s talent, Emmy explains that the design work is not as easy to create as it may appear. “There’s a real art and technique to get swirls to look like swirls,” says Emmy. “With resin, you only have around five minutes before it starts to stiffen. And keeping the colors separated so they don’t blend and turn brown also takes skill.”
Emmy is not his only cheerleader. “Everyone says to quit my job and just make boards, but when it’s one guy shaping and glassing, there’s only so much time,” he says. While he does take custom orders and sells a few boards at McKevlin’s at Folly Beach, Hoke considers himself more of a hobbyist. “I tell people who want custom boards, ‘you might have to wait a while,’” Hoke says. The couple walks back to the house from their backyard, where flowers, vegetables, and a capering golden retriever complete the idyllic scene. Hoke points out a metal sign on the workshop that was a wedding gift, and Emmy stops to pulls some weeds. The workshop sits on the back of their property, a prominent part of the landscape but far from the primary focus. “Right now, I have the balance that I want,” Hoke says. He then looks toward the centerpiece of his life - the home he shares with Emmy. For more information about Hoke Handcrafted Surfboards, search “Hoke Handcrafted Surfboards” on Facebook.
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A Walk to Remember Onward to a lifetime of happiness.
As Fate Would Have It A dreamy wedding at Lowndes Grove Plantation is the perfect celebration for two South Carolina natives by Jana Riley photos by Virgil Bunao
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B
efore they saw each other with the intrepid eyes of a young couple newly in love, Marialice and Erik Eadie’s paths likely crossed more times than they could count. Born and raised in the same state--her in Charleston, him in Spartanburg--the two each pursued Bachelor’s Degrees at the University of South Carolina around the same time. Though they don’t recall meeting each other during their tenure as students at USC, possibilities abound that while studying in the same school, they may have ended up at the same parties, the same sporting events, the same coffee shops, the same libraries, even next to each other at the same stoplights, again and again, without ever being aware of the connection they would have one day in the not-too-distant future. Independently, they began volunteering at Camp Happy Days, a summer camp for children with cancer, and became acquaintances who saw each other for one week, once a year. Then, one summer, things changed: for once, they truly saw each other. The two connected, finally, and Erik asked Marialice if he could drive down to Charleston, where she was living, from Columbia, where he was entering his second year of medical school at USC, to take her on a date. Marialice agreed, and the following week, they were laughing over dinner at Cru Cafe. From that night on, the two hearts were inseparable. Marialice had moved back to Charleston after graduation, and earned a Masters Degree in Education at The Citadel. For six years, she taught second grade in the Lowcountry, continuously falling in love with her surroundings. Erik had formed a connection with Charleston between college and medical school, and the city always held a special place in his heart. When it came time to decide where they would get married, no other city was even in the running: Charleston was the obvious choice. After they were engaged, they began searching for the perfect spot for their wedding venue, hoping to incorporate their shared love of the water into their big day. When they arrived at Lowndes Grove Plantation, they looked at each other and immediately knew: this was the place. This was where they would say their vows, the place they’d recall decades into the future, the place that would forever hold a special place in their hearts. With the location decided, they set to work on the details of the day. 32 p a l m e t t o m a g a z i n e . c o m
Classic Connection Opposite, clockwise: The couple exudes joy on their big day; florals set the tone for a dreamy gathering; suspended lighting brightens up the alfresco dining area. This page, clockwise: The little details showcase a lot of class; a stolen kiss in between moments; beautiful, bountiful bouquets; Moscow mules are a must for a Southern wedding.
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Lowcountry Love Story This page, clockwise: A woven updo is stylish and modern; friends gather to celebrate love; an outdoor bar is an unexpected find beneath the oaks; a serene backdrop for the nuptials. Opposite, clockwise: The couple toasts to their future; wedding guests share in the excitement; the bride and groom bid adieu; a sparkler sendoff; a natural setting for a naturally beautiful love story.
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Marialice knew that she wanted her mother to be a part of their wedding planning process, and quickly hired Ashley Wenz of Charleston-based event design studio, Boutique Planning, to handle the details of the day. Between the three of them, the event went off without a hitch, something Marialice was not surprised about given the level of confidence she held in her mother and her wedding planner. “My mother has always done such an amazing job of being supportive without being overbearing or pushy with her opinions,” says Marialice. “I made all of the big decisions as far as choosing a color palette, light fixtures, furniture, flowers, etc., but I was teaching full time and didn’t have a lot of time to bother with the smaller details, so I left it up to her and Ashley to pull it all together…with their skills, I was comfortable handing over the reins, so to speak. Sure enough, it ended up being everything I’d hoped it would be; seriously, it could not have been more perfect.” Wedding planner Ashley Wenz agrees. “Not many brides choose pale blue as an accent color, but it was so beautiful with the gold accents, soft white washed chairs, and the natural beauty of Lowndes Grove Plantation. The majority of the seating was outside without a tent, too, and there were chandeliers over the dinner seating instead of traditional string lights. All of the little elements of the day together just created the most romantic and intimate event...it was truly special.” As Marialice and Erik stole away from their wedding reception into an awaiting vintage Rolls Royce, they were surrounded by loved ones holding sparklers and shouting well wishes. Later, as they embarked upon their honeymoon to Turks and Caicos, their enchanting wedding was at the forefront of their minds, a beautiful day to begin a beautiful marriage. Now that their paths are finally entwined, Marialice and Erik head down the path of life together, undoubtedly venturing into a future that is as magnificent as the day they were married.
VENDORS Catering and Cake: Fish Restaurant Decor: 428 Main Dress: Modern Trousseau Floral Design: SYG Designs Hair and Makeup: Paper Dolls Lighting: Technical Event Company Music: East Coast Party Band Photography: Virgil Bunao Printing: Jenna Jackson Venue: Lowndes Grove Plantation Wedding Planning: Ashley Wenz, Boutique Planning palmettomagazine.com
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by Su s a n Fr a m p t o n
Job Security
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As long as you think you’re the one in charge, you’re the boss, right? Not necessarily.rily. hree bearded faces watched from the door as we pulled out of the driveway. Before we were out of sight, two (of the small, four-legged variety) disappeared after being distracted by a squirrel, and I watched my husband sigh and walk away with a slight limp as he closed the door behind us.
