Calendar

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2025-2026 Calendar of Events

Museum Visitors

Pig on the Ridge 2025 and Halloween coming together gave us an opportunity to enjoy Spooky Stories and Local Legends presented by former Winnsboro resident and Author Virginia Schafer. Her Mr Bones buddy didn't have much to say but Virginia entertained us with stories from her book "Legendary Locals of Fairfield County" She also shared a secret or two from her new mystery series "Nancy Doe and the Missing Mistress". "Legendary Locals of Fairfield County" is on display at the Museum or can be purchased online.

Mr Bones loves the ladies. L to R Charlene Herring, Eleanor Thomas Parrish, Virginia Schafer

Sisters Circle of Love hosted by Ridgeway resident Rita Marie Morris joined us at the Museum on October 18, 2025. These lovely ladies came from all over the South. Hamel Blocker from Charlotte, NC, Laetta West from Dallas, Texas, Tamora Ambrose from Atlanta, Georgia, Sheryl Wells from Ft Worth, Texas, Verlinda Wells from Bessemer, Alabama, Sacha D. Wilkerson from Pleasant Grove, Alabama and Cassandra Harris and Daphinie Warren from Bardstown, Kentucky. They were a joy to be around with their obvious comradeship and love. Thank you for sharing them with Ridgeway, Rita.

We are excited to have just been gifted with a signed Mamie Peanut Johnson baseball by a prior neighbor of Mamie Johnson, Brenda Kinsler. Brenda Kinsler is pictured here at the museum with Museum Committee Chair Charlene Herring and a group of individuals who traveled to South Carolina to do genealogy research investigating grave sites with Charlie Smith in the Cedar Creek area. The visitors came from Florida, Connecticut, Washington D.C. and South Carolina. Brenda recounted that Mamie would come back to Ridgeway in the summer months to visit her grandmother and uncle.

Mamie Johnson would have just celebrated her birthday on September 27. She was born in Ridgeway, SC in 1935 and died at 82. You would likely recognize her by her nickname more easily, as Mamie PEANUT Johnson, the first female pitcher in the Negro baseball league. She pitched for the Indianapolis Clowns from 1953-1955. Internet information indicated she played against the likes of Hank Aaron and learned to throw a curve ball from the legendary Satchel Paige. Her nickname, Peanut, was said to come from her small 5' 3" height. Her 33-8 record in her 3 seasons and batting average between .252 and .264 showed her skill certainly wasn't small. After retiring from baseball, she went on to work for 30 years as a registered nurse. We are proud to call her a Ridgeway native and are honored to be able to display her Indianapolis Clowns jersey and personally signed baseball at the museum.

Former Ridgeway resident Alex Sanders and his daughter Zoe Sanders visited us on a beautiful day in August 2025. Alex lived for a time with his grandfather, Charleton Thomas, in what is known as the Robert Charleton Thomas House, ca. 1906, at 125 North Palmer Street. He shared some wonderful stories about his time here. Sanders went on to become a South Carolina State Senator and college president. Among his many accomplishments, he served as the 19th President of the College of Charleston from 1992-2001 and President of the Charleston School of Law from its founding in 2002 until 2013. Both he and his daughter Zoe founded the Sanders Law Firm of South Carolina LLC. in Columbia. We are proud of their accomplishments and hope to see them again soon.

The Thompson family has a long history with Ridgeway and Fairfield County. Members of the family came to Ridgeway on July 26, 2025, for a family reunion and we were excited to have them visit with us at the museum. These wonderful smiling faces shared their memories and those of other family members that were triggered by the artifacts and photos on display. We hope they will come again another day.

These lovely ladies from Lake Wateree Presbyterian Church visited the Museum on July 22, 2025, and shared a trip to yesteryear with us. It was a pleasure and we hope to see them again.

The Ladies of the Lake came from Lake Wateree to visit and enjoy our history at the museum.

Past Museum Events

The African American Experience in Ridgeway and Fairfield County

February 22, 2025

Growing up in Fairfield County and the history expressed in colorful words and memories of a different time were shared with all.

Ridgeway Historian Jongy Ward opened the program.

Reverend Eddie J. Woods led the program with a welcome. Ridgeway Honorary Chaplin Donald Prioleau led with a prayer.

Ridgeway Councilwoman Belva Benson Bell presented a Proclamation from the Town of Ridgeway honoring 108 year old Geneva Butler Bell.

