Scarlett in her Memorial Day finery!

Our home is located in the small town of Ridge Spring, SC. Ridge Spring (also known as "The Ridge") was settled in the 1700s by folks recieving land grants from the government. Prior to that, Native Americans occupied the area and arrowheads and spearheads can still be found when the fields are plowed. The first actual settlement was made a mile or two east of the current town. It was located where a wagon road to Orangeburg forked off the road to the Congarees...also known as the Columbia Road. An early map calls this area The Ridge and a tavern was located where the Sweeney House once stood. From the Ridge Spring website....

"On November 29, 1752, John Carlin was granted 200 acres situated on a branch of the Little Saluda River called Clouds Creek. This was just north of present day Ridge Spring. Also, on October 3, 1758 William Watson was granted 300 acres on a land on a branch of the Little Saluda. His son, Captain Michael Watson, fell in action against the British in the Revolutionary War at Dean's Swamp, Orangeburg District in 1781. A large granite rock monument stands on Main Street in his memory On May 21, 1791 President George Washington stopped, dined and spent the night at the Michael Watson house with Michael Watson's widow Martha and his children. The house stood just out of the present town limits near the cemetery."
According to some local lore, George Washington's horses were stabled where our house now stands.


"In the decades which followed beautiful plantation houses were built throughout the area. Cotton began as an important crop in the early 1800s. Vast acreages were grown for many generations and transported by wagon to Hamburg, S. C. for shipment by barge to Savannah, Georgia. Many of these lovely homes have survived and grace the countryside."

Scarlett's front porch on a Spring morning.

"When the railroad was constructed through The Ridge area in 1869 a water tank was build near a good supply of water. Hence the earlier “settlement” moved to the town' present location where the train stopped for water. Stores, homes, and hotels began to be built around this train stop by the water tank and depot. The town was named Ridge Spring for the natural raised ridge of the land and for the spring of pure water which provided delicious drinking water."

I thought I might provide a few photos from around town! It truly is a lovely little place with an active main street and tons of activities throughout the year.

A sunset view of the train tracks and the farmer's co-op. These tracks cross over DuBose Street.

The water tower.

As we go along, I'll provide more history.... and hopefully improve my blogging skills! This area is absolutely bursting with history and really, it is fascinating! If you ever get the chance, please enjoy a drive down 23 starting in Batesburg-Leeville and heading toward Edgefield. The peach trees and old homes and small town life are well worth the trip!