mccormick – Freshwater Coast Community Foundation

McCormick: Teresa Kemp: Full of Life, Full of Knowledge and Information

August 6, 2018/in Community Opportunities, Education/by Wilder Ferreira

Melissa Billey, Project Manager – melissa.a.billey@gmail.com

August 6, 2018

MCCORMICK — Today I met the most amazing woman. She is so full of life, but more importantly, she is full of knowledge and information. Teresa Kemp, the owner of SC Wild’s Heritage Center of Plantation Quilts Adventure Museum, gave me a tour of her museum in McCormick, South Carolina. If you are ever in McCormick, South Carolina, you must stop for a tour; actually, you should make this a destination to visit.

The museum is housed in the Historic McCormick Train Depot at 201 South Main Street, McCormick, South Carolina 29835. The tour begins with an explanation of the area’s heritage. It concludes with information on the area’s gems and mining tradition. I will not spoil the tour by giving you the detailed information, just know that when you leave there, you really want to take the tour again because it is so historically rich. Another benefit to Ms. Kemp’s tour of the museum is that it is hands-on. Not only do you get to see the textiles and different pieces that have a home there, but you are allowed to feel the items. This gives you the visual of the many elements that make up the museum, but by being hands-on, you get to engrave that into your memory. This is a win-win for all school aged children. Ms. Kemp gives tours to adults and families, and she is also very happy to have classrooms come through her museum to learn and become engaged in history.

The museum offers self-guided tours and guided tours. There is free parking onsite, and the facility is handicapped accessible. You can visit her website at http://plantationquilts.com.

Teresa Kemp, SC Wild’s Heritage Center of Plantation Quilts Adventure Museum, giving a tour on July 19, 2018.

McCormick: McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah (MACK)

June 25, 2018/in Community Opportunities, Education/by Wilder Ferreira

Melissa Billey, Project Manager – melissa.a.billey@gmail.com

June 25, 2018

MCCORMICK — The McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah (MACK) has so much to offer to everyone young and old alike. From programs and camps to exhibitions and classes, this is the place for art. The MACK’s mission: provide art, culture, and education to the region. And yes, the MACK does just that. I was given a tour recently of the McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah and was given a wonderful history and insight to not only what they do, but also where they are housed.

The building that houses the MACK was the Hotel Keturah built by 1900. The first Hotel Keturah burned, and a second Hotel Keturah was constructed in 1910. Mr. W. J. Conner built and managed this hotel that accommodated travelers and train passengers. He named both of the hotels after his wife, Keturah, who also helped to manage them. The downstairs of the building showcases art in a gallery and accommodates a gift shop and some offices. The upstairs of the once hotel utilizes the guest rooms for artists to work in and give lessons. Another space housed upstairs is for the young art students to come and enjoy the art programs and art camps. The amount of creativity that comes from these young artists as they learn and create here at the MACK is absolutely wonderful. It opens doors to so much more from these students learning to express themselves in art. The MACK even displays the art that is created by these young students during an exhibition twice a year. During the other times of year, you will find different exhibits from other artists. The MACK also works with the local school district to bring art into the classrooms. This joint effort helps keep art alive.

The MACK is a non-profit organization that relies on donations and support. The MACK is a wonderful community asset and a great organization to donate to. They have many levels of support for donations. Your support will help the MACK achieve their vision to be the catalyst of cultural development for McCormick County. Please contact the MACK or visit their website for more information on donor levels and how your support will continue to assist a great community organization.

The MACK is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00AM until 4:00PM and closed on Sunday. For more information, feel free to visit their website at http://mccormickarts.org/home/. They also have a Facebook page that you can visit in addition to their website at https://www.facebook.com/McCormickArtsMACK/.

McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah (MACK), May 22, 2018.

McCormick: Red Rooster Emporium and Art Gallery

June 5, 2018/in Community Opportunities, Entrepreneurship/by Wilder Ferreira

Melissa Billey, Project Manager – melissa.a.billey@gmail.com

June 5, 2018

MCCORMICK — The Red Rooster Emporium and Art Gallery is not only home to antiques and works of art, the building that everything is housed in is a historical antique and a work of art in itself. The Red Rooster Emporium and Art Gallery is located at 118 South Main Street, McCormick, South Carolina 29835. The owner, Shaaron Kohl, gave me a tour and the history of the building when I visited her shop recently. The antiques and art that are for sale are amazing; and the building is amazing too. The shop used to be the local five-and-dime store back in the day. It was rebuilt in 1910 after a fire, and Shaaron Kohl is only the fourth owner of this building. It still has the original freight elevator in the back of the building that uses the old counterweight system to haul loads to the second floor. The freight elevator is a great piece of history in a great gift shop.

