Our Hometown

"A good name is more desirable than great riches..."-Proverbs 22:1

 

      Have you ever heard this statement,"You're making a name for yourself."  What comes to mind when you think about Dacusville?  When I think about Dacusville, I think "That's some good ole' country people."
Is everybody in Dacusville good, are all of them country?  The community is changing, we live in a different type of society than when Dacusville first was established. However, this is the name that Dacusville has made for itself.  Will that statement always be said of Dacusville?

     "Tradition holds that mail was delivered to the Dacus home, and when a post office was organized in the area, the name for Thomasville Post Office was combined with Dacus to form the name Dacusville." Down Home: Dacusville Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. Dacusville Community History Project. 1995.

     Gary Dacus is a 5th generation descendant; Gary, his wife Gaye, and their son Tyler live here in Dacusville, along with a brother named Allen Dacus. Gary said that his family owned the Pony Express Station in Dacusville and when the Thomasville Post office was formed in the station, they combined the two, to name Dacusville.  The Dacus family owned a good bit of land in our community, it helped to feed the horses that were used for their station.  I asked Gary how did he feel about our community being named after their family. He was very humble in saying, there is a little bit of pride, and that it is very interesting to know that the history of his family goes back so far.

 

Gary, Gaye, and Tyler Dacus
Photo by Gaye Dacus. facebook.com

     Gary grew up in Berea and moved to Dacusville when he was 25 years old.  His dad Ken Dacus was the owner of Rolling Green Golf Course until his recent death last September. (Information about Rolling Green Golf Course will be told in a later story) Gary and his brother Allen are now joint heirs to the golf course. Gary wasn't raised in Dacusville, however, his son Tyler was. Tyler attended the two Dacusville Schools. Gary said that no one treated his son any different because of the family history.  Tyler was involved in Dacusville Rec. and Gary helped along with others to make it what it is today. Gary said that this is his home to stay, he has built two houses, his first and his last here in the Dacusville Community....Our Hometown.

 
   

   

Dacusville High School

     

Old Dacusville Elementary School

      Schools are important in communities, it usually is a focal point.  It's more than just where we learn Math, Science, English, etc. It's where we learn we have a second family, especially in a small town like Dacusville.  School is where we create most of our childhood memories, we find our best friends, and perhaps our future spouse.  It's where we play team sports, or cheer our team on from the stands, it's where we take pride in our Alma Mater.

Dacusville's 

Alma Mater

Fairest of all the fair halls of Dacusville, 

Rising in state as the crest of a hill,

Stands the firm walls of our dear Alma Mater,

Round her so nobly our hopes cluster still.

When in our exile, our hearts may be yearning

For the bright scenes of our vanishing youth,

Back to thy portals our memories turning,

Clear, gleams they beacon of love and truth.

Dacusville, we hail thee, our Alma Mater,

Pride of our hearts, no fear shall distress,

Faithful and true our children will ever

Cherish thy influence, remember and bless.

     

     I recited a different Alma Mater then the one above because I graduated from Pickens High School, Class of 1994.  Was it because I lived in Pickens, no, I have lived in Dacusville all my life.  It was because Dacusville no longer had a high school.  The last class of Dacusville High School was in 1971.  I spoke with someone who was in this class, and he shared with me some memories.

Tommy Bridges

   Tommy Bridges went to Dacusville High School.  He was born in Pickens at Cannon Memorial and moved to Dacusville when he was six years old.  His first home was behind Bruce O'Shields beside the Duncan's place.  His parents later bought eight acres of  land from Mr. Looper.  At the time, the land was a corn field and his parents paid 46 dollars a month till they paid it off.  The house they lived in had a well pump and outdoor plumbing.  There were five kids, and both parents worked so they hired an African American woman to help with the house work.  Tommy talked about a "party line", it is something we now call the telephone.  To use a party line you would have to wait your turn to talk.  Everyone tried to be civil about it and wait their turn. Tommy said not every one did this, he remembers the Griffin boys, they would constantly get on the phone and holler and make all kinds of noise.  It would make it hard to talk with anyone.  

     Things have certainly changed over the years in our community.  Long gone are the days of ginning cotton, corn and wheat mills, and dairy farms.  Tommy told me that Dacusville use to have 3 dairy farms:  N.B. Williams, John Finley, and Carmon Looper.  Tommy's 1st job was working at N.B. Williams' dairy farm at the age of 13, and then later he worked with the McConnell's for 23 years doing underground work.  

     Tommy is a very talented musician and artist.  His grandmother had a piano, and his mom, sister, and grandmother played.  When Tommy was in 2nd grade, he took piano lessons from Norma Tripp for 4 years. When he was in 6th grade he switched to guitar because he said playing the piano is not cool for guys.  His dad got him a right handed guitar, the only problem with that is Tommy is left handed.  But it worked out for him because later he hurt his left hand and would not of been able to play the guitar.  Tommy loved to sit on the porch and pick, he played in a band for 12 years.  The band played at the Shriner's Club, Moose Lodge, American Legion, VFW; mainly private clubs that raised money for different causes.  