Even though I knew that in short order, the house that I had left spotlessly clean and tidy would soon look like a frat house, with the volume of the television’s Western Channel at its maximum, all the
toilet seats up, and an empty carton of butter pecan ice cream abandoned on the kitchen counter, I still felt bad about abandoning my husband to accompany our daughter to a conference in the sunshine state. Adding to my guilt was the fact that my beloved was sporting a boot the size of a small child from foot surgery a couple of weeks prior, and would be on his own to wrangle the two wire-haired wiener dogs up and down a steep flight of stairs at least once a day. Although his practice run of the task, scooting up the stairs on his rear end while palmettomagazine.com
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balancing the writhing miniature sausages had me laughing out loud, I had visions of arriving home to find him and the hot-dogs in a pile at the bottom. I also worried that he’d be an emaciated sack of bones after four days. His survival skills could give Bear Grylls a run for his money in deepest, darkest Africa, and for most of his life he ran complicated multi-million dollar projects, but I knew that his mind turned to mush when trapped in a two story brick house. When I used to travel for work, I’d stock the pantry and pack the refrigerator with home-made dinners and desserts, only to return to find a full refrigerator and a trash can full of Burger King wrappers.
the freezer, I was a little hurt by the way his eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas, but relieved to know that if he could find the microwave, he wouldn’t starve. I’m not sure whether it is the nurturer in me, or the bossy pants I wear that make me feel the need to cover all the bases when I’m not around. Either way, I’ve spoiled him, and have no one to blame but myself. But who is really driving the bus here? I know that he could learn the sequence of the electronic controls on the washing machine if he wanted to, and that if he put his mind to it, he’d easily figure out all the buttons on the television’s remote controls. After all, he’s the one who taught me a lot of what I know about running things when he’s away.
The following is a transcript of a real conversation: “Why didn’t you heat up the casserole I left for you, or at least fix a sandwich?” “I couldn’t find the bread.” This time would be different. Without being able to drive, he was really trapped, and Burger King doesn’t deliver. This time, his life might truly depend on his ability to locate and prepare sustenance. When planning for his stint as a shut-in, I remembered one of the very few times in my childhood that my parents left my brother and me with a babysitter. We were devastated at being left, until my mother produced two magical TV dinners that were as unexpected and rare as a go-go dancer at a church social. Our eyes were still glued to the colorfully boxed aluminum trays of frozen cuisine as my parents quietly slipped out the door.
Without being able to drive, he was really trapped, and Burger King doesn’t deliver. This time, his life might truly depend on his ability to locate and prepare sustenance.
Using this same strategy, I had left the refrigerator loaded with exotic frozen selections like Salisbury steak and unnaturally yellow corn, and parmesan chicken pot pie with broccoli instead of the green peas I knew he disdained. Meatloaf with green beans, chicken fried steak with oddly unidentifiable vegetables, macaroni and cheese from the refrigerated section of the supermarket, and enough baked potatoes to last a week in Ireland rounded out the dinner selections. When I laid out all these treasures and mapped out their location in
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It’s likely that I’ve been played, and if I’m honest, I have to admit that I’m wise to his game. He figured out a long time ago just how much I like think I’m in charge, and has very wisely let me think that I am. When I look back at all the times I’ve smacked myself in the forehead and wondered how he finished kindergarten, I realize that by making me think that he can’t possibly live a normal, functioning life without me, he’s given me the illusion that I can do anything – the kind of job security that money can’t buy, the kind of success that can’t be guaranteed at any Fortune 500 company, and the kind of confidence that can’t be learned in any self-help course. Turns out, he’s a pretty smart guy.
We hear the television long before we see the three bearded faces at the door when we turn into the driveway four days later. The two four-legged owners bark their brains out for a minute before taking off after a squirrel, and the third limps a little as he throws open the door to greet us. Inside, just as I thought, the toilet seats are all up, and there are blobs of ice cream on the kitchen counter. He doesn’t look starved, and all the frozen dinners are gone from the freezer. “Thank goodness you’re home,” he says. “I can’t get the TV to change channels.” I wipe off the counters, turn on the washing machine, and smile. No matter which of us is fooling the other, it’s good to know that my job is secure for the long haul.
Halcyon Days
Persevering through the best and worst of times, there are only happy days ahead for Edgefield’s grand house on the hill by Susan Frampton photos by Dottie Rizzo
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he Town of Edgefield teems with history. It is embedded in the clay that forms its unique and famous pottery, and adds flavor to its soft, sweet peaches. It regales us with sensational stories of murder and mayhem, yet can claim ten South Carolina governors as native sons. For almost two hundred years, from its perch atop the ridge that runs along Buncombe Street, the house called Halcyon Grove has not only watched Edgefield’s history being made, it has played its own role in both town and state destinies. From behind its unique lattice-columned porch, Halcyon Grove has listened to the laughter of generations of children at play and the soft voices of ladies serving afternoon tea. Its walls hold the thoughts and dreams of a man whose aspirations led him to South Carolina’s highest office, and a man who had already worn the mantle of Governor and borne its responsibilities. The property’s history sometimes circles back upon itself, and while it has known the peace and tranquility implied by its name, it has also known the deep valleys that run between prosperity and poverty, feast and famine, celebrations of new 40 p a l m e t t o m a g a z i n e . c o m
Open House This page clockwise: The formal living room; a warm welcome; a vintage gate leads to the backyard. Opposite page clockwise: a unique collection of decor; the kitchen is bright and homey; the entrance from the street; a classic view
life and long, sad journeys into the good night. While its auspicious past could have made it a candidate for reincarnation into a staged, museumstyle package, when Tim and Beth Worth purchased the house and all its furnishings ten years ago, they felt the house speak to them in a different way. “There was all this furniture, and all these books and photographs and documents dating back to the 1700s that had just been stuffed into drawers. The man we bought it from was in his seventies, and had three other houses. When he left, I don’t think he took anything with him but his toothbrush,” says Beth. “I guess it’s lucky that a person obsessed with history bought this place. Anybody else would have probably thrown a lot of stuff out.” The home was a goldmine of information about the connections between former owners. Simply keeping up with first, second, and third marriages, deaths (particularly of wives), children, and stepchildren must have required a spreadsheet, a tumbler of Maker’s Mark and a couple of aspirin. But with help from several historians, the couple palmettomagazine.com
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Slumber Party The finished second story back porch is a perfect place for the grandkids
pieced together the story and got to know the players – some who have apparently never moved on to their heavenly homes. “Tim used to say I was crazy, but not anymore,” says Beth. “There are three different apparitions that people ‘see’ here – without any prompting from us. It’s usually when there is a lot of commotion in the house. That makes me even more interested in the history. They aren’t scary or spooky, and I want to know who these people are that I’m walking around with every day.” While Beth can impressively recite the provenance of the property practically from memory, following the chain of ownership is complicated to say the least, and one might safely assume that eventually everyone was related to everyone else. An attempt to connect the dots of the first fifty years looks something like this: The land on which Halcyon Grove sits was first granted to William Simkins, son of Arthur Simkins, “the Father of Edgefield,” in 1784. When he died, he willed ownership to his father, who in 1811 bequeathed it to another of his sons, Eldred Simkins – the “earliest and best friend” of famous Carolinian, John C. Calhoun. In 1824, new owner and Clerk of Court, Daniel Bird (who had tragically lost his first wife and two daughters), and his second wife, Lucinda, built Halcyon Grove on a two-acre tract of land purchased for $135. With their three children, soon to be four, the Birds moved into the grand house, built with great attention to detail and no expense spared. But, sadly, as would happen all too often over the house’s history, Daniel Bird lost his second wife in 1826. However, he married her sister, Behethland Simkins, in 1827. They had four more (rounding out his number of progeny to ten) and forever merged the Simkins and Bird families. When Bird sold the property to Francis W. Pickens for $3,000 in 1829, he had no idea it would become home to both former and future South Carolina Governors. Pickens was married to Margaret Eliza Simkins, the eldest daughter of Eldred Simkins, bringing the property’s ties to the original family full circle. When they left, Pickens’ father, former Governor Andrew Pickens (serving 1816-1818) and his second wife moved to Halcyon Grove. While it isn’t clear, records indicate that Andrew Pickens eventually purchased the house from his son, who went on to serve in the SC House of Representatives, marry twice more, become Ambassador to Russia, and be elected Governor of South Carolina. Over the next century and a half, the house changed hands more than a half dozen times. While it is hard to keep up with the number of occupants, it is safe to say that this cast of characters endured the triumphs and travails of wars, reconstruction, the great depression, and the ravages of time. By the time the Worths purchased the property in 2008, it had largely been unoccupied for several years, watched over by trusted caretakers. Beth had always had an affinity for old homes, and was delighted when Tim expressed his interest in finding and restoring an aging, plantation-style home.
