Tuesday, November 4, is election day – we have less than three weeks to go! While most of us agree that voting is important, the hard part is finding the time to learn about the candidates and constitutional amendments we’ll be faced with in the voting booth. SCIway’s 2008 election guide can save you time. You can find it at: http://www.sciway.net/gov/sc-elections.html

SCIway’s Election Guide is the most complete South Carolina resource of its kind. It lets you compare hundreds of candidates by visiting their actual campaign websites. Our guide covers presidential, federal, state senate, state house, county and school board, and solicitor offices. (If you know of a candidate website we don’t yet have, please write service@sciway.net.)

We also link to straightfoward explanations of the three constitutional ammendments (PDF) that will be on our ballot this year, as well as a helpful form you can use to find both your voting districts and driving directions from home or work to your precinct polling place:

Find your voting districts and driving directions to your polling place

1. Use slashes in birth date and 4-digit year.
2. Click Submit after completing all boxes.
3. After results appear, click Get driving directions to the Precinct in upper right corner for directions, map.

Here are some other especially useful 2008 SC election links:

• Absentee voting | Curbside voting
• Candidate debates from SC ETV – 7 live US House and Senate debates in October – TV, Internet, radio
• Winthrop University / SC ETV Poll – October 23rd – Seeks to determine whether Obama or McCain will win in SC, NC, VA – North Carolina and Virginia, in particular, are still described as “battleground” states

South Carolina is known for having three unique folk-art traditions: Sweetgrass basketry, Catawba pottery, and Edgefield pottery.¹ These historically-significant crafts are not commonly found in any other place. A recent trip to the Town of Edgefield introduced us to the latter of these art forms.

For more than 200 years, the Edgefield area of South Carolina has been known for its production of a specific type of pottery called “stoneware.” Strong and non-porous, stoneware is usually glazed and fired in a kiln at very high temperatures. The resulting product can be very large – up to 40 gallons! – and has the potential to last for centuries.

Remnants of even earlier pottery have been found in several places around South Carolina. As many as 4,500 years ago, Native Americans created earthenware using the rich, red clay found throughout our state. Rather than turned on a wheel as modern vessels are, these hand-shaped pots were left unglazed and fired at lower temperatures. As a result, earthenware was not nearly as durable as stoneware and could not hold water. Still, the Catawba are well known to this day for having employed this essential method for food preparation and storage, using the natural resources available to them. (Catawba pottery continues to thrive in South Carolina and is the “earliest recorded Indian potting tradition”² in the United States.)

	FERRELL MUSEUM COLLECTION		POTTER STEVE FERRELL		OLD EDGEFIELD POTTERY

Edgefield was not the first place in the the country to produce stoneware commercially. It is, however, thought to be the first place in the Southeast to produce it successfully. In the early 1800s, the Landrum family settled in what was then called Edgefield District – now Edgefield County. The Landrums, like many others in the area, owned slaves who helped run their plantations and businesses. In 1810 Dr. Abner Landrum built an entire community around the slave production of stoneware pottery, sometimes referred to as Landrumville, but more often as Pottersville.

Pottersville residents made use of the abundant red clay and kaolin deposits in the region. Kaolin was (and still is) used for a number of practical purposes, such as Kaopectate®, toothpaste, and paint pigment. In stoneware pottery, this brilliant white clay allowed for the addition of decorative elements to the red-clay pots and jars. Edgefield District potters made beautiful use of the kaolin, sand, pine, and feldspars naturally available to them. While not entirely unique to the area, these elements were essential to Edgefield’s pottery production.

Pottersville quickly grew to a village of approximately 150 and soon earned a reputation for producing inexpensive, sturdy, and beautiful stoneware. By the 1840s, numerous families had begun similar operations and Edgefield gained greater renown for its pottery. Slave labor was still heavily relied upon, and a handful of skilled artisans stood out among them.

One slave in particular has become a familiar name among historians. “Dave the Potter,” as he is commonly known, was born around 1800 and may have lost one of his legs in a train accident, making him unfit for field-work. He was among the relatively few literate slaves of his time, perhaps having been taught to read by his first owner, Harry Drake. Although it was frowned upon to educate slaves for fear that literacy would spark free will and potential uprising, many owners taught their slaves to read so they could study the Bible. Dave’s literacy allowed him to mark many of his pots with a signature and date, or more rarely, a rhyming couplet or short poem.