     Tommy is married to his wife Darlene of almost 40 years come this September.  They have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.

     Tommy told me that he remembers his 1st grade teacher was Mrs. Hall, his 3rd grade teacher was Mrs. Riggins, and Mr. Hall was the agriculture/shop teacher.  He shared with me that discipline has changed a bit since he was in school.  He remembers the principles giving licks with a paddle if you misbehaved.  When Tommy was in school he said he had to go to the principles office only twice.  Once to David Cox and once to Mr. Barton.  He had to go to Mr. Cox because he was late for class, Mr. Cox gave him 3 licks.  He said when he went to Mr. Barton, he gave him 5 licks.  Mr. Barton made you stretch out over his desk and he would rare back and with all his might, like he was hitting a baseball would pop you with the paddle. Tommy said after the 3rd lick he was about to come up swinging.....yeah, things have changed.

Old Dacusville High School

     African Americans were now allowed to go to school with whites. Tommy said that when he was in 7th grade, the laws changed.   He said there were about 6-8 blacks at the school.  He remembers how the water fountains caused a lot of problems, but over all every one got along great. 

     Tommy was an athlete he played football, basketball, and he ran track at Dacusville High School.  He talked very highly of Coach Hart.  He said Coach Hart always went above and beyond for the students.  He said that Coach Hart and his wife would load the team up in their car and take them to the games because Coach Hart couldn't get a bus.  Coach Hart had the football field built across the road from the old elementary school.  The community helped dig and build the bleachers, and Fred Durham was the welder. For the football players that helped, Coach Hart gave them free passes to Pine Grove, it was a park near Marietta and Travelers Rest that had a huge swimming pool with a 20 ft. tall slide.  Tommy shared that Coach Hart was a just and stern coach, during basketball games if a fight broke out, and he said it happened often that Coach Hart would break up the fight give the boys boxing gloves and said now settle it. 

Tommy Bridges in top picture holding football
Photo by "The Dacusville Star"

     

     Tommy was in 9th grade in 1971 when they decided to close Dacusville High School.  He remembers that Easley and Pickens always got more funds, and Dacusville was always left out.  No one wanted to close the high school.  The following information was printed in an article in The Greenville News on February 26, 1971.  

  ...About 300 to 400 people crowded into the school auditorium to protest closing any classes or the transfer of students to Easley or Pickens Senior High School.  The nine-member board voted to accept all comments as information and said they would act on the matter at a future board meeting.  Dr. Curtis Sidden, superintendent of Pickens County Schools, presented figures which indicated that the Dacusville school is a financial burden to the county. Randy Looper, president of the student body, gave an emotion-charged plea to keep the top three grades at Dacusville. At the same meeting many protested sending their children to Easley because they said it was too big.  Several people stated that the drug problem was "out of hand" in Easley and one woman said "We don't have any of that stuff up here and we intend to keep it out." Another woman said, "We need to let our children keep their identity; we feel like we have always been hit in the head.  But up here everybody knows everybody and we always know where our children are." - Dacusville Middle School. Down Home:  Dacusville Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow. Dacusville Community History Project. 1995. 

     Basically it was said that the high school closed due to lack of teachers, cost for teachers, maintenance, and lack of growth in the area.

     The school closed and now Dacusville 9th grade students join in with Pickens 9th grade students to form Pickens High School.  Which once was our rivarlvy now becomes family.  It would be nice to still have Dacusville High School as our Alma Mater, however it's not so bad to join with Pickens students. It's said that you can't ever have too many friends, and I was able to form more friendships by becoming a Blue Flame.

     

     The biggest rivalry in Pickens County is Pickens vs. Easley.  Every year the stands pack the stadium with blue and green to see which team will beat out the other.  This makes me think about the battle that was between Jesus and the devil.  When Jesus died on the cross, the devil thought he won, but three days later Jesus rose from the grave and won the biggest battle of all times.

     

  Want to see some older school buildings around our county, check out the site below:

     http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcls/sets/72157594314220076/detail/?page=2

     

The Rock

Photo by Sports.yahoo.com

     Football season is almost here, fans will be packing the stadiums to watch men chase after a pigskin.
"Footballs are called "pigskins" for a reason.  The earliest footballs were made from a pig's bladder, which was blown up and covered with pig skin.  Today, footballs still contain an inner bladder, though made of rubber and an outer skin.  The material most often used is leather or cowhide."-eHow. Making Footballs. www.ehow.com.

