Walterboro's Red Rocking Chairs

Pull up a chair and rock, Walterboro, SC   

Red rocking chairs have become a symbol of Walterboro, SC and I caught a few of them with my camera on a recent walk through the downtown area. I do enjoy browsing the antique shops. 

Walterboro's Red Rocking Chairs: “In the South, the front porch rocking chair has long been considered an icon for Southern hospitality and home. For generations, the front porch was the gathering place for family, friends and neighbors after a long day’s work, after evening meals and on long Sunday afternoons, where everyone was welcome, and rocking chairs were aplenty.
Perhaps that’s one reason the small town of Walterboro, in Colleton County, adopted the red rocking chair as the primary symbol in their marketing campaign for the city, where red rocking chairs can also be found in front of the retail businesses, offices and restaurants along the main thoroughfare of Washington Street.
While times have changed and families tend to spend more time in front of their computers than on the front porch, the values of the people of our region have remained the same; we still believe that our quality of life is tied to hard work, family and community . . .”

Care for some water with your jail sentence?

Walterboro Water Tower, Walterboro, SC   

It is a dramatic water tower. I remembered a story about the base being used as a jail and according to this information that is correct. Multipurpose!

Atlas Obscura:  Constructed of reinforced concrete and standing 133 feet tall, the Walterboro Water Tower is one of only three standpipe systems in the state of South Carolina.There is a small door at the base of the tower that leads to a space that was once used as a county jail. Long since out of penal service, there are six small cells, and just a couple of windows. Some say that these cells later served as sleeping quarters for stranded travelers who needed a place to stay for a night. Not exactly five-star accommodations – or really any-star accommodations. Unless you count the star on the sheriff’s jacket that may have locked you up back in the day.  

Tuskegee Airmen of World War II

Tuskegee Airmen Monument, Walterboro, SC  

Sometimes I come across something so significant that I feel almost ashamed that I had no real awareness of it before that moment. That is how I felt learning about the black Tuskegee Airmen military aviators in World War II. This picture has been on my camera for a few months and I finally got around to uploading it and digging into a bit of the story. Wikipedia has a great article on the topic. 

I wondered what the Walterboro connection was but, although named for their origins at Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute, the pilots of the famed 332nd Fighter Group completed final training in Walterboro, South Carolina at Walterboro Army Airfield so it made sense to put the memorial here. 

The Tuskegee airmen were the first black servicemen to serve as military aviators in the U.S. armed forces, flying with distinction during World War II. Though subject to racial discrimination both at home and abroad, the 996 pilots and more than 15,000 ground personnel who served with the all-black units would be credited with some 15,500 combat sorties and earn over 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses for their achievements. The highly publicized successes of the Tuskegee Airmen helped pave the way for the eventual integration of the U.S. armed forces under President Harry Truman in 1948.

The 332nd’s reputation for aggressiveness in air combat was so widely-known that the Germans also had a nickname for them — Schwartze Vogelmenschen, or “Black Bird Men.” Seven of the famed Doolittle Raiders were also trained here and there was a compound for holding German prisoners of war, and it was also the site of the U.S. military’s largest camouflage school.

SC Artisan's Center - Walterboro

SC Artisan's Center, Walterboro, SC   

The SC Artisan's Center is in Walterboro and packed full of colorful crafts, painting, metal work and pottery.  I've wondered if it is such a success in this location, why don't we have a similar showcase for South Carolina Artisans in other parts of the state? It seems their wares should be promoted in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville etc. There must be a reason. Perhaps it would compete with other local galleries.

Behind the shop was the little cabin pictured below with a brightly colored red rocking chair on the porch. Walterboro's tag line is "Front Porch of the Lowcountry" and their symbol is a red rocking chair. They have a lovely downtown street with enough antique stores to explore and make a day trip worthwhile. We had lunch at Castillo's Pizza restaurant and I'd order my eggplant parmesan sandwich again any day.

South Carolina’s Official Folk Art and Craft Center
The South Carolina Artisans Center’s mission is to interpret, market, preserve and perpetuate the folk art and fine craftsmanship of South Carolina Artisans while creating a better understanding of our rich and diverse cultural heritage. Come see the best South Carolina has to offer in handcrafted art.

 

Teeny, Tiny Houses of the Lowcountry

Walterboro, SC  

I don't know that it was ever actually a home but it is a cute little cottage. I cracked the door open and saw an old Santa's Workshop sign. Don't get your hopes up, kids. It looks like Santa may have moved on although he left his red rocker on the porch.


This little cottage is behind the SC Artisan's Center shop down the road in Walterboro.

Checking their website I see that Walterboro claims to be the Front Porch of the Lowcountry and their symbol is the red rocking chair. So there you have it!

Bear with me

A moment in the sun, Walterboro, S.C.

Walterboro gets a lot of bad press because of it's high crime rate. It's too bad since it isn't far from Charleston and I have to tell you they have some great antique stores. Check out the bear! I've been wanting a chain saw carved bear for my back yard and while this fella came from an amusement park at least he was light enough to be moved. Luckily he cost too much for me to see if he would fit in the back seat with his head sticking out the window.

I bought the cool frame below for the frame ($19) thinking I could enlarge a print to go in it. I hung her up and I find myself getting attached to her. The sketch was drawn when I was three years old so she would be my age now. Maybe it's me! I brought home the platter as well and can see a small turkey on it for Thanksgiving.Now, I wonder if I can find a used bulletproof vest so I can go back to Walterboro? I hope they solve some of this crime soon so y'all can check out the deals.