In 1927 land for a small store at a crossroads in Horry County was purchased for $100 by Mr Hub Small. He built a home and a little store stocked with food, ice, clothing, and hardware for the farmers of the area. Roads weren’t paved yet for many years and travelers passed by in wagons and buggies.
Tradition allowed farmers a bit of rest on a Saturday afternoon and the store was a convenient place to shop. They tied their mules under a big old oak and families took advantage of the shady spot to “catch up” on the news.
The store was tended by Mr Smalls, his wife, and four daughters. When it came time to have a sign made for the store, young daughter Ruth lobbied for the spelling of Catch Up with a K, and the settlement that grew up around the store became Ketchup Town.
When roads were paved in 1949 and 1950, people began to travel to Conway and Mullens to shop and the Ketchup Town Store closed its doors. Ketchup Town is still at the crossroads and is home to 75 people.
A familiar story: here too many shops are closing in rural areas. I'm lucky in that the village where I live (population 1,800) still has its shop, post office and pub. In this country you need to be a lot bigger to earn the designation of "town".
ReplyDeleteThe old store looks like it once had gas pumps too with that overhang. How did you track down the history?
ReplyDeleteI saw a photo taken by someone on Facebook and we tracked down the location and went for a drive. I found the history in a couple different sources. One is a data base for photos of historical/beautiful/odd places in South Carolina. I love doing research!
DeleteSuch a beautiful place!
ReplyDeleteA nice bit of rural history. Thank you for sharing. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteSo this was not for a long time but a good time.
ReplyDeleteYou wonder how many other small communities like this had their demise caused by the building of highways. Progress (if that is what it is) has a downside too.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame that progress was the demise of the old store.
ReplyDeleteThat's sad, but what an interesting slice of history.
ReplyDeleteInteresting read, and it's amazing how larger towns become smaller.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute little store...vanishing America:(
ReplyDeleteThis is a place I would love to visit! Wonderful photos and such an interesting back-story. Reminds me a little of the Route 66 towns that have been bypassed by major freeways.
ReplyDeleteThe small small towns often have these kind of "origin" stories. Now much later in the age of Amazon they may seem quaint, nostalgic or even sad. Here in our depopulating small town as farm become huge corporate operation and our best and brightest kids leave for the Twin Cities to find good jobs I find more sadness in it all...
ReplyDeleteWell at least there are still some living there.
ReplyDelete