     Howard's Rock has been in the news lately due to vandalism.  Howard's Rock is Clemson's "Good Luck Charm: Clemson roared back from an 18-point deficit to beat Virginia, 40-35, in the 1966 season opener. The Howard's Rock legend  was officially born when the coach later told his team: "Give me 110 percent or keep your filthy hands off of my rock."  The team began routinely rubbing the rock in 1967, and have been doing so ever since."- College Football. Howard's Rock at Clemson University. www.collegefootball.about.com. 

     Did you know that Dacusville has a connection with Howard's Rock?

     A man by the name of Henry Jones lived in our Dacusville community.  "In 1916, he started delivering mail for the Pickens Post Office.  His mail route started at Pumpkintown and continued almost to the Table Rock area.  In 1918, he started to carry the mail route for Dacusville.  Mr. Jones had five sons and one was named Sam.  While Sam was on a visit to Death Valley, California, he remembered that the Clemson Tiger football playing field shared the same name.  He then proceeded to bring a large rock back to the Clemson coach, Frank Howard.  Later the rock was mounted at the top of the hill where Clemson players touch the rock for good luck before running down the bank and onto the playing field.  There is a small brass plaque on the rock indicating that Sam Jones was the donor."-Dacusville Middle School. Down Home: Dacusville Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow. Dacusville Community History Project. 1995.

     There is another rock that existed long before "Howard's Rock".

     "The Lord is my Rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge."-Psalm 18:2.

     "Howard's Rock didn't make a great first impression, it was said that Howard used it originally as a doorstop.  There the rock remained until the summer of 1966, when according to Clemson legend, Howard stumbled across it while cleaning his office. "Take this rock and throw it over the fence or out in the ditch", Howard reportedly told Clemson booster Gene Willimon.  "Do something with it, but get it out of my office." Willimon did what he was told.  But instead of chucking the rock, Willimon placed it on a pedestal at Memorial Stadium, in a spot where he knew Clemson players would pass." -College Football. Howard's Rock at Clemson University.www.collegefootball.about.com.

     Jesus our Rock, was also rejected, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;"-Psalm 118:22.

     Jesus was rejected by:

• His family and community:  "Jesus said to them, only in his hometown, among his relatives and his own house is a prophet without honor."-Mark 6:4
• His friends and His disciples:  "At this time the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."  They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?  How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"- John 6:41-42.
• The religious leaders:  Plotted to have Jesus killed.-Book of Mark
• The crowds:  "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?  Pilate asked.  They all answered, "Crucify him!"
• The thief on the cross:  "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him:  "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"-Luke 23:39.
• God the Father: Because of the sin of the world that Jesus was carrying on the cross, God had to separate himself from Jesus. "Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"-Matthew 27:46.

Will you reject Jesus?

     Howard's Rock was placed on a pedestal at Memorial Stadium for all to see.  It draws people to touch it for good luck.  Jesus our Rock, was placed on the cross for all to see. "When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."-John 12:32.  He draws us to him to be saved.
   
   

Photo by www.crossonrock.com

       "There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no Rock like our God."- 1 Samuel 2:2
     


     Howard's Rock has become an icon to Clemson University, the football team, and the fans.  It is a rock that was brought back from Death Valley, California in the 60's. Does it bring good luck like everyone desires it too?  How long will this rock last?

     Jesus our Rock, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."- John 1:1....will last an eternity.

     "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock."-Isaiah 26:4
   

Crazy Cat Lady

Photo by wallippo.com

     If you traveled to Turkey you would spot cats everywhere, "A predominantly Muslim society where cats are tolerated, even respected.  "If you kill a cat, you need to build a mosque to be forgiven by God."  As a result, wandering the streets of Istanbul you will see many small containers by the sides of building, and discreet food rations doled out by it's inhabitants." -Legal Nomads Why Are There So Many Cats in Istanbul? www.legalnomads.com

     I thought I was in Turkey last night, per request from the "Crazy Cat Lady",  I will not mention where I was.  I have driven past this place in Dacusville many times looking to see if she was there feeding the cats because I have heard about her and wanted to meet her. As I was driving by I looked and there they were, I would guess, because I didn't count them, that there were probably 10 cats just sitting around waiting.  I pulled over and waited too, and a few minutes later pulled beside me a tiny woman in a gray car.  I let her get out of her car and then I approached her as she was opening her trunk.  Inside her truck was the smell of cat food and as I looked I saw the lids off of large totes with, you guess it; cat food.

     I talked with her a while and found out she has been feeding these stray cats now for 5 years, every day faithfully. Then she told me everyone calls her the "Crazy Cat Lady". She asked that I not go into detail about what she does, or who she is because frankly she said, "I don't want people to drop off any more stray cats for me to feed."

     She wanted me to stress, please get your animals spayed and neutered.  She continued to talk about this and how important it was. I asked if I could pray with her and she said, "No, I have to go feed these cats."

     God says, "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them."-Matthew 6:26  I guess he is using the "Crazy Cat Lady" to feed the cats in Dacusville.

