|
Smith's Studio photographer Jim Compton never dreamed a phone call would
result in Cherokee County becoming the home of the South Carolina Peach
Festival.
Compton was the Chamber of Commerce director in early 1977. He was
having a conversation one day in his office with Jack Blanton about what
the Chamber could do to help cast the city in a more positive light.
"The Gaffney Strangler was still in the memory of most residents as well
as the entire upper region of South Carolina. We were attracting a large
number of industrial prospects to the area at the same," said Compton,
noting 43 companies visited Cherokee County in 1976.
During their conversation, Blanton told Compton he had heard the Greer
Jaycees had dropped their charter for the South Carolina Peach
Festival.
"We discussed the fact that it was our belief that due to Sunny Slope
Farms, Cash Farms, and other peach growers within our area that this
might be a great thing to look into," Compton said.
Compton immediately called the Secretary of State's office in Columbia
and spoke with a young lady in the office who granted charters. She
confirmed the Peach Festival charter was available.
"While Jack sat listening to the conversation, I decided not to waste
any time, requesting my contact to please forward all necessary
application papers to us ASAP, which she did the same day," Compton
recalled. "Shortly following the conversation, Raymond Parker came in
and joined with Jack and myself. They were both members of my board of
directors at the time and Dr. Ron Barrett was president."
The application arrived two days later.
Compton completed the form for the South Carolina Peach Festival
charter. The application was immediately mailed back to the Secretary of
State's office.
"We advised the Chamber of Commerce board of directors at the next
meeting that should they feel we should not pursue the application, that
we could turn it back in. Fortunately, the board was 100 percent in
support of what we had done," Compton said. "We felt we had achieved a
coup! Fellow Chamber of Commerce executives in the Upstate called
following the announcement to congratulate us on this achievement on
behalf of Cherokee County."
The South Carolina Peach Festival has been held annually in July because
that's the peak season for local peach production. This year's events
include Peach Beach, a peach dessert contest, a downtown Family Fun
Fest, road races, a golf tournament, basketball
competitions and a barbecue cookoff.
|
