Circa 1896: Sales day on the Edgefield Public Square The vibrant and picturesque town of Edgefield, South Carolina, (local population 2,500) presents a perfect picture of small town America. The entire downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and amidst the harried pulse of today's modern world, the essence of a bygone era still lingers in the air.

Indeed, some of the stores on the Public Square operate under the same name as when carriages and sunbonnets were among the merchandise sold.

In 1785, Edgefield County was created from the Old Ninety Six District. The County seat, (Edgefield) was located in the center of a vast territory on an old Cherokee Indian trading path.

Since its establishment, Edgefield has furnished South Carolina and the nation with a procession of exceptional political leaders (ten of whom were S.C. governors) who have played a significant role in every facet of the state's history. Best known among Edgefield's great statesmen is the late, revered Senator Strom Thurmond, whose lifesize statue holds a place of honor on the Public Square.

The southwest corner of the Public Square Despite its political accomplishments, Edgefield in the 19th century was reputed to be a violent place. These days, the stories of the innumerable family feuds and deadly shootouts of the past enthrall visitors and invoke curious inquiries from history buffs. Historical markers describing some of these colorful events can be found on walls around the Public Square.

The Town of Edgefield has expended considerable effort developing its tourism resources. At the Old Edgefield Pottery one can watch master potter Stephen Ferrell skillfully recreate Edgefield's famous pottery from native clay. Across from the courthouse, an authentic village blacksmith shop allows people to witness the sights and sounds of old time blacksmithing. At the Carpenter's Stand on Main Street, wood carver Ike Carpenter transforms blocks of wood into unique masterpieces.

Other interesting places to visit are the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor Discovery Center, which gives an overview of the history and development of the region. Oakley Park is a magnificent antebellum mansion that houses items from the Confederate and Reconstruction period. The headquarters of the National Wild Turkey Federation houses a unique museum dedicated to the conservation and management of the American Wild Turkey. The Piedmont Technical College on Main Street offers quality higher education and houses a state- of- the- art pottery school.

Photos by Tricia Price Glenn Pansies in the Edgefield Public Square Activities two hours from home or less

South Carolina Department of Agriculture's program, Certified SC Grown, will host the 2009 Charleston Food and Wine Festival's annual cooking competition Saturday, March 7. Sixteen local and celebrity chefs will compete head to head using Certified SC Grown "secret ingredients." For more information contact Emily Brady at 803-233- 2452 or Emily.Brady @cnsg.com or Stephen Hudson at 803-734-0648 or SDHudson@scda.sc.gov. • Ceilidh in Winnsboro

Carroll Hill The Fairfield County Museum in Winnsboro will hold a Ceilidh (pronounced kay lee) March 6, beginning at 6 pm, in the museum backyard at 231 S. Congress Street. Celebrate the community's Scots Irish heritage with fiddlers, country dancers, balladeers, bagpipes and drums. Join forces the next morning, March 7, with descendants of an early Scottish family, the McCreights, in rebuilding their ancestor's 1770 log barn at the museum. For information call 635-9811.

The Tompkins Genealogical Library is one of the largest of its kind in the South. The County Archives Department houses some of South Carolina's oldest collection of county records.

Edgefield is also home to many antique stores and quaint shops, a history park, the Ten Governor's Walking Trail, Willowbrook cemetery, the last resting place of many of the region's famous and infamous, outstanding restaurants offering delicacies to please any palate from fine Southern cuisine to good old fashioned country buffets, and much, much more.

Despite growth and modernization, Edgefield manages to capture the timeless spell of the Old South — it is the same place where, for over 200 years, legions of Edgefieldians have traded their cotton on market day, held their political meetings and marched off proudly to war, but with well thought out 21st century improvements.

Artist Stephen Ferrell Next Week: Salley