     As Bob Barker would say, "Have your pets spayed and neutered."

Information On the 2013 Farm Show (Formerly- Dacusville Pioneer Farm Days, Not Affiliated)

The 1st Annual "Dacusville Farm Show" will be held on August 31st and September 1st.  

3147 Earls Bridge Rd./ Hwy. 186 Easley, SC 29640  

The admission is $5.00, children under 12 Free. 

Gate opens at 8:00 am

No alcoholic beverages are allowed on property, no concealed weapons, and they will not be held responsible for any accidents.

Due to all the rain that we have received in our area, please be in prayer for good weather. 

    

     If you have any questions you can contact: 

     *Tim McConnell  (864) 423-3239  President of the "Dacusville Heritage Association"

     *Tom Turner (864) 380-3337

     * Brandi.landers@gmail.com

To find out more about the "Dacusville Heritage Association" click the link below:

    Click Here for More Information on "Dacusville Farm Show" 2013

.

What's In A Number?

...and counting.









I just want to take a minute and say...





     When I started this blog back in March of this year, I didn't really know where God was going to take it. I just knew that he was leading me to write about our Dacusville community.  I love where I live, I have lived here all of my life, and now I am raising my family here.  Through this blog, I have been given the oppourtunity to meet many great people of our community that I would have never been able to meet otherwise. I am blown away by the response that you all have given to the blog.  Thank you all for your encouraging words and prayer that you have given to me.  I look forward to meeting many more people from our community and hearing your stories. My prayer is that each person and their story touches your life, like it has mine.

     Only God knows where the blog will go in the future..."Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed." -Robert H. Schuller


     What is your definition of number?

    "The question is a challenging one because defining the abstract idea of number is extremely difficult. More than 2,500 years ago, the great number enthusiast Pythagoras described number as "the first principle, a thing which is undefined, incomprehensible, and having in itself all numbers."  Even today, we still struggle with the notion of what numbers mean."- Zero to Infinity:  A History of Numbers, Professor Edwards B. Burger, www.thegreatcourses.com.

     Here is a Biblical aspect of what numbers mean:
http://www.turnbacktogod.com/biblical-numbers-1-10/



"Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one." -Deuteronomy 6:4
-1 Body
-1 Spirit
-1 Lord

Meaning: Difference; proves division or a separtion.  Through out the bible, we see the duality of the two things being opposite and at no times can these two things be both at the same time.
-light and darkness  -good and evil
-heaven and hell -saved and unsaved

Divine fullness or completion as in the Godhead.  "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."-Matthew 28:19
-Jonah in the belly of the fish, 3 days
-Jesus in the grave, 3 days
 -Jesus conquered sin, death, and the grave.

Source: Biblical Numbers:1-10, www.turnbacktogod.com.

It might be a struggle to define what numbers mean, but I know one thing...

You're 

Thanks for the 10,000 Hits!

Country Girl Meets City Boy

     I was asked to be a greeter at church on the Sunday morning I received the news.  I held the door open for Kellie Owens, a member of our church.  Kellie said, "Don't say anything, but have you heard anything about Ray Maw?"  I said, "No, what's wrong?"

     Danny "Ray" Maw grew up in Greer S.C., him and his brother were adopted by their grandmother. While in high school he began selling drugs to make money, then he began drinking and taking pills. Meanwhile, a girl by the name of Karen Clark, a member of our Dacusville community was growing up in a christian home; she was loved by both parents, taught right from wrong, and very involved in the youth group at her church.

   

Ray and Karen Maw

     After Karen graduated from high school she met and moved in with some girls from Taylors, S.C.  Karen got caught up in the lifestyle of drinking and drugs, living this lifestyle allowed for her and Ray's lives to cross. Karen and Ray dated for two years before getting married.  Karen's family didn't meet Ray until after they were married.  Ray's addiction got worse, he began smoking crack and selling drugs in their house.  Karen told Ray she couldn't live like this anymore, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."- Proverbs 22:6  Karen started going back to church and Ray went with her on Feburary 8th, 1998. On that day, the praise team was singing "Let The Veil Down" by Judy Jacobs, and Ray went to the alter and received the most precious gift anyone can ever receive.....Jesus Christ, the Son of God. God changed Ray Maw that day, when he got up from the alter he had complete deliverance; no more drugs or drinking.  Ray was tempted, but never did he stray; he was a life changed.