photo provided
There is an air of contentment under the roof of Halcyon Grove today, and much like that of its owner, the home wears the comfortable elegance of a Southern lady at ease in her own skin. Under the Worths’ stewardship, the grand house has been returned to a home in every sense – where one can easily envision the light of a thousand fires dancing beneath intricately carved mantels, generations of leather boots and delicate slippered feet polishing heart pine floors to the color of honey, and conversations of consequence held in out-of-plumb corners. Incorporating her own style into the décor, Beth nestles modern touches alongside antiques. She also pays homage to the previous occupants by scattering their art and furnishings throughout, and portraits of Civil War generals stand alongside those of her own family. Tim’s woodworking skills have seamlessly palmettomagazine.com
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blended custom kitchen cabinets and other updates with those of the original craftsmen. Their selection of light, airy colors brings life to rooms that were once dark and dreary. The result is a delightful balance that would no doubt still feel like home if the Birds or Pickenses were to visit today. All in the Details This page clockwise: A guest bedroom; common area at the top of the stairs; Beth Worth. Opposite page row one: a cozy space in a guest bedroom; unique storage in the master. Row 2: the orginal carriage house; historic detail; a baby grand in the formal living room; the spacious front porch;. Row 3: a dressing corner in the master; Halcyon Grove; a vintage door knocker on the front door; a side garden.
“I found an 1870 inventory of the house in the drawer of one of the secretaries in the living room,” Beth says. “I could not believe the things on that list that I could check off as still being here. I don’t think that anyone realized what was here. There were cannon balls in the attic, and there are trunks that I have yet to open. It has all really helped me to get to know this house. It is a jewel.” Beth’s recent retirement from the fashion industry, and Tim’s retirement as an engineer has given them a bit more time to ponder the property’s never ending to-do list, and despite the time and expense required, it is obvious that each task is a labor of love. Though they rewired and re-plumbed and added a few modern conveniences, from the start they felt strongly about maintaining the home’s character. “We really haven’t changed much,” says Beth. “I just never have felt that was the right thing to do.” It is an attitude that is aptly described in a 1941 quote by Archibald Rutledge that hangs on the sleeping porch, and reads ,“I am but a visitor here in this stately home. I am therefore trying to be a considerate guest.” By definition, the word ‘halcyon’ denotes a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful. Thanks to Tim and Beth Worth, for the house called Halcyon Grove, the happy days are most definitely here again. To find more detailed information about Halcyon Grove and its place in the history of Edgefield County, visit Edgefield County Historical Society at www.historicedgefield.com.
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F E AT U R E S SP R I NG
RAISING THE SALAD BAR p g. 4 6
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FOR THE LOVE O F A N I M A LS p g. 5 6
THE STORYTELLER p g. 6 2
LIVING HISTORY p g. 7 0
RAISING THE SALAD BAR
Far from the pale, wilted greens of yesteryear, the salads of today are art in every sense of the word Intro by
Susan Frampton Photos by
Dottie Rizzo
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Brine Dining This page:Fresh oysters at The Ordinary. Opposite: Prep work at The 50Darling palmettomagazine.com
There are two distinctly different philosophies about salad. One is that it is good for you, and as such, must be endured in order to earn dessert. The second is that salad is art, and should be created, viewed and celebrated as a masterpiece of colors and flavors, to be e,aten with great relish. If you are one who struggles with which side of the salad spectrum to take, don’t decide until you have explored the gallery of salads we have assembled for you. If multi-colored heirloom tomatoes and pickled onions with parmesan, parsley, and cilantro don’t swing you across the salad bar, take a long look at our roasted beet pasta salad with goat cheese, contemplate our sliced pears, candied pecans, and balsamicdressed mixed greens, or immerse your senses in the pièce de résistance of mandarin oranges swirled with Cool Whip and pecans. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself adding these masterworks to your palette of salad favorites.
CRANBERRY PEAR PECAN SAL AD Ingredients 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 4 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice 2 tbsp brown sugar 1/4 tsp salt ground pepper to taste 8 cups mixed green lettuce 1/2 small red onion, sliced thin 1 cup dried cranberries 2 ripe pears, sliced 1 cup seedless red grapes 1 cup candied pecans 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
Preparation Combine the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, freshly squeezed orange juice, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat for 5 minutes while stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and let the vinaigrette cool to room temperature. Wash the salad greens and place them in a large salad bowl. Top with sliced onions, grapes, cranberries, sliced pears and pecans. Add crumbled feta cheese. Serve with vinaigrette.
ROASTED BEET AND GOAT CHEESE SAL AD Ingredients 3 medium beets, peeled and sliced 1 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1/4 tsp freshly-ground black pepper 1/2 cup red onion, sliced thin aluminum foil 1 1/2 cup tortellini pasta, cooked 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped 1/3 cup pesto sauce 1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
Preparation Preheat oven to 450°. Cut beet slices in half. Add beets, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pepper, and red onion in a bowl and mix gently. Make an aluminum foil bowl and pour in beet and onion mixture. Fold over the sides of the foil bowl to seal closed. Cook in oven for 1 hour. Remove from heat and cool for 15 minutes. Place cooked tortellini pasta in large bowl. Add sun dried tomatoes and basil. Empty contents of the foil bowl into the mixing bowl. Add the pesto and mix well. Chill for 1 hour in the refrigerator. Sprinkle on crumbled goat cheese before serving.
MANDARIN ORANGE AND COTTAGE CHEESE SAL AD Ingredients 2 large cans mandarin oranges, drained 1 tub Cool Whip 1 can crushed pineapple, drained 1 box orange Jello mix 16 oz tub large curd cottage cheese 1/2 bag of mini marshmallows 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Preparation Mix cottage cheese and Cool Whip in a small bowl and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, mix mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple and orange Jello mix. Stir thoroughly. Fold in the Cool Whip and cheese mixture. Add mini marshmallows and stir gently. Top with chopped pecans.