The Red Rooster Emporium and Art Gallery has 25-30 vendors that offer a wide assortment of items located on the first floor. With everything to choose from, you are sure to find that unique gift or item. On the second floor of the Red Rooster, Shaaron has the Art Gallery. It is truly an amazing area. The second floor of the building has its own character that lends to the local and regional art that is being shown and sold there. She has some wonderful pieces of art which are all housed in a very unique space. Shaaron has art that is as equally one of a kind as the area that it is being shown and sold in. You can find everything from paintings, to three dimensional paper art, painted pottery, and sculptures. Even though they are downstairs, she has some beautiful locally hand woven baskets that are a work of art in themselves.

The Red Rooster Emporium and Art Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00AM until 5:00PM and closed on Sunday. For updates and additional information, feel free to visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RedRoosterEmporiumAndArtGallery/.

Inside the Red Rooster Emporium and Art Gallery, May 22, 2018.

McCormick: Earth Connection Outfitters

May 29, 2018/in Community Opportunities, Entrepreneurship/by Wilder Ferreira

Melissa Billey, Project Manager – melissa.a.billey@gmail.com

May 29, 2018

MCCORMICK — If you are looking for kayaks or stand-up paddle boards (SUP) to purchase or rent, then Earth Connection Outfitters (ECO) may just be the place you are looking for. Tucked away in McCormick, South Carolina is a family owned business, Earth Connection Outfitters. The business is located at 4335 Hwy 378 West, McCormick, SC. The business is housed in the Deason family homeplace that was built in 1913. Earth Connection Outfitters has a wonderful variety of Jackson kayaks and stand-up paddle boards to accommodate the outdoorsman.

Stand-up paddle boarding is an awesome activity and workout; and with the popularity of stand-up paddle boarding gaining ground, this is an excellent place to visit for purchase or rental. In addition to the stand-up paddle boards and kayaks, recently, Earth Connection Outfitters has started to stock camping supplies, metal detectors, Telic shoes, and Hercules sunglasses. Delivery is available for the kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. Although the store is generally open during business hours, it is best to call first to make sure the items are available and someone will be there to accommodate your interests.

Earth Connection Outfitters, housed in the Deason Family Homeplace, built in 1913, April 30, 2018.

McCormick: Mt. Carmel Small Group Committee Meeting

March 5, 2018/in Community Opportunities, Education, Entrepreneurship/by Wilder Ferreira

Melissa Billey, Project Manager – melissa.a.billey@gmail.com

February 27, 2018

MCCORMICK — A meeting of the Mt. Carmel Small Group Committee was held on February 27, 2018, at 11:00AM at the McCormick County Chamber of Commerce, 100 South Main Street, McCormick, SC 29835. Wilder Ferreira, FCCF; Matt Wiggins; Mark Davis, Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism; Scott Hyatt, US Army Corps of Engineers; Charlotte Tallent, McCormick County Chamber of Commerce; Mike and Geri Regan, McAllister’s Home Furnishings & More, were in attendance. Wilder Ferreira led the meeting.

The “Friends of the Mt. Carmel Campground” discussed the repurposing of the campground, and it’s potential. This will be an incredible investment opportunity for outdoor professionals. This investment will lead to many opportunities also for the surrounding area as the “new” Mt. Carmel Campground is utilized to attract hundreds of families to the Mt. Carmel area. Mt. Carmel Campground was opened in 1967, but unfortunately closed in 2013.

The committee reviewed how Mt. Carmel Campground will be marketed with incentives to potential investors. Each person there brought up many positive key points about the campground and the possibilities it has in the future. Some preliminary plans were discussed to assist in the beautification of the area along with some community partnerships that could be utilized during this process of seeking an investor.

An abundance of opportunities await an investor. The next step of finding that investor is in the works. The potential is there. It can be seen. It is just finding the right entity with the same vision and desire for Mt. Carmel Campground.

McCormick: Mt. Carmel Small Group Committee Meeting. Wilder Ferreira, FCCF; Matt Wiggins; Mark Davis, Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism; Scott Hyatt, US Army Corps of Engineers; Charlotte Tallent, McCormick County Chamber of Commerce; Mike and Geri Regan, McAllister’s Home Furnishings & More, discussing the Mt. Carmel Campground.