To hear Judy Jacobs "Let The Veil Down" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmxPlCbDlZo



A  Life Changed, Changed Many

Ray and Karen Maw

     Ray was called into ministry, not to pastor a church but to be an evangelist; one that goes to where the
people are.  God joined Ray with two other Men of God with the same passion, Weyman Dobson and Matt Beasley. Together they went into the innercity and ministered to the homeless, and the people on the streets of Downtown Greenville.  Ray was bold in his walk with Christ, Karen said he had no problem talking to strangers, or anyone about Jesus. Ray would pick people up that were walking on the side of the road. Karen asked Ray, "What if these people had a gun?" Ray said, "What if they did?" Ray was in the business of reaching the unreachable. Karen shared with me a time that Ray was in Bi-Lo and he asked a man on crutches if he could pray with him, the man said yes.  After Ray prayed with the man, the man walked out of Bi-Lo without his crutches.  Karen said that Ray became very wise in the word, to not have been brought up in church.  Ray wanted everyone to know the love of Jesus, even to the point of stopping what he is doing with his family to help someone. Ray and his family was going to Greenville for a family day and got word that a homeless man needed help, he went and helped the man.  Ray was always giving away stuff to people in need, he gave away two trucks that he was trying to sale because they needed them so badly.  He gave his shoes off his feet to a homeless man.  He wanted to show people the love of Jesus.

     Ray's famous words that he said to everyone was "Jesus Loves You!"  He preached one time at our church and he said that your mind doesn't comprehend things until you have heard it many times.  He traveled around the congregation saying, Jesus loves you, Jesus loves you, Jesus loves you, Jesus loves you. After hearing him say it over and over many times, it really did go from the head to the heart.  Thank you Ray for such a simple, yet powerful message.

     Karen wasn't able to have any children due to health reasons, so Ray and  Karen adopted two children; Samuel and Jordyn.

Samuel and Jordyn with Ray Maw

      Danny "Ray" Maw was a man that stood boldly for his beliefs.  Karen said that, "He was the spiritual leader of his home, he was a protector and provider for his family, he was what God calls men to be."

     On April 1st, 2012, Ray went home to be with the Lord, it was a huge shock to everyone.  Ray started having back problems and in May of 2011, he had to have back surgery.  A year prior to his surgery they put him on pain medicine, and then after the surgery he went to Pain Management.  Ray was familiar with addiction due to his past and he recognized the symptoms.  Ray was ready to get off the medicine; he was tired of taking it.  He tried to quit on his own, but it would only make him sick.  Ray went into a facility to get help on a Wednesday and he passed away on the following Sunday at the facility.  Later the family would find out that Ray had an unknown heart disease that caused his death.

      Ray didn't get to live a long life, but he made such an impact on people in his short life than most do in a life time. You can see the impact that he made on people by watching his funeral, see the legacy that Ray left. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtVMCW7Y1Oo

     Ray loved God, he loved his family and friends, he loved people, he loved his Clemson Tigers, but most importantly he loved to tell you that, "Jesus Loves You!" 

The Maw Family

Words of Ray Maw:
*March 9th, 2012-The Narrow Road leads to the Narrow Gate and beyond it you will find Life.
*Feb. 25th, 2012-With the family today.  Thinking about what it's gonna be like to walk hand in hand with my ABBA in the Garden...
*Feb. 8th, 2012-THIS DAY IN 1998, I gave my life into the hands of my Father, never to be the same again! Jesus!!!
*Jan. 11th, 2012-We MUST turn away from SIN! We MUST  be different from those who are NOT SAVED!  What is the difference between us and them?  IT'S MORE THAN FORGIVENESS MY FRIENDS!
*March 29th, 2011-I tried saving my money but ended up broke, so now I give it away and have too much! BAM TAKE IT!!!
*Feb. 23th, 2011-Life is full of challenges,victories and disappointments, it takes all in order to make you who you are and who God is calling you to be!  Keep moving and don't forget He knows your end from your beginning....
*May 26th, 2010-Why do we think that church is what we have on Wedenesday and Sunday? People WE ARE THE CHURCH! It's not a building, it's the people!

Ray was about challenging you, this is your challenge.....be the church! 
                               
     "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came and visit me."- Matthew 25: 35-36.  

"Rays Of Hope" Homeless Ministry

     Ray's ministry continues on through "Rays Of Hope", this is a ministry that was formed after Ray's passing. This group of people went out and fed the homeless, and now they are working with Miracle Hill. They continue to carry pre-made back packs with food, shampoo, etc. with them to give out, if they come across a homeless person.

Feeding the homeless....

Rays Of Hope https://www.facebook.com/groups/395327697214974/

"I Must Go All Out For Christ"

By Ray Maw

I've run the race and I have crossed the finish line.

I didn't finish first because I fell a few times.

But when I got up I picked up some others too,

I thought it would be great to bring them along.  

They slowed me down,

but I made it at last and I am glad I am here.

So here is the baton now it's your turn to run,

so run hard and run fast, 

if you fall down someone will be there to pick you up.

If  you see someone down along the way,

pick them up and when you reach that finish line

you will see last is really first.

This country girl met a city boy, and together they changed lives.