HEIRLOOM TOMATO SHALLOT SAL AD Ingredients 1 small shallot 4 tsp red wine vinegar 1/2 tsp minced garlic salt freshly-ground black pepper 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 3 medium heirloom tomatoes 2 tbsp flat leaf parsley 1 tsp parmesan cheese
Preparation: Peel and mince the shallot. Mix shallot in a medium-sized bowl with the garlic, vinegar, a pinch of salt, and a few turns of freshlyground black pepper. Let marinate for one hour in the refrigerator. Stir in the olive oil. Slice tomatoes and lay them out on a dish. Spoon shallot mixture over tomatoes. Top with parsley and parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.
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A N I M A L S A T C O T T O N B R A N C H FA R M A N I M A L S A N C T U A R Y, A T E A M O F D E D I C A T E D V O L U N T E E R S W O R K S T I R E L E S S LY T O S AV E ANIMALS LARGE AND SMALL By J A N A R I L E Y Photos by D O T T I E R I Z Z O
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n a busy Carolina highway, a truck full of chickens navigates the lanes toward the slaughterhouse. It carries crates packed full of white feathered birds, clucking curiously, oblivious to their fate. Suddenly, as the vehicle motors down the road, a lone chicken tumbles out of the bed of the truck and onto the shoulder, injured but alive. There she lays, as traffic speeds past her broken body, until a car finally stops. A person rushes out, scoops her into their arms, and gets back in the vehicle. They make a call, and once again, the bird is riding down the same Carolina highway; this time, being enveloped in a gentle touch and kind words. Soon, she is given a name, and within hours, her broken leg has been set by a trained veterinarian technician. Then, she is given a comfortable place to sleep, plenty of room to roam once her leg heals, fresh food, and clean water. Most of all, she is given a second chance at life. Along a dusty dirt road in a rural area of South Carolina, a woman heads home. As she does every day, she passes a neighbor’s land, and her heart sinks again at the sight of the two horses in the makeshift pasture, their bones sticking out more than she has ever seen. She pauses, and looks at the pair. The mother is swaying, clearly sick with starvation, and the son doesn’t look much better. The woman makes a decision. She cannot stand for this any longer. She makes a call, and soon, two men are knocking at her neighbor’s door. An agreement is reached, and the men load the horses into a trailer shortly after. The woman’s heart fills
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with hope. Maybe, the mother and son can have a chance at a better life. At a rest stop somewhere in the Southeast, an excited woman awaits the arrival of a breeder she found online. After seeing countless posts on social media featuring shockingly small “teacup” pigs, she finally convinced her landlord to allow her to have one, promising him exactly what the breeder promised her: that it would not get any larger than 50 pounds. The breeder arrives, hands her the pig, and takes his payment. Then, he is gone, never to be heard from again. The woman returns home, falls in love with her tiny, intelligent little pet, and begins to care for him. Before long, the pig has reached 20 pounds, then 30, and then 40. The landlord eyes it warily, but the woman promises that it will top out at 50 pounds, while quietly beginning to question if the breeder was being completely upfront. As it grows, the pig begins to have difficulty scaling the three floors of steps up to his owner’s apartment, and the woman has a harder time carrying him around. By the time the pig hits 100 pounds, the landlord has had it. Tearfully, the woman makes a call, and within hours, is saying goodbye to her pet: the teacup pig who never was. Like so many people these days, she was fooled into believing that what was actually a standard potbellied pig could remain small, and both she and the pig grieve the loss of each other. Though he has now experienced a heartbreaking loss, the pig will live the remainder of his life in a more suitable environment thanks to the phone call his owner made, and eventually, he will find happiness again.
On a plot of land not far from Columbia, South Carolina, the air is buzzing with activity. A large pig playfully rushes toward a squealing companion, while a group of guinea fowl squawk and march around the premises. Turkeys, horses, donkeys, ducks, goats, and sheep are just some of the residents here, and all are up to something. Some animals laze about, sunning themselves, while others romp around the dirt, looking happy as can be. A man spreads food in a pasture, while another refills water troughs. Then, the phone rings. A knowing glance passes between the two men, and on the second ring, one of them brings the phone to his ear. He listens. He nods. He thinks for a moment. And then he begins to make a plan. He reaches out to the other members of this important team. Decisions are made. Phone calls are placed. Before long, another animal is saved. It is just another day at Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary. Cotton Branch got its start back in 2004, as the retirement plan of former founder and longtime director of the Carolina Wildlife Care Center, Jan Alber-Senn. Her huge heart for animals leading the way, the farmland Jan obtained quickly became inundated with animals in need. Jan devoted herself to providing the best lives possible for the animals in her care, but retirement plan it was not. The days were long and the responsibilities were many, but Jan’s dedication to the animals never faltered. One day in 2014, as she browsed the Facebook pages of fellow rescues, she kept seeing the same name reaching out for help: Animal House Left to right: An outbuilding that sports the farm logo; Evan and Josh Costner and; one of the farms rescue horses; Bob the turkey showing off
Joshua Costner. Josh, an owner of two pigs and lover of animals, had heard about a pig destined to be euthanized at an animal control shelter, and was frantically trying to find someone to take the animal before her death date. Everyone was either not responding, or responding that they could not take her. It was clear that he was realizing what many had discovered before him: most animal rescues do not take pigs. Jan immediately clicked on his profile and sent a message. She could take the animal, she said. Josh and his husband, Evan Costner, saved Louise the pig right in the nick of time, and brought her to Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary. It was love at first sight “We just fell in love with the place,” remembers Josh. “Jan took us around and introduced us to all of the animals, told us their origin stories, and shared little tidbits about their personalities. At the time, she had over 100 animals and just one volunteer. She was 64 years old, and doing almost everything herself. We got in the car to leave, looked at each other, and just said, ‘she needs help to keep this going.’” The couple went back home to Charlotte, and Josh quickly set up a fundraiser at his hair salon to raise money for the sanctuary. He sent her the proceeds--nearly $1500--and then planned another fundraising event in the city a few months later. This time, they raised a few thousand dollars. Josh and Evan kept visiting the sanctuary and helping out whenever they could, and soon met other volunteers who helped care
for the animals. Together with Jan, they formed a functioning board of directors, and began to set goals and allocate responsibilities. They worked together famously, and new board members were added as the years went on. Now, Josh and Evan are set to succeed Jan after her retirement from the farm in the next two years, voted by the current board of directors. Passionate and devoted, the pair could not be more perfect for the job. In the United States, around 98% of the animals killed each year are farm animals, yet only around 2% of rescue organizations focus on these types of animals. 98% of the rescues operating in the United States focus their efforts on saving the 2% killed annually: dogs and cats. This is a fact that drives the Cotton Branch team forward every day, knowing that their work has immense value in the lives of so many animals. Their many residents include horses like Roscoe and Tucker who were found neglected and starving, a sweet mule named Chester who was the victim of abuse, and Freckles, the enormous, 2000 pound male dairy cow that the team speculates is a prime example of artificial growth hormone injections. There are two sheep named Thelma and Louise who are known for trying to escape with each other, and a chicken named Lana who fell--or jumped--off of the back of a truck destined for a slaughterhouse. More than any other animal, though, Cotton Branch receives calls about pigs. As one of only a handful of rescues who accepts pigs in either of the Carolinas, the calls can reach into the dozens each day. “Pigs are said to be the 4th most intelligent animal on earth, much more than even dogs, with the mental capacity of a 3-5 year old,” says Josh. “They learn quickly, have extremely distinct personalities, and mourn loss. So when we get these constant calls, often multiple times a day, about pigs who are found abandoned, neglected, or are set to be euthanized, it’s heartbreaking, because it is so avoidable. If there was more awareness around the fact that the miniature pig is a myth, the number of neglected pigs could decrease significantly.”
