Edisto Mattress Swing

Mattress Swing, Edisto, SC 

The mattress swing on the side of the road is a familiar sight on the way to Edisto Beach. This is the most festive I've ever seen it. I am never sure of the etiquette - am I supposed to donate a couple bucks for the photo op? I'd be willing to but since I am never sure, I grab a shot and zip away.

Here is a link to some of the story: Edisto Mattress Swing. Sounds like it started when hubby had to sleep outside :)

Ketch up!

Burger Hut, Hollywood, SC    

Ketch-Up! You'll Relish the Flavor!

Pull up to the cutest little burger joint around in Hollywood, SC. It even comes with a religious message. "Taste and see that the Lord is Good". Fittingly, I was there on a Sunday and it was closed. 

Monkey Photographer

Monkey Photographer, Cross, SC  

I passed this monkey years ago! When I spotted him again not far from Cross, SC I had to grab a shot. Sadly, during my absence he has lost an arm. Nice to see you monkey photographer!

Hubcap Heaven

Mel's Tires, Florence, SC 

This one is a favorite from my Quirky, SC files. 

Mel's Tires in Florence, SC is a hubcap wonderland! 

Read the story here: Mel's Tires a Florence Landmark

I love it, love it, love it. 

From Dewey's Sketchbook:

Of architectural interest is the building itself. The Pure Oil Company built its gas stations in the 30's and 40's in a Tudor Revival style, attempting to blend with the residential neighborhoods in which they were built. This example still has the original circular blue enamel sign above the entrance, echoing the shape and size of the hundreds of hubcaps hanging on the building.

April's Playhouse

April's Playhouse, Florence, SC    

I was in Florence, SC for meetings today. It was the gathering of the clan chieftains of volunteer management in healthcare. We decided to rotate our meeting locations to different hospitals around the state so we could snoop around on each other's turf and today we were hosted by McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence. I knew I wasn't going to get time to explore but perked up considerable when I spotted this little sweetie as we pulled into the parking lot. The sign reads:

"APRIL'S PLAYHOUSE" This historic cupola was part of a nineteenth century home which served for many years as the medical office of the late Dr. Joseph Sylvester. Dr. and Mrs. Sylvester later preserved the cupola as "April's Playhouse" for their daughter. The Sylvester family lovingly gave the structure to McLeod Regional Medical Center in 1997.

Then, since I was meeting with Volunteer managers I learned the most fun fact. April herself, is still a volunteer at the hospital.

Enough coffee for ya?

The Coffee Pot, Hwy 301, S.C.

I had spotted this coffee pot years ago when it was in terrible shape. Thanks to the Times & Democrat's 100 Things in 100 Days I spotted a recent image showing the refurbished coffee pot and steered a recent drive in the country in that direction. It has been fixed! Wow....the entire structure is freshly painted and clean. The windows invite you to snoop and the inside is some kind of doll museum. It made me wonder if the owners might be grandparents? Here is the scoop from the Times & Democrat's website:

The Coffee Pot: Before they opened the diner in 1950-51, British natives Fred and Emily Griffin had originally planned to open a tearoom. Deciding the busy highway needed a coffee shop instead, the Griffins opened the Coffee Pot Diner. Mrs. Griffin is said to have baked pies each night for the next day’s customers. A traveler could order breakfast and lunch and, of course, plenty of steaming cups of Joe.
Coffee may have been the American public’s beverage of choice for a caffeine fix, but in a nod to her British roots, Mrs. Griffin continued to partake of her afternoon tea at 4 o’clock every day.
The 1950s motored on, and the Griffins greeted their guests from near and far. But trouble was brewing on the horizon for the Coffee Pot Diner and other establishments like it.
In the mid-1950s, President Dwight D. Eisenhower brought home from World War II the idea of the interstate, a road system designed to move military equipment quickly, based on Germany’s Autobahn. South Carolina was to get three interstates: I-20, I-26 and I-95.
Begun in 1957 and one of the oldest interstates, it was I-95 that would slice through Orangeburg County, parallel to U.S. 301, sounding the death knell for countless motels, gas stations and mom-and-pop diners like the Coffee Pot.
The Coffee Pot poured its last cup in 1979