              

Keeping Our Heritage Alive

     Do you enjoy hearing your grandparents tell their life stories?  I only had a chance to meet my grandmother on my mother's side, however my dad was born in 1928, he was much older than my mother. Actually, many thought that my dad was my grandfather.  I heard so many stories from him, one in particular I want to share with you all.  My dad grew up poor, when he was a  little boy he told me that around his family's table they ate beans and cornbread (main meal in most homes during that time) every day besides Sunday when the pastor would visit their home.  It was then that they would kill a chicken and the adults was fed on the meat and my dad got to eat the chicken feet. Can you even eat those things?

     I loved hearing the stories of past days, it is sad that the older generation is leaving us.  It's important to pass these stories down to the next generation. The bible says, "One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts." -Psalm 145:4  We are to pass down our heritage to one another, the "Dacusville Heritage Association" is doing just that.

     Labor Day Weekend around Dacusville consist of steam engines, hayrides, antique tractors, cars, and farm equipment, classic cars, trucks, and jeeps, arts and crafts....beans and cornbread; no chicken feet.

   

     Tom Turner said that "Dacusville Farm Days" had been an event that has been happening in our community faithfully for 25-30 years.  It first started with the Dacusville Lion's Club, they put this event on for 7-10 years and then Mr. Robinson and his family took it over. "For many years Jim Robinson and his family had operated the Dacusville Farm Days celebration on Labor Day Weekend.  But last year Jim's oldest son Randy died after an unexpected heart attack, and Jim found that he had lost some of the joy he had experienced. "We loved the show and enjoyed the family and our friends pulling together to make something special happen.  But with Randy no longer with us, it did not seem right to continue.  We wanted to let the show die with Randy." - Ben Robinson "Annual Dacusville Farm Show Set For Labor Day Weekend",  Pickens County Courier, www.yourpickenscounty.com.

     Tom Turner said that when he received the postcard that said Dacusville Farm Days was coming to an end, it was very disappointing to him and so many from our community.  Tom and a group of others from our community came together to discuss how they could continue the show, this was how the "Dacusville Heritage Association" was birthed.  Jim Robinson gave this group his blessings, and at the first meeting there were 75 people.  They discussed ways to continue the Labor Day Weekend celebration in our community. They changed the name to "Dacusville Farm Show" and decided the new location to be on Tom Turner's property on S.C. 186 next to Nine Forks Baptist Church.

   

 

Tom Turner

        Thomas "Tom" Turner has been married to his wife Jackie    for 32 years, they have no children.  He has lived in the Dacusville  community almost all his life.  He has lived at his current residency  for 15 years.  Tom worked at Ryobi Singer plant in Pickens for  36 years, and retired from there in 2007 due to a stroke.  He has  worked with the Dacusville Fire Department for 28 years.  Tom  said that he wants to give back to the community, he said, "The  community has really been here for me, especially during the time  of my stroke." Tom is allowing the farm show to be held on his  property free of charge.  The money that will be collected will go  into an account to be used for a museum for our community to  house antiques and to showcase our farming heritage for  everyone to enjoy.

 



   
      The "Dacusville Heritage Association" is asking for
volunteers to please come out and help every

Sign designed and donated by Brian Dalton
Photo Courtesy of "Dacusville Heritage Association"

Saturday in August till the show takes place on August 31st. There is a lot that needs to be done before that day gets here.  You are invited to join us on Thursday, August 8th at 7:00 pm at the Dacusville Fire Department to discuss further information about the show. Many volunteers have already started the process, too many to count. Thank you all for what you are going to do and already have done to continue
this as a success for our community.

      The "Dacusville Heritage Association" wants to invite you to come and be apart of them.  The fee is $20 per year to become a member.  The money collected so far has went to promote the "Dacusville Farm Show", it has paid for insurance, banners, advertisements, and to build the ticket booth.  There are currently 85 members, and they are offering a "special deal" if you sign up now you pay the $20 dollars and it will cover the rest of this year, plus next year.

     Tom said, that they tried to keep as many of the great things that you are accustomed to seeing, and experiencing during the past years when it was "Dacusville Farm Days".  Nine Forks Baptist Church will continue their "Old Timey Farm Day" service with a tractor parade from their church to the "Dacusville Farm Show". You will see antiques, go on hayrides, many food vendors, crafts, a kid zone....tractors, tractors, and more tractors. There will be dealers set up selling tractor parts.  The Farm Show will offer free parking and will shuttle you from and to your car by means of an Old Fashion hayride.  Handicapped parking will be close to the ticket booth and if you are/were in the Military, you receive free admission with proper I.D.  If you are overnight camping, your camper must be self contained.

     Due to all the rain that we have received in our area, please be in prayer for good weather.
   
     If you have any questions you can contact:
     *Tim McConnell  (864) 423-3239  President of the "Dacusville Heritage Association"
     *Tom Turner (864) 380-3337
     * Brandi.landers@gmail.com

To find out more about the "Dacusville Heritage Association" click the link below:
www.facebook.com/DacusvilleHeritageAssociation
   

The 1st Annual "Dacusville Farm Show" will be held on August 31st and September 1st.  