There is also speculation that Dave was paired with another slave laborer named Henry. The story goes that Henry was missing both of his arms, and while Henry used his feet to turn the wheel, Dave’s tremendous strength allowed him to produce jars and pots of exceptional size. The resulting pots were not only beautifully crafted, they also offer a timeline which has allowed historians to trace Dave’s movement between stoneware manufacturers and solidify many of the theories surrounding the history of southern pottery. Examples of Dave’s poetry are as follows:

“I saw a leopard and a lion’s face / then I felt the need of grace” - August 7, 1860 - Here, Dave may have been referencing the Bible, a dream, or stories passed down by older African ancestors.

“Put every bit all between / surely this jar will hold 14” - July 12, 1834 - This rhyming couplet, perhaps Dave’s first, makes reference to the size of the piece on which it was written. When well packed, the jar could hold up to fourteen gallons.

“Dave belongs to Mr. Miles / Where the oven bakes and the pot biles” - July 31, 1840 - Here, Dave made reference to then-owner, Lewis Miles. Dave may have had as many as five owners.

“I wonder where is all my relations / Friendship to all and every nation” - April 16, 1857 - This piece alludes to the buying and selling of members of a slave family.

Today, this remarkable tradition has been brought back to life by Old Edgefield Pottery’s resident artist, Stephen Ferrell. With each rotation of his wheel, Steve gently pulls a vessel from the mound of clay before him. His work, like that of innumerable craftspeople of the past, is characteristic of Edgefield County. Its ovoid shape and sturdy, yet delicate lip will dry to a leather-hard stage, at which point he will embellish it with a brilliantly white kaolin slip and a rich, celadon glaze to bring further luminosity to the pot’s surface design. Once fired, the vessel will harden to virtually indestructable stoneware that, like Dave’s, can be enjoyed for centuries to come.

1. Thanks to Stephen Ferrell for providing information and guidance on SC folk art traditions.
2. Catawba Indian Pottery

Edgefield Pottery Resources

• Dave the Potter - Learn more about Dave’s life and work
• Edgefield Pottery Photo Gallery - Photos with information and links
• Pottersville Kiln Site - Site of Dr. Landrum’s original Edgefield District kiln
• Glossary of Pottery Terms - Confused about pottery terminology? Want to learn more?

Following a bombardment of campy billboards, a giant sombrero looms above the horizon. No, it’s not heatwaves coming off the asphalt of I-95, it’s South of the Border. If the advertisements haven’t already worked their way into your subconscious, then veer off the interstate and prepare to be amazed … or disappointed. The theme park, started as a modest beer stand in 1949, is one of the more recognizable landmarks on the interminable monotony that is I-95.

Today, South of the Border seems a little past its prime, which may add to its quirky draw. The gift shops are still there, replete with a bevy of unique junk, and the amusement rides are working – when they’re open. A ride up the 200-foot sombrero tower costs only a dollar and provides a unique panorama of SC’s favorite tourist trap.

Thankfully, just a a few miles further off the highway, you’ll find yourself exploring Dillon County. But just in case all of this seems a little too bland, you can always pick up a six-pack of Blenheim’s spicy ginger ale – brewed locally.

Apart from the neon signs of Pedroland, the rest of Dillon County spreads out in this far northeastern part of our state, abutted to North Carolina. Long a relatively isolated region, the area got a boost when railroads spurred development in the late 1800s. Towns like Dillon and Latta sprang up around a new rail line out of Florence in 1888. In its heyday, the region grew cotton and tobacco, accumulating enough wealth to build opulent structures like the Dillon County Courthouse.

Apparent throughout our trip was the county’s rich historical heritage. The many classic homes and restored buildings speak of a population respectful of its roots. As the focal point of the town, Dillon’s Main Street has many reminders of times past. For one, the railroad still dominates the streetscape, as Dillon boasts one of a handful of Amtrak stations in our state.

