SCIWAY News No. 63 – February 2009

In This Issue

1. From Ships to Sustainability: North Charleston's Changing Nature

For better or worse, the third-largest city in South Carolina has always defined itself in relation to its namesake: Where Charleston was genteel and sedate, North Charleston was bustling and blue-collar; if Charlestonians fretted excessively about planning and preservation, North Charleston's founding fathers (the city wasn't incorporated until 1972) embraced development with boom-town enthusiasm and little concern for the environment.

The legacy of those attitudes is tangible. North Charleston now sprawls across 73 square miles, but much of its southern end, where the city's earliest growth took place, is run-down, shabby, and environmentally scarred.

Yet we've noticed a trend, and it drew us to take another look. North Charleston has been investing in, attracting, and building a variety of environmentally-friendly structures, businesses, developments, and initiatives. Much of this green activity seems to cluster around the city's blighted southern edge and the former navy base.

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2. February's Top Ten – Notable SC Websites

Tax Resources for South Carolina - It's getting close to tax time, so here's everything you need to file your SC state and federal taxes
Centers for Economic Excellence - Supports research and technology to expand South Carolina's economy
Charleston Area Model Railroad Club - Venerable North Charleston hobby club welcomes all model railroad enthusiasts - The club is looking for a new home as revitalization pushes it out of its Park Circle location
Great American Pastime Baseball League - Greenville - Informal adult baseball league plays on the weekends at the historic Woodside Mill Baseball Park
Greater Park Circle Film Society - Movie theater Olde North Charleston Picture House shows independent and local films - site no longer available
Save the Lowcountry - Works to address the impact of global warming on South Carolina's coast - site no longer available
South Carolina Brewers Association - Supports and promotes local microbreweries in our state - Also be sure to check out SCIWAY's complete list of SC breweries, then visit our COAST Brewing Company photo gallery
South Carolina Shakespeare Company - Columbia - Acting troupe performs William Shakespeare's plays throughout our state
Spartanburg County Parks Department - Provides active and healthy leisure opportunities in the Spartanburg area
Union County Library - Voted the "Best Small Library in America" for 2009 - One of a handful of Carnegie Libraries in South Carolina

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3. SC Picture of the Month

An early spring chill clings to the old Hagood Mill in Pickens County. The gristmill is one of the Upstate's historical treasures. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to produce fresh cornmeal and grits to this day.

— HAGOOD MILL | MORE INFO —

This photograph was taken by Steven Faucette of Williamston in April 2007. Steven is a professional photographer and frequent contributor to the South Carolina Picture Project. Click to learn more about Hagood Mill.

If you would like your local landmark to be featured, please send us a painting, drawing, or photo. We select photos for the newsletter from the ones we receive, and it is a great way to bring publicity to you or your town.

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4. Orphanage Band Instrumental in Jenkins' Past and Future

Many Charleston folklorists know the story of the Jenkins Orphanage, founded after the Reverend Daniel Jenkins, a former orphan himself, stumbled across four homeless boys huddled together in a freight car with nobody to care for them.

Any serious student of American music knows that the Jenkins Orphanage Band – formed to help support the orphans' home – would become the training ground for dozens of top musicians, deeply influencing the development of jazz.

What many South Carolinians don't realize is that the orphanage has remained a functioning haven for neglected Lowcountry youth for over 117 years.

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5. Upcoming SC Festivals & Events

For a complete calendar of South Carolina festivals and events, visit https://www.sciway.net/calendar.html. Here are just a few of our mid-February through mid-March highlights:

Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration - Art show, film fest, "Taste of Gullah" celebration, authors & books, plus much more - February 1-28

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition - Charleston - Largest wildlife art & nature event in the US - February 13-15

Battle of Aiken - Civil War reenactments, crafts, food - February 20-22 - event site no longer available

Santee State Park Triathlon - Santee - Run, kayak, mountain bike - February 21

General Francis Marion Memorial Day - Summerton - Demonstrations, reenactments, living history - February 26-28

South Carolina Book Festival - Columbia - Speakers, workshops, exhibits, autographs - February 27-March 1 - festival no longer held

Beaufort International Film Festival - 21 film finalists chosen from over 100 entries from 24 countries - March 6-8

Key Ingredients: America By Food - Edisto Island - Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition - March 6-May 9

Learn more about Key Ingredients in South Carolina.

National Shag Dance Championships - Myrtle Beach - Longest running shag contest in the US - March 12-14

Learn more about the Shag, South Carolina's State Dance.

Aiken Trials - Aiken Triple Crown - Thoroughbred horse races - March 14

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6. South Carolina's State Waltz: A Song – Not A Dance

Believe it or not, South Carolina's State Waltz is a song – not a dance. The music, evolved over a period of perhaps 300 years or more, has been passed down by ear through generations of the Richardson family.

The waltz is a traditional European musical form, typically identified by the 1.2.3-1.2.3 rhythm. Chances are you've heard many examples of the waltz in popular music. "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music is a great example of a waltz. "Take It To The Limit" by The Eagles is another one, and even Avril Lavigne has done her version with "I'm With You."

The Richardson family is significant to South Carolina for several reasons. For starters, it's responsible for six of our governors!


	RICHARDSON CEMETERY		GOVERNOR RICHARDSON		MARY BRIGGS RICHARDSON

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