3147 Earls Bridge Rd./ Hwy. 186 Easley, SC 29640  

The admission is $5.00, children under 12 Free. 
Gate opens at 8:00 am

No alcoholic beverages are allowed on property, no concealed weapons, and they will not be held responsible for any accidents.


"Blessed is the generation in which the old listen to the young; and doubly blessed  is the generation in which the young listen to the old." - Author Unknown
   

   

Calling All That Will

"Awakening"

By Chris Tomlin

"In our hearts Lord

In this nation

Awakening.

Holy Spirit, we desire

Awakening.

For You and You alone

awake my soul, awake my soul

and sing.

For the world You love, Your will

be done, let Your will be done

in me.

In Your presence, in Your power

Awakening.

For this moment, for this hour

Awakening..."

     To listen to "Awakening" by Chris Tomlin Click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_J9BI6AFO0 

     

        We are calling for an "Awakening" in our community.  We see the darkness that is coming against us and we want to unite together as a community, believing that God is going to bring revival to Dacusville.  We need God back in our schools, back in our homes, back in our families, back in our community.  "Could we set aside our differences, tear down denominational walls, cross racial lines, and invite God back into our community?  I believe God is calling the local churches to rise up together, bound by our common belief that Jesus has come to save that which is lost, heal the broken hearted, deliver the captive, and bring revival to our community!" - Pastor Chad Albertson, LIFEchurch

        The first meeting , August 19th, will be held at LIFEchurch, with the following months moving to other locations that would offer their buildings.  The initial meeting will be at 7 PM.  Following that gathering, we can then determine as a group the specific date for each of the other months.

       Please spread the word, we desire "EVERYONE" that will, to come.  We want to see revival take place in our community, we need your help! 

 "God, We Need You, Awaken Dacusville!"

History Reversed

 
       When I was in second grade at Dacusville Elementary School, my teacher "Little" Mrs. Looper told us we could bring our bibles to school because we were going to have bible study before school started.  I remember as a seven year old how excited I was to go to school carrying my little white bible, the one that I could zip to open and close.

       Those days of reading our bibles and praying corporately in school are over.

       Little by little the government has allowed God to be pushed out of our schools, bibles and prayer are not welcomed there any more. The church, the very thing that Christ died for, was the foundation of our schools. "In Colonial America, home schooling and the schools run by the churches were very common.  The first settlers in America felt that it was important that children learned to read so they could read their bibles. Learning right from wrong and developing good moral character were considered as important as learning the 3R's."- School Prayer in America, www.schoolprayerinamerica.com.

     
 In the 1600's laws were being passed for children to learn to read so they could read and learn scriptures, and today laws are being passed to stop the reading and learning of bible scriptures in school.

       "In 1690, the First "New England Primer" is published.  The alphabet is taught using bible verses for each letter, and has questions on bible moral teachings.  The Primer contains children's prayers, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the Shorter Catechism, and questions on the bible by Mr. Cotton.  The "New England Primer" was used widely in American schools of all types, public, private, home or parochial for the next 200 years."- An Outline History of Religion in American Schools, www.free2pray.info.

       Most of our colleges were founded as christian schools, "of the first 108 colleges and universities founded in America, 106 were founded as christian schools.
   
  1636-Harvard College is founded by John Harvard, a Presbyterian minister primarily as a religious school to train clergy in the christian faith.
  1699-Yale was founded by ten ministers in order to further the reformed Protestant religion.  Students were required to read scriptures morning and evening at times of prayer.
  1746-Princeton was founded by the Presbyterians with the Rev. Jonathan Dickinson as its first president.     Every student shall attend worship in the college hall morning and evening at the hours appointed.
 1764-Brown University established by the Baptist to further the religious revival known as the "Great           Awakening" in America." -An Outline History of Religion in American Schools, www.free2pray.info.

     Throughout history until 1948, teaching and reading the bible, and praying in schools were a priority. "In 1948 the Supreme Court rules that time set aside for prayer in public schools is unconstitutional (McCollum vs. Board of Education.) From then on the Supreme Court has ruled against prayer and bible reading in school.

  1962-Supreme Court rules that children may not recite a state written prayer in school. (Engel v. Vitale.)
  1963-Supreme Court bans individual school prayer (Murry vs. Curlett) and bible reading in public schools (Abington Township School District vs. Schempp.)
  1965-Supreme Court rules that a child may pray silently to himself if no one knows he is praying and his lips do not move.
  1980-Supreme Court rules that the Ten Commandments can not be posted in
classrooms.(Stone vs. Graham)" -An Outline History of Religion in American Schools, www.free2pray.info.