(L to R) Eleanor Thomas Parrish, Charlene Herring, Nora Rhodes & Shirley Bell-Goodwin with Proclamation for Geneva Butler Bell.

Long time friends, Reverend Eddie J. Woods and honoree Geneva Butler Bell.

Exploring Your Roots Genealogy 101

presented by

Eddie Killian, FC Genealogical Society Director

Resources to Research African American Genealogy

presented by

Rev Eddie Woods

April 17, 2025

A learning experience that was enjoyed by all the attendees. A second genealogy workshop has been suggested.

Arts on the Ridge & Museum Day

May 2 - 3, 2025

Storyteller Eleanor Thomas Parrish shared her family history which meshed completely with the early days of Ridgeway history.

The Thomas Family, prior owners of the Thomas Mercantile Store, gave the building to the Town of Ridgeway and continue to support the Isaac C Thomas Historical Museum.

Storytelling was a favorite part of Museum Day activities.

Storyteller Roger Branham entertained the crowd with colorful memories of his younger days.

Storyteller Janice Boney Webb was laughing along with her audience as she shared her growing up days in Ridgeway.

The Ridgeway Rascals were sharing stories and memories enjoyed by the whole crowd.

Nancy Owens and Josh Hamrick entertained with an original Ridgeway musuem song.

(L to R) Rascals Dan Ruff, Henry Dixon and Rufus Jones.

Ridgeway resident, Bill Jackson, (L) was swapping stories with South Carolina author Tom Poland who was on hand promoting his latest book "South Carolina Reflections".

Art Night at the Museum featured Visual Artists and their Paintings of "The Essence of Ridgeway."

The judges had a very difficult time choosing winners from the beautiful art work submitted by our very talented art community for Arts on the Ridge. The visitors enjoyed every piece and were quick to comment on the quality.

First place winner Robert V. Shuler receiving his prize from Charlene Herring.

Murray Gin was Shuler's winning painting.

Beautifully done Ruff Chapel circa 1873 gained Kathy Lynn Golbach an Honorable Mention.

Enjoying the music of Nancy Owen and Josh Hamrick.

Tom Holland won 2nd place with his painting of the Isaac C Thomas Historical Museum. The painting sold so fast we didn't get a good photograph.

3rd Place went to Susie Clinard (R) for her elaborately detailed "The Way It Was" collage. Susie is pictured here with David and Jongy Ward.

As part of the Arts on the Ridge celebration Sherri Cafaro and Friends Band performed for Art Night at the outdoor patio next to Laura's Tea Room and Over the Top.

The Museum Day activities followed the tracks from Blythewood to Ridgeway and on to the SC Railroad Museum and to the Fairfield County Museum.

The SC Railroad Museum offered free train rides on Museum Day.

The Fairfield County Museum hosted antique radios from the 1920s -1930s from the collection of Dr. Carter Bays.

Dr Carter Bays and Museum Director Pelham Lyles hosted the event

The Heritage Series

Native American History and Culture in South Carolina and Fairfield County

September 20, 2025

Museum Chair Charlene Herring, Speaker Joshua Shurmak, Speaker Pelham Lyles, Historian Jongy Ward

Members of Keeper of the Word - Turtle Drum group who added ambiance to the event with drumming music and chants. Left to Right are Mary Ann Chuster, Vincent Campbell and Marcia Campbell

Pelham Lyles, Director of the Fairfield County Historical Museum and Joshua Shurmak, Native American Affairs Coordinator for the State of South Carolina were our featured speakers. They kept our standing room only group both entertained and enlightened regarding the Native American impact.

It was standing room only for visitors of all ages.

Shumak explained that Native American history is not just about the past but it is also modern day. "It is thriving and moving forward, especially in South Carolina," he said.

Local resident Clyde McFadden shared his treasures with visitors. The breast plate was a frequently encountered form of a warriors personal attire, according to McFadden. The beast plate was made from hair pipe and small bones from the leg or wing of a bird. Each warrior would add medicine to this piece to make it his own.

Long time Ridgeway resident, Robert Arndt, shared his amazing axe artifact with visitors.

Richard Long and his sister, Abbie Gates shared their collections.

Both pottery and arrowheads were part of Long's collections on display.

Education on Native American artifacts was a big part of the program.

Some of our collections will remain on display for an extended period of time. Such as this arrowhead collection courtesy of the McGuirt family.

This Pratt painting depicts DeSoto's encounter with the Native Americans.

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