Many people gathered to enjoy ChristmasFest, which included a number of rides, horse-drawn carriage and wagon rides, holiday entertainment and a dazzling fireworks display. For more information about Cheraw events, see the town’s event calendar.

SCIWAY thanks David W. Sides of Cheraw for this festive picture!

In 1907, 157 residents signed a petition to incorporate the area and named it Pageland after Adolphus High “Dolly” Page. Page was the C&L engineer responsible for bringing the railroad through town.

The railroad no longer exists, but Pageland’s close proximity to Charlotte still brings many travelers its way. Several large industries and distribution centers have set up shop in Pageland, and there is a collection of small businesses downtown.

Importantly, this rural community is also home to many farms, such as the one pictured above. Its sandy soil is particularly well-suited for growing melons and peaches. Known as the “Watermelon Capitol of the World,” Pageland hosts the Watermelon Festival each July to celebrate this delicious summertime treat!

Many thanks to Chris Austin for sharing these pictures he took in 2012. Want to see this farm yourself? Check out the map below for its location!

Amazingly, given its age, the building has not undergone any major renovations since it was built. When Seaboard stopped its passenger line in the 1960s, the depot stood vacant for 20 years. Eventually, it was purchased by the Town of McBee and converted into the McBee Library and Railroad Museum. It is now listed in the National Historic Register.

Many thanks to Melissa Roberts of Barnwell for these great pictures she took in 2012.

Bricks from the now demolished Bank of Mt. Croghan were used to build the brick columns at the park’s entrance. The Bank of Mt Croghan closed during the Great Depression and was torn down in the 1970s. In 2001, the late Col. Robert Stafford Rivers established and donated the land for Rivers Park because he wanted to give back to his hometown of which he had many fond memories. He was also responsible for the master plan and design of the park.

Rivers Park is surrounded by a split rail fence and several antique street lights. Located inside are benches, a gazebo, a wooden swing, an antique sundial, a bell, a garden pond, and much more. Palmetto trees, windmill palms, and Yoshino cherry trees make up a portion of the landscape. Col. Rivers asked that the cherry trees be planted because they reminded him of a tidal basin in Washington, DC where he spent many years of his professional life as an Air Force Officer.

Mt Croghan residents consider the cherry trees to be the best feature of the park. Not only are they lovely when in full bloom – the trees are decorated with white lights during the holidays, making it one of the most beautiful parks in Chesterfield County.

Special thanks to Mayor Kevin Griggs of Mt Croghan for submitting this great information and picture he took in June 2011.

The grits mill and cane press are housed inside this barn, which provides a sort of gathering place for visitors and those hoping to purchase some freshly ground, South Carolina grits. Beyond the barn the field of sugar cane is visible. Had this picture been taken just two weeks earlier, corn stalks could also be seen in the background.

From left to right: Andy, Randy, John, and Jerry after a full day of grits-making. The farm prides itself on being family-owned and operated – John and Randy are brothers, and Andy is John’s son.

A rebuilt tractor engine runs Blizzard Branch’s grist mill. The sign’s instruction is not for the faint of heart; in an effort to ensure they would not miss any visitors, the Catoes wired an air horn to the rope and installed it on the roof of the barn.

Blizzard Branch uses a mill made in the 1930′s which owner John Catoe obtained from Wilkesboro, North Carolina. On the left, Jerry scoops cornmeal, while Randy readies the next batch of kernels for grinding.

Dried kernels are poured into the hopper, then funneled into the grinder. Two granite grinding stones are located in the box shown here under the hopper.

A close-up shows yellow corn seconds away from becoming our state food!

Ground corn is transferred to a machine with different sized filters which separate cornmeal, coarsely ground grits, and finely ground grits from the chaff. The chaff is then discarded or used as feed for farm animals.

Blizzard Branch grits retain the healthy germ, and they are unbleached. The grits in John’s right hand are not as coarse as those in his left. Some people prefer one consistency over the other, but Blizzard Branch combines the two consistencies.

Grits are placed in 50-pound sacks, then weighed on this particularly beautiful old scale. They are then ready to be sold to various retailers around the state, who will package them in their own bags for grocer’s shelves.

Grits are also packaged and sold directly from Blizzard Branch. In the character of Blizzard Branch, the back of the packages read, “Made by people who want you to enjoy some good old fashioned farm products that may have fallen by the wayside.”

The photo above was submitted by David Lurtey in September 2007. David writes: “I live in the Upstate but was visiting Cheraw and my friends took me to Lake Juniper. I was impressed with the boardwalk along the lake and thought this would be a good picture.”

Readers Sound Off!

SCIWAY visitor Steve Bilby of Cheraw says that he and his family “often go kayaking on Lake Juniper, and especially love to slowly meander though the cypress trees at the head of the lake. The beauty and tranquility is unsurpassed as nature’s bounty overflows at every turn.”