Saluda’s 130 years of incorporation intertwines lifelong residents and newcomers to create a rich history. Both groups look forward to celebrating that history Saturday, Feb. 5 and at various planned events during the next year.

Catherine Ross is the committee chair for the Saluda 130th Celebration.
Ross moved here herself from Texas years ago and said she really appreciates the openness of her fellow residents.

“The people who live here are just full of history and it’s wonderful to sit down with a cup of coffee and just listen to them,” Ross said. “You just get a little closer to their life when they relate it to you.”

One of those residents is Charlene Pace.

Pace moved to Saluda in 1945 and met her husband, J.B. Pace, there after he returned from World War II.
J.B.’s family line traces back to the early 1800s when Burwell Pope Pace moved to the area.

Charlene said she fell in love with her new home.

“The people, the people make the place, I think,” she said. “I think they are friendly and helpful. If you need help there is usually someone there to help you; whether it is a tragedy of a house burning or just everyday needs.”

Lynn Cass with the Historical Saluda Committee hopes to capture more residents’ memories through the Saluda Oral History project. She said Chair Cindy Tuttle has done a great job collecting stories of longtime residents and will continue to do so.

During the celebration Saturday, Tuttle will conduct impromptu interviews with residents on the street to gather their recollections of life growing up and raising families in the quaint mountain town.

Cass said the committee needs donations to continue compiling interviews.

“We’re trying to raise money so we fund this project because it is quite an expensive project for a small town,” Cass said. “We think it’s very important to get this history now while we still have some of the people who are older who can relate that history to us about Saluda and its beginning.”

Just a sampling of the people already interviewed includes Henry Twigs, whose family began traveling up to Saluda from Cuba in the summer time; Martha Anderson, whose father was Rev. Stoney at the Episcopal Church; and Martha Ashley, whose family owns the rock museum.

“Saluda is such a wonderful place to be and so it’s important every once in a while to celebrate what a wonderful place we live in and not forget our beginnings,” Cass said.

Cass said the committee tried to coordinate events for the year-long celebration that would connect all the residents together.

“It was just to try and involve everybody to bring more people together and more recognition of all of their heritage,” she said. “Instead of only hitting a few small points with one event.”

Pace said one of her favorite events is Coon Dog Day, which has taken place since 1963.

“It is like a homecoming,” Pace said. “People who have moved away always know when that is and they come back.”

Other planned events for the year include:
• The display of birthday cards made by Saluda School students around town
• Churches hosting 30-minute presentations on their history throughout March
• Nature walks in April by the Saluda Community Land Trust
• The Saluda Arts Festival and Women’s Club Low Country Boil in May
• Saluda Home Tours in June
• A community square dance at Saluda Mountain Jamboree plus birthday cake and potluck all in July
• Historic storytelling and art show of Saluda images in August
• Charlie Ward’s Memorial Pig Out in September
• Antique Car Club store highlights and Halloween stroll and Ole’ Timey dress-up in October
• The Saluda School Pageant, “Saluda’s Past,” a turkey dinner at the Methodist Church and Singing for the Soldiers in November
• A free Christmas concert, hometown Christmas stroll and Saluda’s first Christmas parade.