pigs or mixes that were promised to be 20-50 pounds fully grown. None of them are anywhere close to that size. Because of the massive amount of calls they receive regarding pigs, the sanctuary set up a rehoming program where they move animals from the unsuitable or dangerous situation directly into a new home or foster home in the interim, ensuring that the animal never steps foot on the Cotton Branch Sanctuary land. This helps the pig in need, as well as the pigs at the farm by saving them from additional loss; inevitably, they will get attached to one another, and mourning the loss of loved ones is an extremely emotional time for a pig. They also use the rehoming program to place other farm animals, such as goats, chickens, sheep, horses, and donkeys into safe and loving homes. Since the inception of the program 3 years ago, the Cotton Branch team has successfully saved and rehomed 300 animals. The animals who end up at the farm these days, other than the longtime residents, are typically severe cases, often abused or hard to place animals, such as extremely large farm pigs. Today, Cotton Branch has the most active adoption and foster program for pigs in the Southeast. Compassionate to a fault, the Cotton Branch team is made up of people who care deeply for animals, and the devotion extends to their many supporters. The bulk of their funding comes from monthly donors, who sponsor an animal at the sanctuary, receive an “adoption certificate,” and get updates all while supporting the farm through a small, recurring donation each month. There are also fundraising events such as 5K races and potlucks, and occasionally, local vegan restaurants will dedicate a day to sharing a percentage of their proceeds with Cotton Branch, as Good Life Cafe in Columbia does on the second Sunday of every month. Volunteers come from all over the state and beyond nearly every day to assist with farm chores, and monthly meetups are held to tackle larger projects. To raise more awareness about the plight of factory farmed animals, well-intentioned potbelly pig purchases, and more, the Cotton Branch team regularly visits schools across the region to educate children from elementary school age to college level. They also work with other sanctuaries and animal rights organizations across the country to form a network of helpers for animals in need: partnerships that are especially apparent when there is a natural disaster or an extreme case of many animals who need to be saved at once.
THE “TEACUP PIG,” “MICRO PIG,” OR “MINI PIG” MYTH IS A RECENT TREND THAT DECEIVES PEOPLE INTO BELIEVING THAT PIGS CAN BE BRED TO BE THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF A VERY SMALL DOG. The “teacup pig,” “micro pig,” or “mini pig” myth is a recent trend that deceives people into believing that pigs can be bred to be the size and weight of a very small dog. Breeders will show pictures of young pigs and claim that they are full grown to trick buyers, and often suggest incredibly low daily food allowances, which can keep some pigs relatively small but undernourished. Buyers with even the best intentions are coaxed into believing that no matter how small their home, a pig can be a comfortable companion. When, inevitably, a “teacup” pig grows far past its projected maximum weight, owners are often left scrambling for a place for them to go. Oftentimes, after trying and failing to find a home for the animal, the owner simply releases them from their care, dropping them off in rural areas and hoping for the best. At Cotton Branch, the team has seen the rise in calls about pigs directly correspond to the rising trend of buying “miniature” pigs. Presently, Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary has 85 pigs, and all but 11 are pot belly 62 p a l m e t t o m a g a z i n e . c o m
For the Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary Team, saving animals and caring for them can be both physically and emotionally draining, but that doesn’t stop anyone at the farm from pushing forward, determined to save as many animals as possible. “Saving animals - that’s our bottom line,” says Josh. “We aren’t paid, and only have two paid part-time employees here on the farm. Every ounce of support we get is directed toward the animals.” “If we are able to get the support we need,” adds Evan, “We want to expand this property so that we can help even more animals, and have more locations across the state. We are limited in what we can do here, and we know we can do so much more. We will never stop fighting for better lives for the animals, so all we can do is keep growing.” To find out how you can help Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary, follow them on social media and visit www.cottonbranch.org
Safe and Sound Clockwise: The sheep are house with goats and donkeys; a peaceful pasture; face that says it all; all of the animals enjoy custom-built shelters
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atalie Daise was just a young woman when she stepped off a Greyhound bus from New York and breathed in the salty air of Beaufort County, South Carolina. At 22, her schooling was behind her for the time being, and her new life in the South was an exciting blank slate for her to finally write her own story. As she navigated the unfamiliar streets, she could not shake the feeling that this place, however foreign it may be to a girl from central New York, was home for her. Comforted by the sensation, Natalie visited her sick grandmother, spent time with extended family members, and soon, attended her local church congregation. It was there that she heard a young man, skinny and bespectacled, sing in such a way that her soul responded with deep emotion. The two were introduced, and eventually, their relationship would go on to become one of the most impactful joining of hearts the state had ever seen. When Natalie first met Ron Daise, their relationship was strictly platonic. Over time, they began to collaborate creatively, singing together in a quartet, a trio, and finally, a duo. They connected over their love for creating, their mutual pursuit of knowledge and understanding, and the compassionate hearts they offered to everyone they encountered. Before long, they had fallen in love. As they grew together, Ron, a fervent storyteller, shared stories of his ancestors, who he could trace through his DNA all the way back to Ghana and Sierra Leone. Many of his ancestors had been brought to islands off of the South Carolina coast as slaves, selected for their ability to grow rice, which was an important cash crop at the time. They later became part of the Gullah Geechee culture, a part of society whose stories Ron Daise was—and is—determined to keep telling. Around the time he and Natalie met, Ron was often spotted driving around town
in his Toyota Corolla, chauffeuring elderly Gullah Geechee women to their various appointments while interviewing them for a book he was writing, which was later published under the title, Reminiscences of Sea Island Heritage: Legacy of Freedmen on St. Helena Island. His passion for his culture was apparent in everything he did, and soon, Natalie became invested in telling the stories right along with him. She and Ron found that they both knew many of the same traditional Gullah songs; Natalie’s grandmother had sang them to her in her youth, and Ron had grown up on St. Helena Island, where nearly every inhabitant was part of the Gullah Geechee culture. Together, they sang the songs and told the tales of their ancestors for anyone who would listen, and friends and family members encouraged the couple to take their stories to larger audiences. Ron had the idea to turn his book of Gullah Geechee stories into a script for a performance on Gullah Culture, and worked on it diligently. Word spread in the right circles about the work Natalie and Ron were doing, and soon, the pair quit their jobs to pursue their craft full-time. They became itinerant performers, traveling around the country to perform at museums, colleges, libraries, churches, and education conferences. Sharing their culture far and wide, they became key members in the Gullah Geechee community, known for their passion and expertise on all things Gullah. In 1989, Natalie met novelist Gloria Naylor, who had written a book based on the Gullah Geechee community. The two hit it off, and eventually, Natalie found herself on the very tip of St. Helena Island, in a hastily furnished home, eating cold chicken out of a box with Gloria Naylor, Naylor’s college friend, Maria Perez, and actor Laurence Fishburne, discussing turning a novel by Naylor, “Mama Day,” into a movie. It was on that night that Maria Perez suggested that Natalie and Ron turn their performances into a children’s television show for the Nickelodeon channel. Having heard similar pitches from wellmeaning friends before, Natalie didn’t think much of it, but a few months later, 9 months pregnant with her son, Simeon, there was a knock at the door. Producers from New York had tracked her down, and they spent the day filming Natalie and Ron going about their lives. A few weeks later, they received a call from New York. Executives from Nickelodeon had seen their tape, and wanted to make a show based on the Daise family and Gullah Culture. “They invited us to come up to New York to discuss the show, and I ended up in this boardroom, with my five week old baby, surrounded by people wearing suits that cost more than my car,” laughs Natalie. “We had no agent, no television experience, nothing. But we were given the green light for our show, and we were on the air in less than a year.” The show was called Gullah Gullah Island, and it became a cult classic of the 90’s. Running between 1994-1998, the show featured Ron, Natalie, their two children, Simeon and Sara, and other characters singing, dancing, and sharing life lessons. At the center of the show was a focus on the Gullah Culture, which would establish Gullah Gullah Island as the first children’s show to star an African-American family set in an indigenously black
“They invited us to come up to New York to discuss the show, and I ended up in this boardroom, with my five week old baby, surrounded by people wearing suits that cost more than my car. We had no agent, no television experience, nothing. But we were given the green light for our show, and we were on the air in less than a year.”