McCormick Business Workshop: Essential Management Skills

February 13, 2018/in Community Opportunities, Education, Entrepreneurship/by Wilder Ferreira

McCormick Small Business Night Success

August 26, 2015/in Agribusiness, Community Opportunities, Entrepreneurship/by Wilder Ferreira

Sally Caldwell, Communications Coordinator

August 26, 2015

MCCORMICK — The town of McCormick was excited to host its first Small Business Night, and even more excited to see its success. Many people gathered together last Thursday night in McCormick Middle School’s cafeteria to listen to speakers, ask questions, and strategize the growth of the town.

The meeting opened up with talk about the need for a central hub for tourism in McCormick, as well as other ideas that could promote tourism.

Small businesses must decide what their market is and understand how rural tourism applies to them.

Visitors look for entertainment, excitement, and education, and McCormick could easily produce all of these for rural tourists.

Southern hospitality was then discussed as the secret to tourism in South Carolina. No other place is known for being as courteous and familial as the communities in South Carolina, a trait that must be continued and embraced by the McCormick community.

Signage was also brought up as a factor that could change the face of rural tourism in McCormick. Signs drawn attention, keep attention, and guide onlookers to where their attention may be transformed into entertainment, excitement, or education.

Lauren Ponder then took over the meeting, promoting SC Great Outdoors, a website that is dedicated to preserving and promoting the historicalness of our counties, facilitating grants, and creating a sense of place. As Lauren said, “Development will happen, you just have to plan it.”

Lauren discussed potential changes that would enhance McCormick, such as new lighting, multimodal transportation, and more.

Next on the agenda was speaker Matt Wiggins. Matt talked about how to put small businesses on the map worldwide, primarily through web services. Matt said that “online presence is key,” and he offered his website skills to everyone at the meeting.

McCormick’s Small Business Night was a smashing success; now, the community eagerly awaits to see the fruits of this productive meeting.

Whether augmenting the structure of the town, creating new local businesses, or putting current businesses on the map, McCormick is on the brink of becoming a successful county of rural tourism.

The community of McCormick County excitedly discusses the potential of local businesses and how to improve McCormick through new local businesses and new strategies of promotion.

Let’s Talk About It: The Patchwork of a County

August 12, 2015/in Community Opportunities, Education, Let's Talk About It/by Wilder Ferreira

Sally Caldwell, Communications Coordinator

August 12, 2015

Specifically designed, painstakingly stitched, and frequently overlooked, quilts are more than just the old cozy blanket thrown across an easy chair that provides warmth in the cold winter months. Here in McCormick, South Carolina, quilts are inspiration for art, memory, and tourism.

Shaaron Kohl, owner at the Red Rooster
Emporium and coordinator for the McCormick
Quilt Tour, displays a quilt panel, a piece of
artwork in progress at the shop.

When the McCormick County Quilt Trail formed in 2011, America was already booming with quilt tours. The idea for a quilt tour sprung up in Ohio when Amish folk first put the squares on the front of their barns. Now, almost every single state in the US features a Quilt Tour. Many even contain more than one. Each quilt tour is specific to its own county.

The McCormick County trail covers the whole area of McCormick County and visitors may begin and end wherever they choose. The trail is available for viewing all day every day. A quilt tour consists of travelling, history, and art. These hand-painted panels are replicas of specific squares from significant quilts. Quilt panel #1 in McCormick tour, featured on the McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah (MACK) building, is a square that was inspired by a quilter named Sallie White, a woman who lived in Plum Branch and started her quilt in 1904. Just as this panel has a story behind it, each quilt panel is rich with history and significance, whether to a single family member or to an entire town.

The first quilt panel ever painted for McCormick County is featured on the front of the MACK building. The beautiful design and bright colors make the building stand out and often draws a crowd. Not only does this panel express family history, it enhances viewer’s enjoyment of the environment.

A panel located on the McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah
building, this Indian Paintbrush quilt pane is sponsored by Savannah Lakes Village Quilt Group in honor and memory of Linda Marx, a MACK volunteer who was an exceptional quilt maker.

The McCormick County towns that feature quilt panels include Plum Branch, McCormick, Willington, and Parksville. All 14 quilt panels in McCormick County have been crafted in the Red Rooster Emporium, a charming antique and art shop that has a little bit of everything.

