Photos of the
couple were taken with Chamber board members, complete with a sign
marking a Main Street parking space "Reserved for the 999th Tourist
Party". Before the photo shoot, it's reported that Mrs. L.B. Herb was
allowed to change clothes and otherwise freshen up at The Hotel Easley.
In 1954, the Chamber
banquet had two honored guests, namely: Congressman William J.B. Dorn
and Senator Strom Thurmond. More than 40 years ago, Senator
Thurmond was already graying.
Carolyn Hunnicutt
would leave the chamber in 1959, go on to a 25-year career at the Pickens
County Courthouse and still manage, after that, to put in another five
years at the County Health Department. Today, she enjoys retirement
and gets around just fine after double hip surgery. That Hunnicutt
ever spent those 25 years at the courthouse is something of a miracle
because she barely survived a horrific car accident in Newport, Tennessee.
During her convalescence, the Chamber let her work from her home.
In the 1960's, the
Chamber tackled re-routing the railroad - it would be the first of many
unsuccessful attempts. During that time, the Chamber also sponsored
the annual Christmas Parade. One of the annual parade's was marred by a
train/car collision. Luckily, no one was in the vehicle for it was
completely demolished by the impact.
The 1960's also saw
the end of Wednesday business closings. For years businesses
practiced the Wednesday shutdown - for many business owners and their
employees, it was their only day off. Everyone worked long hours and
all employees were salaried; there were no hourly wages - you worked as
long as the doors were open.
"The
Bypass" was built in 1962. Of course, today it is better known
as U.S. Highway 123 and it is anything but a "Bypass". The
roadway has turned into a second and totally separate hub of retail and
eating establishments. Everyday nearly 40,000 vehicles (2003
figure:57,000) travel
the five-lane highway. Though the people of Easley didn't know it at
the time, the 123 Bypass would forever change the face of the town.
Before the advent of
the 123 Bypass, its path was little more than a dogtrot (sic).
The South Carolina Department of Transportation Engineers was able
to connect a mish-mash of dirt roads in the construction process, one of
which (presumably
today's 123) was known
as "fruit jar alley" for the number of people who traveled that
route because of the availability of the throat burning, fiery tickle of
mountain moonshine.
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