“Saint Septima with Carolina Jasmine”
“Shortly after finishing Gullah Gullah Island, Natalie’s passion for storytelling found an outlet in an unexpected medium: the visual arts. Culture Pop This page: “Sunny with a Collard Crown.” Opposite page, clockwise: Woodcut prints; “Sara with a Sweetgrass Earring;” a Gullah Geechee bible the Daises helped to translate; “A Prayer for Peace”.
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“She Rises I” and “She Rises II”
community. As a result, the program, which was the highestrated preschool show during its original run, exposed children across the nation to a culture which they may have never encountered, and paved the way for more diverse offerings in the future. Today, it holds a special place of nostalgia in the hearts of all who watched it in their youth, with both Ron and Natalie having served as teacher, parent, friend, and entertainer to millions of children growing up in the nineties. Regularly, they are approached with stories and words of gratitude, their program resonating even two decades later. After finishing their seventieth episode, the last for Gullah Gullah Island, Natalie and Ron continued to create, inspire, and grow together. Ron, who Natalie says is the very definition of a true partner, secured a job at Brookgreen Gardens as the Vice President of Creative Education, and Natalie further immersed herself in the world of using storytelling as an educational tool. She acquired her Masters degree in Creative Studies, helped develop materials for early childhood education, and held creative workshops for students and teachers alike. “Stories just drop the barriers,” says Natalie. “They are a gentle way of opening doors so that we can all communicate. When I tell stories, it is not just me standing there talking while everyone else is listening. We are building a community in the room, truly seeing and hearing each other. If, for example, I can get a room of people who believe they are very different from one another to laugh together, then they all connect with the story and each other at the same time. When we laugh together, we share a reaction, and we share an experience. From there, we can begin to understand each other and grow together.” Shortly after finishing Gullah Gullah Island, Natalie’s passion for storytelling found an outlet in an unexpected medium: the visual arts. She began painting, and with each canvas, she shared elements of her history, her culture, and her life. Even seemingly benign elements like a bowl of collards, which appeared in one of her earlier paintings, evolved in her work over time to represent her early childhood, her family of origin, and her connection to African-American culture and gathering. In later paintings, the collards take on a life of their own, morphing into wings, halos, and finally, in “Collard Queen,” an exquisite gown. For “The Evolution of Cornbread,” Natalie recalls her great grandmother, who had few photos taken during her lifetime, and captured her memory of the venerable woman by posing for a photo herself and bringing it to life with reverence and gratitude. Most of her paintings depict people, and it is often in their faces, their hands, their eyes, and their gazes that stories can be found by those willing to listen. Sometimes, Natalie ties in Adinkra cultural symbols, which originate in West Africa, to quietly evoke the spirit of a painting. In “A Prayer For Peace,” a young boy prays in front of a backdrop of the Gye Nyame symbol, which references the supremacy of God. In “Saint Monifa” a woman looks toward the future while flanked by the Fafante symbol, referencing tenderness and the
fragility of life. In all of her work, Natalie Daise celebrates the beauty and strength of her heritage, telling the stories of people past, present, and future with an open heart and generous spirit. Though the artist did not begin sharing her work with the public until 2011, today, her art can be found hanging in museums, art shows, libraries, and homes across the Lowcountry and beyond. Never one to stop evolving, Natalie is constantly in search of more creative ways to educate and inspire. Most recently, while discussing a way to bring Gullah Geechee culture into the daily lives of modern people, she and Ron decided to make a set of wisdom cards, and collaborated on the design and use of them. They took their product to Kickstarter, and were fully funded before their deadline. The set, now available on Natalie’s website, is divided into seven decks which reflect seven principles important in Gullah Geechee culture: Respect for Elders, Tenacity, Creativity, Heritage, Spirituality, Family and Community, and Self-Sufficiency. These are divided into another seven subsets: Understanding, Ancient Wisdom, Spirit Music, Reflection, Testimony, Visualization, and Empowerment. Users of the set can pull a card from within a deck either at random or by careful selection, and an accompanying guidebook aids in seeking meaning and creating an intention based on the card pulled. Natalie’s art is displayed on each card, and lessons are taught through song, story, and encouragement for reflection. Soon, another family collaboration will take flight in the work of Natalie and her daughter, Sara Makeba. The presentation, called “Pruning our Mother’s Garden,” is a discussion on what is learned from mothers and daughters, and what can be done to apply that knowledge to better serve each other and future generations. Sara, a cultural history interpreter, brings her studies of Afrofuturism to the project, encouraging participants to dream for future generations just as their ancestors did for them. Natalie and Sara hope to bring the discussion to as many places as possible, opening up dialogue about culture, acceptance, and growth. In all that she does, Natalie Daise seeks to foster dialogue, elicit understanding, and inspire positive evolution. “You’ve got to tell your own story,” says Natalie. “If you don’t, someone else will tell the story of who you are, and it won’t be correct. And you have to listen to the stories of the past, because how can you understand anything if you don’t know its evolution? History is constantly impacting who we are. We must listen to stories and ask ourselves, ‘Who am I in this story? How can I move forward from here? How can I best use this newfound understanding?’ In doing so, we can facilitate positive change and move forward together.” For more information about Natalie Daise and her work, visit www.nataliedaiseart.com.