	SOUTH OF THE BORDER		DILLON		LATTA

If you continue south for several miles on US 301, you’ll pass by the lovely town of Latta. With nearly 1,500 residents, Latta exudes charm, both through the welcoming demeanor of its townsfolk and its many historic buildings. For a glimpse into the early 20th century, we visited the Dillon County Museum. Once a local dentist’s office, the small museum now displays artifacts from the region’s agricultural legacy. Right across the street is the old post office and one-room school, as well as the Latta library, built in 1915 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie.

While the charm of Dillon County is clear at every turn, it’s obvious that this area is faced with economic challenges. Having relied for many years on cotton and tobacco production, this is a place, like so many rural counties in our state, that is struggling with unemployment.
Few industries call Dillon County home, but not for lacks of assets. From its unspoiled nature to its historical places, the county provides yet-untapped opportunities for growth.

Learn More about Dillon County

• Dillon County - SCIway overview guide
  – South of the Border Photos | Dillon Photos | Latta Photos

• Dillon County History & Genealogy
  – South Carolina’s first airplane?

• Dillon County Historical Society

October brings to a close hatching season for South Carolina’s state reptile, the Loggerhead Turtle. Under the watchful eyes of dedicated volunteers, nests could be seen “boiling” along the SC coast as recently as last week. In fact, it is estimated that some 3,000 nests were found on our shores in 2008 alone. Each nest consists of as many as 125 eggs, but sadly only a handful of young turtles survive into adulthood. Because they rely on the moon’s reflection to lead them to the sea, they are often confused by man-made lights coming from beachfront homes and street lamps, which lead them in the opposite direction. Loggerheads have been on the threatened species list since 1978.

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE		EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL

On the flip side, this month’s issue of SCIway News also introduces our state butterfly, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. From around mid-September through the end of October each year, butterflies flutter over South Carolina in abundance. There are dozens of varieties that flourish here, each adding color to fall’s remaining flowers. Take a moment to visit these new state symbols pages, filled with interesting facts and beautiful pictures.

October’s Featured Symbols:

• SC State Reptile: Loggerhead Turtle – Named for their large, log-shaped heads, males of this species are rarely, if ever, seen on land. Females come ashore to nest each year – amazingly on the exact same beach on which they themselves were born! Learn more about this incredible reptile by clicking the above link.
• SC State Butterfly: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail – You have probably seen these beautiful creatures with their yellow wings and bold, black stripes, floating through your lawn or garden. This is the time of year when they come out in droves to sip nectar from the flowers of early fall. Click above to learn more about the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

Aiken County History Archive - Decades of Aiken Standard newspaper clippings and photos - compiled and maintained by USC-Aiken

Charleston Parks Conservancy - Public/private partnership to preserve and enhance 120 municipal parks and playgrounds in Charleston

Edisto Island Preservation Alliance - Works to protect Edisto from overdevelopment by encouraging responsible zoning laws as well as family-oriented eco-tourism

Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission - Provides services and infrastructure development for unincorporated areas of Laurens and Greenville counties

Mercy Medicine Clinic - Free medical clinic serving Florence and Dillon counties

New Ideas for a New South Carolina - Have an idea that can improve SC’s economy? Submit it now for a chance to win $12,500 in prize money!

Our Upstate Ancestry - Research census records, schools, cemeteries, and churches in the Greenville County area

Paws Animal Wildlife Sanctuary - Lauren’s County group offers wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and outreach, as well as humane “pest” remedies

REDUX Contemporary Art Center - Non-profit contemporary arts center in downtown Charleston houses studio facilities and exhibition space

Remember My Name - ETV’s look at South Carolina’s startling rank as second in the nation for women killed by abusive partners

A fall sun bathes the crimson leaves and still waters of Pinnacle Lake in golden light. One can see Table Rock in the background.

—  TABLE ROCK STATE PARK | MORE INFO  —

This photo was shot by Willie Harper of Mauldin in November 2007. The leaves in the Upstate have not yet fully changed colors this year, but you can keep an eye on them using the Table Rock State Park webcam.

If you would like to have your photo featured, please submit it to the SC Picture Project. We select photos for the newsletter from the ones we receive, and it is a great way to bring publicity to you or your organization.