Reign of tobacco

The Tobacco Heritage Day, celebrated on August 4 in Conway, opened the door to past great days of local tobacco industry. The presentation contained pictures, videos, exhibits and live demonstrations that depicted the tobacco history.

For Horry and Georgetown counties, this crop was a part of farm lives. Tobacco was single or main crop was grown up by populace. Time passed and things changed. Nowadays, Conway farmers cultivate something another. Only few of them grow tobacco and they must have a signed contract with tobacco companies to sell it.

“I think this is a great way for all of our people who are not from Horry County to get acquainted with what we did with tobacco and how it was valuable for the economy,” Jeanne Edwards of Bayboro said. “It kept our banks and our general stores open, and it fed our families.”

It was time in power day for tobacco. Although due to different restrictions and rising of taxes on tobacco products, this crop lost its magnitude.

“We’re probably watching a bygone era because I think tobacco is going,” said Jerry Housand of Conway as he walked among the antique tractors and engines displayed by the Waccamaw Tractor and Engine Club.

At this event Rhonda Etherden, the president of the Friends of the Museum, which sponsored the event, was also presented. She demonstrated how people that grew tobacco used to stand at a “stringing horse” and bundled green tobacco leaves and then strung on sticks before being hung in the barns to cure. Other volunteers showed how cured tobacco was tied before it went to market.

Lon Calhoun and other local artists paint the old barns where tobacco was reserved and pre-produced. One of Calhoun’s paintings was sold out to get funds for the museum. As Walter Hill, a curator of history said the funds are needed to move the museum location to the old Burroughs School. He said they are hoping to make that moving in 2009.