       You can read more about the "History of Religion in American Schools" by clicking http://www.free2pray.info/schools.html

   
    Not all is lost, there is a program that is called "Released Time" that is offered in our schools.  "This is a program that allows the students to leave their school, go to an offsite facility, and learn about the word of God."- Krissie Davis  "The U.S. Supreme Court upholds this program as legal in all 50 states.  There are 3 requirements for it to be legal and they are: 1) Parental permission must be given. 2) Instruction must take place off school grounds. 3) No state resources must be used." - Released Time Bible Education-History, www.releasedtime.org/history.

      "As the culture becomes darker and darker, Released Time Bible Education becomes more and more important.  We are now reaching out to a generation of children who have no compass for right or wrong and are Biblically illiterate... a generation that is unchurched yet hungers for answers.  Now more than ever our public schools are ripe for harvest as a mission field and Released Time fills that need." - Finn Laursen, Executive Director of Large Teacher's Association.

      There are many that don't even realize that the schools offer this program.  Krissie Davis, the current teacher, that teaches our "Released Time" for Dacusville Middle School said, "When approached about the job, I had never heard of this program or truthfully anything like it.  It is amazing to me that students still have the opportunity to learn about God and His word during the course of a school day.  There are currently over ten middle and high schools in the Pickens and Anderson school districts that offer the "Released Time" program as an elective to their students.  The students have to request the class as an elective, which means it does not interfere with regular curriculum classes."

Krissie Davis

      Krissie Davis and her husband relocated to our area in May 2012 from South Georgia.  While in Georgia, Krissie obtained a degree in Elementary Education.  However, the desire of her heart was to teach middle school students.  With her current situation at the time, and the location of colleges, she was unable to get a middle school degree.  Krissie said that she could have just given up on the idea of being a teacher, but after much prayer she decided to get the degree in Elementary Education.  It took seven years for her to get her Bachelor's degree because she was having to work full time during the day and attend class at night. With much support and constant encouragement from various family members, and especially her husband who was and still is her biggest supporter, she graduated in 2011.

      Sometime prior to graduation, Krissie and her husband began discussing relocation.  They knew in their hearts that if they stayed where they were it would be extremely difficult for Krissie to use her teaching degree.  Krissie said, "In our town at that time, there were many certified teachers out of work."  Krissie and her husband began to pray about the matter.  She said, "We do not make any big decisions without seeking the will of God, thus began a journey that to this day still amazes me!"  The first place that they looked at to live was in Pickens County near the Dacusville Community.  They loved the location and decided to move here.  As Krissie was driving back to Georgia to make preparations for the move, she happened to drive past Lifechurch. Immediately she said, "I felt God speak to me and say this is where you are to visit once your move is complete."  Her and her husband were obedient to God's command and visited Lifechurch. They never visited any other churches because they knew that this was God's will.

      Lifechurch is located on Thomas Mill Road here in Dacusville.  Chad and Melissa Albertson are the pastors of Lifechurch. They have graciously offered their facility to house the students of Dacusville Middle School for "Released Time".  Pastor Chad was the first to teach "Released Time" at Lifechurch for three years, however he was in need to turn it over to someone else.  After Krissie's move, Melissa Albertson informed her of a 5th grade position at a local school. Pastor Chad approached Krissie and said in the event that if she wasn't chosen for the 5th grade position would she be interested in taking over "Released Time".  Immediately she said yes, and put the matter in God's hands.  In taking over "Released Time", God reminded Krissie of something that he had spoken to her years before this day.  God said, "You will get your teaching degree, however you will not use it in the way you think you will."  She said, "Even though I have an elementary degree, I am teaching middle school students."  This reminds her of Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."  Krissie said she had her plans, but because she submitted her will to God, He ordered her steps as spoken of in Proverbs 16:9.

      Since no state resources can be used to fund "Released Time", the members of Lifechurch help fund the program through their tithes.  The money goes to purchase supplies for the classroom, fuel for the bus, and weekly snacks for the students. Wanda Tharpe, Dacusville Middle School principal said that she believes in the program and hopes that the students will participate, she said that the parents trust the program.  She also said that she hopes that the school will support Lifechurch, and that Lifechurch will continue to support the school.

      Krissie said that she loves going to work every day, she truly feels blessed in her spirit. She said it's an honor to teach this program to the students at Dacusville Middle School.  Krissie said that her students love coming to class, for some it is a way for them to get out of regular school, but what they don't realize is that God's word is being planted in them.  For many of her students it is about their desire to learn more about God and how to live for him.  She feels like God has her in this position for a season, but would love to see this program continue for many years. "Please pray for this ministry that God will continue this program in our schools for many years to come. God Bless You, and may His face shine upon you!" -Krissie Davis

      "Currently it is estimated that there are over 1,000 "Released Time" programs in operation today involving over 250,000 students in first grade through high school." -Released Time Bible Education-History, www.releasedtime.org/history.

     

   

It's Legal!

Get Involved......Support "Released Time"

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.- Proverbs 22:6