A collection of photography and exploration focusing on Upstate South Carolina and beyond.
Local items of interest from Greenville and Upstate SC.
Just off of Old Easley Bridge Road sits a lovely old house, somewhat out of character for the surrounding mid-century ranch homes. The home has been beautifully restored and now operates as the Tanglewood Inn. Behind the nicely appointed suites, the exquisite antiques, and comfortable common areas, though, lies a tale of tragedy. The history … Read More “Tangled Up in Odd Fellows” »
After posting my Requiem for a Flea Market Musicians Circle I got some additional news, and have some updates. Ivan got a call from Ralph saying that the flea market owners had tripled his monthly rental rate, and he wasn’t going to pay that. That meant that the musicians shed was once again available. After … Read More “An Update about the Pickens Flea Market” »
This is a hard post to write. A 40+ year tradition has come to an end. The Pickens County Flea Market Musicians Circle is no more. I got this news as I was in a plane on the taxiway, just having arrived in Seattle. I’ve been dealing with it for the entire time we were … Read More “Requiem for a Flea Market Musicians Circle” »
(And I’m using “diva” in the best possible sense.) Last Wednesday I pulled up to the Pickens County Flea Market to find a large sprinter van parked in my usual spot. I was a bit perturbed, but pulled around to the other side of the shed and started setting up my gear for the morning’s … Read More “The Diva at the Pickens Flea Market” »
The word of the day is anachronism. anachronism (ə-ˈna-krə-ˌni-zəm ) – noun1. an error in chronology, especially : a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other2. a person or a thing that is chronologically out of place, especially : one from a former age that is incongruous in the present3. the state or condition of being chronologically out … Read More “Upstate Renaissance Faire” »
A spiritu fomicationis,Domine, hibera nos.From the lightning and the tempest,O Lord, deliver us.From the scourge of the earthquake,O Lord, deliver us.From plague, famine, and war,O Lord, deliver us. From the place of ground zero,O Lord, deliver us.From the rain of the cobalt,O Lord, deliver us.From the rain of the strontium,O Lord, deliver us.From the fall … Read More “Gimme Shelter” »
I was browsing through the University of South Carolina’s collection of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. These maps are highly detailed maps of towns and cities from the early 20th Century and are excellent for historical research. According to Wikipedia… Sanborn maps are detailed maps of U.S. cities and towns in the 19th and 20th centuries. Originally … Read More “We’ll Always Have Paris” »
As usual, fellow explorer Alan Russell and I planned to a ramble on MLK Day, as we do each year. We brainstormed several options, and decided to head to upper Anderson County to the community of Slabtown. I had actually visited these sites back in 2021 with the intention of writing a blog post about … Read More “Slabtown, Equality, and the Thalian Web – MLK 2025” »
This past Sunday I was privileged to attend the Farewell Reunion of Jack’s Pickin’ Parlor at the Belton Depot in Belton, South Carolina. For fifteen years Jack Ellenburg provided a place for musicians to gather and share Bluegrass, Gospel, and other tunes in a free, family-friendly environment. The Pickin’ Parlor closed in 2014, but its … Read More “A Farewell Reunion for Jack’s Pickin’ Parlor” »
It started with a notice on Facebook. McBee Methodist Church would be holding a Christmas carol singing on Saturday, December 10 at 6:00. I had visited the historic chapel many times and had photographed it from the exterior, but I was dying to see the inside. This would be my chance. McBee Methodist Church, aka … Read More “Christmas Carols at Conestee, McBee Chapel” »