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Local Color A lobster salad from Sam Kendall’s; racing for the win at the Carolina Cup
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CITY SCOUT
Camden
L I V I N G H I S T O R Y A LOOK INTO SOUTH CAROLINA’S OLDEST INLAND CITY, FULL OF AN ELEGANT SMALL TOWN CULTURE AND STORIED PAST
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G R A C E N E LS O N
Photos by D o t t i e R i z z o , T o d M a r k s , K a i t l y n C a n n o n & B r e t t B e n n e t t
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photo by by Sean Rayford
ecognized in the guidebooks as a quaint and historic city with ample hunting and equestrian pursuits, Camden is far from the fustiness one might conjure up initially. Though undoubtedly part of the appeal, Camden’s thoroughbreds, freshly polished rifle chambers, and general air of sophistication are all pleasantly balanced by the intangible comfort of feeling right at home. Established as a backcountry settlement by King George II along the Wateree River, Camden is as far west as most Europeans would venture in the early 1700s and soon became a convenient trading spot and outpost for the British during the Revolutionary War. The Redcoats occupied Camden as headquarters for over a year surrounded by fortifications. Although they were victorious in the Battle of Camden (1780) and Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill (1781), the English soon left Camden and burned much of it on their way out. In the wake of the fight for independence, Camden prospered, and by the early 1800s had twice as many homes as the state capital. During the Civil War, Camden found itself once again in a pivotal role, this time as a supply station and hospital, counting Mary Todd Lincoln’s brother among its surgical staff. Ultimately, like so many others, Camden suffered under the fiery exit of General Sherman and found itself forced to evolve in the aftermath. Wealthy northerners soon made their way to the town and brought with them a passion for horses, solidifying Camden’s place in equestrian tradition
that continues today through the Carolina Cup each Spring. Over 60,000 brightly-clothed spectators, about ten times the total population, are drawn into Camden for the steeplechase event annually. If you can’t make it for the cup, be sure to stop by the National Steeplechase Museum, the only museum in the United States that is dedicated to telling the steeplechase story. To take it back to the very beginning of Camden and further investigate its former life, the first stop is Historic Camden, where the Kershaw Cornwallis House stands, original headquarters to Cornwallis and perhaps the most iconic symbol of Camden’s extraordinary history. Thousands of spectators flock to Historic Camden throughout the first full weekend in November for Revolutionary War Field Days. The signature event features battles, camps, demonstrations, and presentations by scholars.The grounds of the house also contain a larger museum complex featuring the c. 1800 Craven House and McCaa’s Tavern, log cabins with exhibits, a reconstructed blacksmith shed, and more. Continue the story at nearby Camden Battlefield and Longleaf Pine Preserve, a 450+ acre site where the Patriots’ defeat at the Battle of Camden became the catalyst for the promotion of Major General Nathanael Greene as commander of the Southern Campaigns. Downtown Camden is the ideal of a quaint small town, complete with plenty of shops, an impressive amount of local eateries, and distinct architecture. You’ll spot weather vanes in the likeness of Catawba Indian Chief King Haigler and the unofficial Patron Saint of Camden while he watches
Making History This page clockwise: Researching at the Camden Archives and Museum; period structures at Historic Camden; Revolutionary War reiactment on the Historic Canden Battle Field; outside seating at Books On Broad and Coffee House. Opposite page: Owner Sam Bazinet and a member of the chef’s crew at Sam Kendall’s; Broad Street
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People and Places This page clockwise: Peter and Fran Rowland of Mulberry Market Bake Shop; Kevin L. Perry Antiques specializes in fine furnishings; leading a racer to the gates; Emmie’s on Broad; Opposite page: Reenactors firing Revolutionary era rifles.
over the town atop both the 1886 Opera House Tower and the dome of Camden City Hall. Both are replicas of the original 1826 weather vane that is now housed safely in the Camden Archives and Museum. The museum has a top notch genealogical research facility for those who want to dig deep into the records of Camden along with artifacts and exhibits on the entire county. The newly opened African American Cultural Center houses exhibits including the legacy of favorite son and baseball Hall of Famer Larry Doby. Once you start thinking life in Camden couldn’t get any more quaint, think again and catch a show at the Little Theater, in operation since 1948. The building has been refurbished since the old days, but still exudes character and includes two screens showing the current blockbusters. Camden has one of the most impressive mixtures of shops in South Carolina in both quantity and quality. Take a tour of the many antique stores or peruse downtown on Broad Street. Pink Stable ladies boutique has classy southern attire in spades, outfitting locals and visitors alike in beautiful clothing fit for any horse race. For a cup of coffee and a rare find, Books on Broad is an independent bookstore selling used, new, and collectible books to flip through along with millions of titles available online. Music aficionados will naturally find their way to Davis & Sons Guitar Shop, maybe even planning a whole trip around the place. Rusty Davis, former guitar player for Eric Clapton, has everything a musician needs including plenty of life lessons and advice. Definitely check out the Bassett Gallery at the Fine Arts Center to take in art in all forms such as contemporary, classic, folk, sculptures, and paintings. Admission to the gallery and receptions are free. Camden is also wrapped in forest land inviting lots of fun in the sun. Goodale State Park offers some of the best kayaking in South Carolina on a Civil War-era mill pond. There’s plenty of fishing, a sandy one-mile hiking trail, and a three-mile paddling trail through cypress trees. STAY Two of the standout options to make a weekend of your visit in Camden offer, not surprisingly, a big slice of history pie along with your breakfast. The Camden House B&B was built in 1832 in the heart of downtown and features 12 foot-high ceilings and heart pine floors that would make any historic preservationist swoon. The antebellum grandeur of the furnishings, sitting rooms, and breezy porches are merged with just the right amount of modern conveniences, even a pool! A short walk from downtown will bring you to the award-winning Bloomsbury Inn. The former private home was built in the mid-1800s by Colonel Chestnut, then the third wealthiest person in the state. Many well-known faces of Camden history
BOYKIN LEGACY Though technically a separate town a few miles away, one would be remiss not to mention Boykin when referencing Camden. William Boykin settled here in 1755, and by 1792 dammed Swift Creek to form a millpond powering a grist, flour, and sawmill. After the Civil War ended, Boykin’s Mill was the site of an engagement between Union general Edward Potter and Confederate regulars. A lieutenant with the 54th Massachusetts Regiment was killed during the fight and is the last known Federal officer to die in the Civil War. The Boykin name and legacy is preserved at the original millpond, where there are several historic buildings still in use, including the Mill Pond Steakhouse. Another piece of the Boykin family story began in the early 1900s, when Whit Boykin experimented with breeding until he developed a hunting dog ideal for its size and retrieval abilities. By 1977, the Boykin Spaniel Society was founded in Camden and has grown to over 4000 members from all over the world. In 1985, the Boykin Spaniel was named South Carolina’s official state dog.
