A Taste of Hemingway South Carolina
Driving Through The Cotton Fields
When driving through the Southern States on the back country roads or the massive mega highways, the reminders of a bygone time still hang over like a ghost. The fields of white cotton stand as a beautifully tragic symbol of what at one time gave the South great wealth and inevitably lead them to war. As much as one would like to forget, the pureness of the cotton will forever be stained by the blood of slaves.
The cotton arouses one mixed feelings when driving through the vast farmland and old plantations of South Carolina. Just as much as this region was owned by slaveholders, it was also an active part of the Underground Railroad. One could easily imagine Harriet Tubman leading groups of escaped slaves through the marshes and swamps up to freedom.
The spanish moss hanging off tall oaks and lone rusted farmhouses standing as if on a crutch in the middle of golden fields are all too common a sight when driving through the South Carolinian countryside. Through the thick woods and murky swamps, spirits of old all seem to linger to this day, inviting travelers to explore all the secrets hidden off the beaten track.
Anytown U.S.A.
The small town of Hemingway was founded to be a crossroads to trains running through the region, over time it grew into a thriving community. Like many towns throughout the South, Hemingway relied heavily on agriculture and manufacturing textiles. Eventually, many of the textile factories were outsourced to Mexico and South East Asia, leaving towns such as Hemingway without their main source of income and jobs.
The story of Hemingway is similar to so many other communities throughout the South, leaving scattered ghost towns sprinkled throughout the states. Some towns such as Lexington, North Carolina was able to diversify itself and recover from the loss of the local factories, but many places, such as Hemingway, they never recovered.
Despite the obvious poverty felt throughout the city, Hemingway still maintains a sense of small-town charm. The architecture is that of an era long gone, which is sure to arouse the curiosity of youth and bring up bouts of nostalgia for the elderly.
You can read more about Hemingway here!
Local Characters
On Hemingway’s quaint but desolate streets was a long guitar player, strumming and swaying as he swaggered down the sidewalk. Most passersby would have taken him to be the local madman, but John John is a drifter with a dream.
John John is originally from New York and is traveling the country on his way to stardom in Hollywood. He was advised by a local man that if John John was to show off his talent, he would have to take to the streets. John did just that, but unfortunately in Hemingway, he lacks an audience.
According to John John, the people of Hemingway are unhappy all the time. Due to there being no jobs and no opportunities, locals are typically not willing to let music into their lives. This musician is looking to change the community’s attitude on the street corners of Hemingway, one person at a time. Today John John may have continued his journey out west to Hollywood, but if you pass through Hemingway, keep your eyes open for an animated guitar player out the corner of your eye.
You can see Hemingway come to life at the yearly Barbeque and Shag Festival!
A Taste of Southern Hospitality
In recent years, Hemingway has been put back on the map, but not for its industry, but rather for its mouth-watering barbeque. Scott’s Barbeque has been made famous by publications such as the New York Times and celebrity chefs like Anthony Bourdain. Despite all of its media publicity, Scott’s has not lost any of it’s down to earth Southern charm. Locals and pilgrims alike from all around the country converge on this small town, to sit down together and break bread in the form of delicious pit-smoked barbeque.
The locals outside can be found sitting on the front bench selling homegrown produce and simply chewing the fat with anyone who might be passing by. The gentlemen outside truly embody everything that goes along with the notion of “Southern Hospitality” After a short pleasant conversation, these Hemingway natives were ready to hand over bags of sliced watermelon to share with our family.
John John may have thought that the locals of Hemingway were gloomy, but true Southern hospitality and warmth can be found in front of Scott’s Barbeque.