In order to make a quilt panel, one must bring in the original square or a picture of the square and a group of volunteers will design and create the quilt panel. Volunteers first prep the panel so the measurements are all exact and then they help choose the colors. The Red Rooster uses only the best quality paints available for these works of art. Once the paint is dry, the panel is primed with a high-quality, weather-resistant sealer that keeps the colors bright and the patterns distinct. Shaaron Kohl and her team work hard to make the colors vibrant and the size complimentary to the design. The bigger, the better! Prices for making a quilt panel depend of the desired size, ranging from 2’ x 2’ to 8’ x 8’. Cost includes any and all materials needed to make the panel, even the volunteers! Anyone is welcome to the shop to come see this process of making a quilt panel.

The McCormick County Quilt trail itself begins and ends wherever and whenever you decide! The locations include the Cotton Gin building, Willington History Center, and the McCormick County Library. These squares contribute to the community and often evoke an emotional response. They are also just plain pretty to look at! These are just a few of the warm, colorful examples that are displayed by this tour. Many of these quilt panels are double sided as well and hung rather than mounted.

A beautiful quilt panel pops with color on the old Cotton Gin building in McCormick.

Janice Grizzard constructed one quilt panel that featured two squares of quilt that were made from each of her grandmothers. As Shaaron stated about the quilt tours, “It’s an intersection of history, art, community, culture, and pride.” Total, there are 14 quilt panels around McCormick County, each with its own story to tell. As each quilt contains unique, beautiful patterns, so does McCormick County contain many different lives that have left their mark upon society.

Whether emotional or educational; historical or just for fun, these quilt panels contribute to the culture in McCormick and add a touch of beauty and vivacity wherever they are placed. Art is most beautiful when significant, and these quilt panels certainly accomplish this.

A vibrant panel representing a quilt made by Sarah White, on display on the front of the McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah.

Whether you are in town visiting family, camping out at Hickory Knob State Park, or visiting the charming Red Rooster Emporium, the colorful panels on this town’s old buildings will certainly draw not only your eye but also your heart.

Upcoming Small Business Night

August 11, 2015/in Agribusiness, Education, Entrepreneurship/by Wilder Ferreira

Sally Caldwell, Communications Coordinator

August 11, 2015

MCCORMICK — McCormick South Carolina County Chamber of Commerce is proud to host the first “McCormick Small Business Night” on August 20, 2015 at 6:00pm. This event will take place in the McCormick Middle School Cafeteria: 6979 SC HWY 28 South, McCormick, SC 29835.

This will be an evening dedicated to encouraging future business opportunities and to promoting small business growth in the community.

All business ideas are welcome at this meeting. The Freshwater Coast Community Foundation and the Small Business Development Center desire to help any feasible business ideas that come through this meeting and to listen to any community concerns or needs that that are brought up.

Whether someone desires to start a new ice cream parlor or has an idea to install a hotel, this business night wants to hear these ideas and encourage creativity and share knowledge of what it takes to start up a personal business.

Come celebrate the small businesses that already exist and learn more about the exciting things that are happening in McCormick County. Contact Charlotte Tallent or Heather McNally to RSVP or to learn more information regarding this event.

Complimentary sandwiches and ice cream will be provided, so your RSVP is necessary to ensure that there is enough food for everyone.

We look forward to hearing the community’s future business ideas and are excited about the progress that has already been made in McCormick County.

The McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah building in the middle of McCormick, South Carolina.

Upcoming Small Business Night

July 28, 2015/in Education, Entrepreneurship/by Wilder Ferreira

Sally Caldwell, Communications Coordinator

July 28, 2015

MCCORMICK — McCormick South Carolina County Chamber of Commerce is proud to host the first “McCormick Small Business Night” on August 20, 2015 at 6:00pm. This event will take place in the McCormick Middle School Cafeteria: 6979 SC HWY 28 South, McCormick, SC 29835.

This will be an evening dedicated to encouraging future business opportunities and to promoting small business growth in the community.

All business ideas are welcome at this meeting. The Freshwater Coast Community Foundation and the Small Business Development Center desire to help any feasible business ideas that come through this meeting and to listen to any community concerns or needs that that are brought up.

Whether someone desires to start a new ice cream parlor or has an idea to install a hotel, this business night wants to hear these ideas and encourage creativity and share knowledge of what it takes to start up a personal business.

Come celebrate the small businesses that already exist and learn more about the exciting things that are happening in McCormick County. Contact Charlotte Tallent or Heather McNally to RSVP or to learn more information regarding this event.

Complimentary sandwiches and ice cream will be provided, so your RSVP is necessary to ensure that there is enough food for everyone.

We look forward to hearing the community’s future business ideas and are excited about the progress that has already been made in McCormick County.

The McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah building in the middle of McCormick, South Carolina.

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