Around Town This page, clockwise: Inside the African American Cultural Center; Historic Camden; Artist’s’AttickStudio and Gallery. Opposite page, row one: Ole Timey Meat Market; Davis & Sons Guitar Shop; inside the Bloomsbury Inn. Row two: A view from the street of Bloomsbury Inn; preppy for the race; a quiet reading nook at Books On Broad and Coffee House. Row three: Pink Stable Southern Boutique; inside Historic Camden; the historic Little Twin Theater
graced the halls of Bloomsbury including Mary Boykin Chestnut, famous for penning “Diary of Dixie” detailing her experiences during the Civil War. The four rooms are named after original family members–including Mary– and each contains an 1854 fireplace plus sitting area. Here, you’ll awake to the smell of Bloomsbury’s own special coffee brew and a three-course gourmet breakfast made from local ingredients. EAT Blackmon’s Little Midget Family Drive-In is a 30-seater that started as a hot dog stand in the 1950s. The still-humble establishment now dishes out incredible amounts of sweet tea, pimento cheese, and chicken and will also fill you up on slow-roasted barbecue, burgers, and more. The must-eat is, of course, a hot dog topped with Blackmon’s famous chili. Every town needs a nostalgic diner on a side street where kids chuckle at the counter and patrons indulge in some old-fashioned southern goodness. Broad Street Lunch, better known as BSL, is that place. The breakfast comes hot, the burgers come on toasted bread, and the service comes with conversation and a smile every time. De Bruhl’s Café is too tempting to pass up for all the hole-in-the-wall seekers out there. A southern-style buffet tucked behind a hotel, the cafe offers up full breakfast or the ever-adored meat and three for lunch, with options changing daily.
A word meaning “health” in Spanish and used as a toast, Salud! is traditional Mexican fare with lots of glam and flare. The innovative menu is fresh and the lounge atmosphere allows you to really relax and enjoy the handcrafted cocktails and over 100 tequila options.
Just in case their weekly all-you-can-eat crab leg or rib specials don’t pique your interest, the full menu at Hifalutin will. Southern staples like fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese fries will start you off before you choose between entrees like the smoked pork drums, shrimp and grits, and apple moonshine ribs.
The historic exposed brick and tin ceiling are just the starting points for the charm at Sam Kendall’s, where the ambiance is unpretentiously fancy, much like Camden itself. There are separate dinner, lunch, and seasonal menus, and the seafood and steaks are standouts.
For a quick treat or dessert, Mulberry Market Bake Shop has everything from chocolate croissants to homemade breads and pecan rolls. The bakers are up in the wee hours of the morning to satisfy your sweet tooth all day, so make sure to return their warm smiles.
This city, as tempting as it is to pigeon-hole as exclusive and a touch highbrow, actually leans more on the side of sturdy with an approachable elegance. Camden is proud of the hearty souls that began its path to such a significant role in history, and it is conscious of maintaining its willful spirit today and more than happy to share it with all who grace its dignified doorstep.
For the slow-cooked savory meat lovers, Westfall’s Texas Style BBQ is open Thursday-Saturday and is chock full of slow-cooked savory meats including brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken leg quarters, and smoked Texas sausage. Sauces and side dishes are available, but definitely not necessary.
While we pride ourselves on finding soon-to-be favorite discoveries for our readers while scouting cities, this article is by no means comprehensive. Visit www.classicallycarolina.com to explore everything Camden has to offer, including audio tours of all nine of their historic districts.
Take in a live theatre show. Grab a craft brew with some friends. Pop in one of our shops or eateries. Enjoy one of our award-winning festivals. Explore a hidden swimming hole on the lake. Browse our farm fresh produce. There is always something blooming… for everyone…in Greenwood!
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Charleston Wine + Food Festival This past February Palmetto Magazine partnered with Charleston Wine & Food Festival to host the Bowens Fish Camp event. This casual canteen served up pure southern comfort, offering a mix of river dwelling and coastal swimming fare, along with craft brews, perfectly paired wines, and creative cocktails. There was live music by River Boys and show-stopping Charleston marsh views to round out the engaging affair. charlestonwineandfood.com photos by A D A M C H A N D L E R
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by Rachelle Cobb
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Illustration by Jason Wagener
warm-ups, and Mom waved me off to do my thing. She settled in at the top of the bleachers, so high up, that the bleachers had ended and become rows of chairs. She pulled out her knitting and a book. She held her breath while I flipped, clenched her fists and her teeth whenever I fell, and breathed only once I was done. So it should have made me suspicious when at the end of the meet, I couldn’t see her because my coaches were blocking my view of that particular corner of the bleachers. Someone, in an innocent attempt to move his chair down a row, had conked my mother in the back of the head with his chair leg. She became dizzy and faint. The paramedics, on hand just in case us gymnasts needed them, came to her aid. My coaches blocked my view so I couldn’t witness the mayhem.
Being My Biggest Fan is a Dangerous Job When gymnastics is involved, cheering on your child can be risky business. But my mother was always there.
My mother has always been my biggest fan. One Saturday eight years ago, her dedication almost earned her a concussion. Just the other day, a friend mentioned to me in passing that his daughter had a robotics competition last Saturday, which meant he sat on bleachers for five hours to watch her compete for five minutes. I was that daughter once. I was seventeen and in yet another gymnastics competition. My mother dedicated countless Saturdays to my meets. She would sit on the bleachers for five hours (sometimes after driving for hours just to get me there) only to watch me, breath held every time I went upside down, compete for a grand total of five minutes. She never missed a meet. This particular day, that January of my senior year, we had driven several hours to get to Tennessee. We arrived at the auditorium, I changed into my 82 p a l m e t t o m a g a z i n e . c o m
During that conversation the other day about that robotics competition, it struck me for the first time just how much my mother gave up to make me happy. Countless Saturday mornings where she could have slept in but instead chose to wake up at 5AM with me so we could be on time to my competition. Countless Saturday evenings when she could have been going on dates with my dad or out with friends. She instead took me out to dinner at Ruby Tuesday’s after nearly every away meet. She also drove me to and from practice five days a week. She made friends with other team moms and drove their kids to and from practice, too. She helped me keep my warm-ups clean, pack my practice and competition bags, and blew a hole in the ozone layer with all the hairspray we went through to make sure my unruly curly hair didn’t come out of the military style bun she spent hours constructing. She was (and still is) always available when I needed her, always willing to listen, always there. We went out to Ruby Tuesday’s that day she almost got a concussion from watching me compete. It’s been eight years since that January. Almost eight years now since I competed my final routine, eight years since Mom drove me up and down the east coast to competitions. Mom’s love has taught me a lot about the love of a good parent, about the love of God for His children. He is always available when I need Him, always willing to listen, always there. I’ll never be able to thank her enough for teaching me all about Him and showing me who He is through her love for me. For her dedication to my dreams during those gymnastics years. For the sleepless nights when I was an infant and she had no idea I’d grow up to want to hurl myself against gravity. For the look on her face when I walked down the aisle a few summers ago on Daddy’s arm, in the white dress she helped me choose. I hope someday to love my own children so well—with the same help she had, from our Heavenly Father. Today, amid this fast-paced life, I hope you’re encouraged to make a phone call to whoever fulfilled that role in your life—whether your mother, another family member, or a beloved mentor figure—and thank him or her for being your biggest fan. It is, after all, often a dangerous job.
No stress, no distractions, not even a gas station. PAW L E Y S I S L A N D , S C
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